Gene Townsend Speaks at Parks and Recreation Meeting
Author: mt43news staff reporter
MT43 Staff Reporter
The idea of a walking trail began to bloom in Three Forks when Gene Townsend and his wife, Pat, walked in and around the gravel ponds outside the town. “Lots of Three Forks folks were already walking around what was only cow paths. I happened to attend a League of Cities and Towns in Billings, where I learned there was grant money to be had for permanent pedestrian trails,” he said.
At a Wednesday meeting hosted by Broadwater Community Development Corporation, Chairman Craig Vietz introduced Townsend, who gave a rundown of his 28 years helping to build the 12 miles of paved walking trails around Three Forks’ ponds and out to Headwaters State Park, some 5 miles away. “To accomplish what our committee did takes lots of partners,” he explained,” We partnered with everyone and every organization who would listen.”
Townsend, who was born in Townsend but lived in Ekalaka, Montana, before moving to Three Forks, said he and others interested in the long-term project received help from construction companies, Luzinac, now Magris, the talc processing plant he worked for, Montana Department of Highways and the Three Forks City Council. He and Pat even put $500 of their own money toward buying an easement they needed to finish a certain part of the trail.
The committee spent days writing grant applications to the Montana Trails Stewardship Foundation and a Northwestern Energy Fund. The group’s Headwaters Bank Run is their annual fundraiser.
The completed 8-ft-wide trail now includes benches, dog cleanup stations and a bicycle repair station. The trail begins at Three Forks school, winds around the gravel ponds and includes the airport, the rodeo grounds and baseball fields.
The most difficult and expensive portion of the trails was two bridges, one crossing the Madison River and one across the Darlington Ditch. Townsend related a funny story about how a guy called him to say he had heard Townsend was looking for a bridge. Yes, that was true. The guy said he knew Copps Construction was trying to get rid of a bridge. With a “ton of donated labor and equipment,” the bridge was moved and installed across the Darlington Ditch.
The City of Three Forks handled all the funds for the project, and ultimately took over maintenance responsibilities but, Townsend emphasized, many Three Forks volunteers continue to help with maintenance.
The economic value of the trail system has been a plus for Three Forks. Upwards of 500 people a day use the trails in the summer months, Townsend said. Bike riders start at Headwaters Park, ride into Three Forks and have dinner or shop at the grocery store. Some come to see the Railroad Museum. Elementary school teachers use the trail to take students on field trips. People who have had joint replacements use the trail system for rehabilitation.
Carol Hatfield, member of the Parks and Recreation board, gave an update on the group’s progress. Kate Humprey expanded on the Trails committee's work toward building Broadwater County pedestrian trails.
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Image 1 Caption: BCDC Chairman Craig Vietz introduced Gene Townsend who led the Three Forks walking trails. Townsend spoke to members of the Parks and Recreation Board and Trail Committee as well as the public about his 12 years helping build trails around Three Forks.
MT43 News Photo
