Commission to consider West Bank Park upgrades

The City Commission is expected to vote on a request to use $460,000 of tax increment funds toward improvements in West Bank Park.

In February, the city planning board voted to recommend the commission approve the TIF funds that will be combined with other funding sources to complete $839,483 worth of improvements.

If approved, some of the projects proposed by the Park and Recreation Department — in collaboration with Recreational Trails Inc. — could start this summer.

The park is in the Great Falls West Bank Urban Renewal Plan, which was created in 2007 and includes a TIF district.

In the TIF, taxes on development and improvement over a base level go into a fund that can be used on public infrastructure.

Park and Rec has submitted an application to use $460,000 of TIF funds.

If the TIF funds are approved, the remainder of the funding will come from $311,144 in grants, $49,839 from RTI and $18,500 will come from city funds. The TIF fund currently has $794,013 and $462,610 in unrestricted cash. Another $240,113 is expected to be in the fund by June 30.

The proposed projects are restrooms, a parking lot, an American with Disabilities Act connection from 3rd Avenue Northwest to the River's Edge Trail, replacement of deteriorating sidewalk, irrigation and landscaping, replacement of existing vault toilet and concrete trail replacement, including pump house removal.