City of Missoula Brings Back ‘Chats in the Park’

The popular ‘City Chats in the Parks’ program will begin its third year this Tuesday at Westside Park.

I spoke with Parks and Recreation Community Experience Specialist Ashley Brittner Wells on Thursday about the program.

City Chats in the Parks Resume on Tuesday, May 13 at Westside Park

“We started City Chats in the Parks three years ago, so this is our third annual series,” began Brittner Wells. “It’s a community engagement series that takes place in various parks across Missoula. We’ve done a good job of geographically reaching all different corners of the city and bringing city information and projects and programs to places that residents already frequent.”

Brittner Wells highlighted the guests and topics for the first Chat in the Park on May 13.

“We typically bring a good mix of what we have going on at the city,” she said. “Our first event this year is on Tuesday May 13, and we’ll have (Missoula) Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Mobility, The Mountain Line bus folks will be there in addition to our Missoula neighborhoods office, which represents our neighborhood councils and then our City of Missoula Climate Program; and that’s who will be at the first one at Westside Park.”

Tuesday, May 13: Westside Park
Thursday, May 22: Kiwanis Park (Downtown)
Tuesday, June 3: McLeod Park
Tuesday, June 10: Sacajawea Park
Tuesday, September 9: Fort Missoula Regional Park in or near the Meadowlark Shelter
Thursday, September 18: McCormick Park

The First Meeting will Feature Missoula Parks and Rec and Public Works

Brittner Wells said even though each program has a particular theme, general questions about city government and other topics can also be discussed.

“We try to bring relevant, timely information to folks so they can find out what we’re doing,” she said. “But if you have something that you’re particularly concerned about or have questions about, you’re welcome to come by and ask and find out what you can and then, typically, if we’re not able to answer it, we can at least get your contact in someone follow up with you later, after we’ve talked to the great folks that work here at the city.”

READ MORE: Understanding Missoula’s Initiative To Reduce Shelter Occupancy

City Officials are Pleased with the City Chats in the Parks Program

Brittner Wells said city officials are pleased with the response to the program.

“It’s been really effective as a form of community engagement for us, and then it helps get us into particular neighborhoods, and we can kind of tailor what we’re bringing information about depending on what neighborhood we’re in,” she said. “Such as bringing a project right to that neighborhood to let folks know about it. I hope that by doing that, we’re able to reach people that we haven’t reached before, and then provide information that is really meaningful to people.”

The schedule for Chats in the Park will go from May 13 through September 18, with gatherings at Kiwanis, McLeod, Sacagawea, Fort Missoula Regional Park, and McCormick Park.

Peter Christian