You asked, we answered. Here's the inside dirt on parks, trails, and community conservation in East Helena.

WAS THERE A MINE IN EAST HELENA?

No, but there was a lead smelter. The American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) began operating a smelter on the banks of Prickly Pear Creek in the 1880s. The smelter was vital to the economy and identity of East Helena. In 1984, due to historic lead and arsenic contamination, the site was added to the Superfund list. The smelter closed in 2001. In 2009, the bankruptcy settlement assigned ownership and responsibility for cleanup and reuse of about 2,000 acres to the Montana Environmental Trust Group.

WHY ARE THERE NEW PARKS AND TRAILS IN EAST HELENA?

In 2011, residents of East Helena began planning for how they would use the ASARCO lands after cleanup. One focus area was recreation and habitat. The community wanted a regional trail network, parks with hiking and biking opportunities, access to Prickly Pear Creek and improved fish habitat, and outdoor learning opportunities for their schools.

WHEN DID PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST START WORKING IN EAST HELENA?

Community leaders asked Prickly Pear Land Trust to join the community planning sessions back in 2011. We were thrilled to collaborate with the community because, as a nonprofit regional land trust, we work on conservation projects that connect land and people in Jefferson, Powell, Lewis and Clark, and Broadwater counties. After cleaning up the land and restoring the stream, the Montana Environmental Trust Group transferred 320 acres to Prickly Pear Land Trust in 2020. Since then, we’ve worked with many partners to open two parks and create the Greenway, a trail corridor from East Helena to Montana City.

WHERE ARE THE NEW PARKS AND TRAILS IN EAST HELENA?

The Grove is an 80-acre park on the north side of East Helena. A second park on the south side of town will open in 2024. This 243-acre park protects more than a mile of the creek, 50 acres of wetlands, and a 100-acre floodplain. It also includes a 1.5-mile loop trail, with more trails to come.

WHO’S PAYING FOR PARKS AND TRAILS IN EAST HELENA?

The funding for cleanup as well as parks and trails came from the ASARCO bankruptcy settlement. These funds were used to restore the land and waterway for recreation.

HOW DO YOU NAME A NEW PARK?

The East Helena community has led the naming process. They shared more than 300 suggestions in surveys and conversations. For generations, East Helena youth called the park site on the north side of town The Grove because of its towering cottonwoods, and now that’s the park’s official name. For the park that will open in 2024, PPLT narrowed suggestions down to a few names that capture the park’s natural features and now we’re seeking more public input.