County and joint city-county open space projects include 36 sites comprising more than 17,000 total acres. Projects span in size from a 25-acre project at Traveler’s Rest in Lolo to more than 3,400 acres at Sunset Hill past Greenough. These projects have occurred on private, public and mixed-ownership lands.

Not all open space bond projects are open for recreational use. Many are conservation easements held by land trusts on private property to protect wildlife habitat, water quality and agricultural areas.

Many other open space projects, like Mount Jumbo (owned by the City) and Marshall Mountain Park (owned by the County) are open to the public.

Missoula County voters approved $25 million in funding between two open space bonds in 2006 and 2018 for the purpose of preserving open space in Missoula County.

Half of the funds were allocated to the County and half to the City of Missoula for use in the urban area. Projects typically include conservation easements on private lands, land acquisition for public access and recreation, and purchase of trail easements.

Missoula County is grateful for the support from local partnerships that make these projects possible:

• City of Missoula Parks and Recreation
• Five Valleys Land Trust
• Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
• The Nature Conservancy
• Vital Ground Foundation
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Montana Land Reliance