Whitefish Community Foundation and Kalispell Noon and Daybreak Rotary Clubs have committed a combined $200,000 to support the development of Ashley Creek Park, a new community park in Kalispell that will feature an all-abilities inclusive playground.
Whitefish Community Foundation awarded a $100,000 Major Community Project Grant to support general development of the park, and the Kalispell Rotary Clubs donated $100,000 specifically for construction of the park’s inclusive playground.
Construction of Ashley Creek Park is currently under way at the 20-acre site along Ashley Creek on the west edge of Kalispell, just east of the U.S. Highway 93 Bypass. The Bibler Legacy Foundation is developing the park and will gift it to the City of Kalispell. The Foundation has committed to creating an endowment fund for long-term maintenance of the park.
In addition to gardens, walking paths, and a multipurpose building, the new park will feature the Flathead Valley’s first fully accessible playground, designed for people of all abilities. This inclusive space will offer a welcoming, engaging environment where families can gather and children can play, explore, picnic, and have fun. The ideally situated park site connects to both the Parkline Trail and the Great Northern Trail.
Rotary’s gift to the park’s inclusive play area represents the cumulative proceeds raised through “Dig Rotary,” a family-fun event launched in 2020 by the two Kalispell Clubs to raise funds for the creation and support of free, recreational facilities for children and families in the Flathead. Dig Rotary’s major in-kind sponsor LHC, Inc. donates space, equipment, and a team of skilled LHC operators to provide children the thrill of “driving the Big Toys.”
“Rotary’s motto is Service Above Self,” said Lucy Smith, District Governor for Montana Rotary District 5390. “The generosity and community focus exemplified by the Ashley Creek project is Service Above Self in action, and the park’s overall vision is our Dig Rotary dream come true. We are honored to support such an exceptional gift for the Flathead and to join partners like Whitefish Community Foundation in this effort.”
Whitefish Community Foundation’s Major Community Project Grant Program helps nonprofit organizations complete capital projects that create lasting benefits throughout the Flathead Valley. Established in 2010, the program has awarded nearly $1.5 million to community projects. Funding for the program comes from the Circle of Giving, Whitefish Community Foundation’s core group of donors who contribute $5,000 or more annually to support the Foundation’s grantmaking and mission.
“We are honored to partner with Rotary and the Bibler Legacy Foundation on a project that will benefit Flathead Valley families for generations to come,” said Alan Davis, President & CEO of Whitefish Community Foundation. “Ashley Creek Park reflects the very best of our community—visionary leadership, generous philanthropy, and organizations working together to create something larger than any one of us could accomplish alone. Thanks to the generosity of our Circle of Giving donors, we are proud to help bring this extraordinary community asset to life.”
Both organizations extend sincere thanks to the Bibler Legacy Foundation for creating Ashley Creek Park, a spectacular gift to the Valley offering recreation, connection, and a beautiful outdoor space for all ages to enjoy. “The Bibler Legacy Foundation is deeply grateful for these two generous gifts”, says Carol Bibler. “The donations allow us to fund extra amenities in the playground and other areas of the park”.
To learn more about the project, visit ashleycreekpark.org.
About Rotary
Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million volunteers who unite to create lasting change in their communities and around the world. In addition to local projects for Flathead Valley, Rotary members provide clean water, improve maternal and child health, support education, promote peace, respond to disasters, and help lead the global effort to eradicate polio. For more information, visit kalispellrotary.org or kalispelldaybreakrotary.org.
About Whitefish Community Foundation
Whitefish Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering philanthropy, building endowments, and helping donors and nonprofits benefit the Flathead Valley. Since 2000, the Foundation has granted more than $120 million to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.
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