Depot Park - Completed June 2020!
Depot Park Master Plan
Depot Park is the last open space in the heart of the Whitefish’s downtown. It is the venue for many summer festivals and events. It is also a place where families have picnics and one can enjoy a book. In 2012 the City of Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department adopted a Master Plan to address the Depot Park area and the surrounding streetscapes.
The intent was to update and enhance the Park to meet the greatly expanded use, make the park more functional for community events, daily use and enjoyment, to create a terminus to the downtown Central Avenue improvements and gateway for the historic Depot building.
The Depot Park Master Plan will build on the foundational ideas and decisions made in the Whitefish Downtown Business District Master Plan.
Features of the Renovations
The main features of the renovated Park are as follows.
Expanded Open Lawn Areas & Greatly Improved Visuals
Approximately 30% of the Park was previously occupied by structures, paved parking areas and a dilapidated pond. The removal of these items will improve and enhance the visual connection from the business district to the historic Depot.
Enhancement of the Park Perimeter
Newly revitalized streetscape to match the characteristics of the Central Avenue. The new streetscape will significantly alter the use patterns at the Park, allowing for much greater flexibility for event staging. There will also be:
- Enhanced paved pedestrian areas at the four comers of the Park, meant to act as a backdrop and as gathering/small event spaces as well
- Enhanced benches at the park perimeter
- Unanchored picnic tables within the park green space
Multi-Modal Transit Hub
The area north of the library become a transit hub that will include a bus stop, maps and an information board. The area will see improvements installed to serve those using alternative modes of transportation including:
- Bicyclists
- The Snow Bus
- Eagle Transit
- Local hotel shuttles