Four local non-profits in Blaine County were recently awarded $6,000 in Grants from the Montana Community Foundation. Recipients include Chinook Lions Club to build a skatepark in Chinook, $2,000; Chinook Pool and Park Rehabilitation Project to repair the City Pool in Chinook, $1,500; Chinook Rod and Gun Club to install a restroom facility at the Club Rifle Range, $1,500; Pets Are Worth Saving, Inc. (PAWS) to conduct spay/neuter and vaccination clinics for pets in partnership with Spay Montana, $1,000.

The Montana Community Foundation works with donors to support local nonprofit organizations and Montana communities through grant making. A statement on the Foundations website states, “In the last 5 years, we have awarded more than $20 million to a variety of charitable causes across Montana. Though most grants at the Montana Community Foundation are designated by donors, grants to nonprofits that go through a review process include Local Community Foundation Affiliate grants and special grant programs administered by the Foundation.”

The website also included information regarding the local community foundation and states, “The Blaine County Community Foundation Fund was established at the Montana Community Foundation by community leader, Warren Ross, in 1997. An annual grant cycle from the fund benefits communities and residents of Blaine County. Financial support for this grant program also comes from the Ross 87 Ranch Endowment Fund, established by Warren Ross as well.” A Press Release read: “The communities of Blaine County are fortunate to have the yearly grants from the Blaine County Community Foundation,” said Kasie McIntosh, fund representative from Blaine County Community Foundation Fund. “These grants help to support the local summer youth and adult activities program and protect the animals. It also alleviates a portion of the local fundraising burden that is needed to build and continue these community activities.”

Recipients were announced publicly on December 19, 2022. The Non-profits were informed earlier by letter, Alyssa Hewitt said she submitted the PAWS Grant application early on, “We applied on September 16, 2022, they approved it on November 18, 2022, and we received the check around December 1, 2022.” The Chinook Rod & Gun Club will use the money to prepare the ground to receive the new Outhouse. The building is already on site, but a concrete foundation and other work needs to be completed to make it functional and this grant will do that. The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation will apply their grant to the general fund already established with the sole purpose being to repair and update the Pool and Park facilities to provide a safe recreation space for the community to enjoy.

The Chinook Lions Clubs goal to build a skate Park in Chinook is probably the one folks are least familiar with. Committee chair Jay Eslick states, “We are still in the very early process of developing a game plan and moving forward to make the Skate Park become a reality.” The Lion’s Club is working with Pearl Jam Bassist, Jeff Ament in developing the project idea and bringing it to reality.

Ament is a graduate of Big Sandy High School and has assisted communities in building nearly 30 parks through the years. Ament and his foundation have brought skate parks to Big Sandy, Rocky Boy, Havre, and Hays in recent years.

According to information found on the Pearl Jam website, “Jeff’s Montana Pool Service Foundation (and funded by Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation), Jeff and Evergreen Skateparks partner with local organizations, parks departments and local municipalities to bring world-class skateparks to communities across Montana.” A comment from Ament states, “Growing up in a small town, two things helped form my young identity: music and skateboarding. I want to give young people a place to call their own where they can get outside with their friends and ride.”

The process will get a boost in January when Eslick meets with the Chinook City Council, “We know where we want to build it, and I’ve visited with some on the Council, so I really don’t see an issue getting approval.” The proposed location is the asphalt lot just south of the city pool. The new Skate Park would be part of the overall Pool and Park renovation but fundraising for the Skate Park, design, development and maintenance of the Skate Park would be entirely done by the Chinook Lions Club, “I visited with the Pool and Park foundation. They are on board with what we are doing and have been very supportive, but we are each are own entity.

Ament has committed $50,000 to the project and will match funds raised by the Lions up to $25,000, “We need to raise between $25,000 - $30,000 to match the funds that Jeff will match that will put us over a $100,000 and we can really do something with that.” When the Lions get approval from the City Council for the Skate Park and its location then they can start to develop a more complete plan, “Approval from the City will give us a defined area to get started, to take measurements and getting an idea with regards to size and what it will cost,” added Eslick.

The Lions have been in contact with Jeff and his foundation and will work primarily with Evergreen Skateparks when it comes to construction. When can we expect the Skatepark construction to begin? “I’ve talked to Jeff and right now it’s still very early. Lots of things need to happen first but I know we are on the list. Wouldn’t be until 2024 at the very earliest, maybe even 2025,” said Eslick. “That’s dependent on Jeff’s foundation but I know I’m on the list. We haven’t really got into our fundraising efforts yet, just been word of mouth but even with just that, the grant and Jeff’s matching funds we have over $6,000 so far. Once we get approval start to get things finalized, we’ll start doing some fundraising events and moving forward with that.”