Since the last HOA meeting the Park Board members have made great progress on the project to update our Park playground. Based on input from the community at earlier meetings and via email, the Park Board and Great Western Recreation / GameTime developed three initial playground layout concepts (Options 1, 2, and 3) that covered a wide range of ideas, and met all modern safety and accessibility standards. The group looked those over and sent GameTime back a series of comments and questions. Based on that, GameTime produced two more layout alternatives (Options 4 and 5) for us that are variations on the best theme that we identified among the original options. The time has come where we would like to share Options 4 and 5 with members of the TSA community and get some additional feedback from you all with the plan to select a final design option to move forward with over the winter. We will be accepting feedback via the TSA Web Contact Form on these options until November 17th. Please use "Playground Feedback" in the subject line of the form. Note also that park board members will be talking about and taking feedback on the alternatives at the November 6th HOA meeting at the LDS Meetinghouse, if you wish to attend.
Once the plan for the playground is finalized, the Park Board can continue the process of procuring necessary funds for the project. It is expected that the funding will come from a combination of sources including Park Budget funds, County and other grants, TSA HOA funds, private donations, and potentially donations from other community organizations.
You can download the full design packages for Options 4 and 5 by clicking on the following Links. Note that costs are only estimates and GameTime is currently looking into a couple of questions we had about individual line item costs. Additionally, we are working to identify elements of the project that can involve the TSA community as vulunteer effort to reduce overall costs.
After many years of use, the time has come to upgrade the playground in the TSA Park. The Park Board is actively working towards designing, funding, and constructing an updated playground at the current location. Board members have been meeting with individuals at Lewis & Clark County, the Treasure State Acres HOA, the City of Helena, and more to hopefully make this dream a reality sooner than later.
If you have experience with playground design, fund raising, or just want to help out, please get in touch!
Treasure State Acres Park started as nothing more than a big dirt lot in the middle of the neighborhood back in the 1980s. Through the dedication and hard work of many local residents and the TSA Park Board, that lot was transformed into the amenity that it is today.
The TSA Park Board remains dedicated to making the park the best public place it can be. Their duties include organizing the mowing and care of the grass and trees, maintenance of the playground, oversight of park use and events, and more.
The park board is currently made up of the following individuals: Larry Thomas, John Wilkins, Culver Varnado, Thomas Glendenning, and Matt Klara. To contact the Park Board, feel free to send an inquiry through the contact page on this website.
For those interested in joining this dedicated group, a couple of the positions are opening up in 2024. Feel free to contact us about how to get involved.
Playground Upgrades Are Coming!
TSA Park Playground OPTION 5
Option 5 has the following features:
- A main play structure that includes 2 slides, multiple platform levels, 2 ladder type climbing features, a monkey bars style feature, a rock climbing wall, and a couple of other small play features. Note: This is the same as Option 4.
- The existing slide from the playground will be salvaged and moved to the location labeled “Existing Slide” in the drawings. Note: This is the same as Option 4.
- A “Solo Spinner” play thing. Note: This is the same as Option https://www.gametime.com/products/solo-spinner
- 2 benches. Note: This is the same as Option 4.
- A three bay swingset with 3 belt seat swings, 2 enclosed tot swings, and a “Zero G” swing chair for those needing extra support but that still want to join the fun. https://www.gametime.com/products/zero-g-swing-chair-beige-brace-8560
- A 4-panel structure with activities for the little ones.
- Estimated Project Cost = $94.315.83
Playground Update - 10/23/2023
Treasure State Acres Park
Treasure State Acres Park is one of the largest and most used public spaces in the Helena Valley, and a true gem of the neighborhood.
The park's 8 Acres feature primarily grass open space that is perfect for anything from flying a kite and playing tag, to cross country skiing and practicing your fly casting, or running multiple peewee football or lacrosse practices.
The park also includes a playground and landscaped trees for shade.
Folks from all over the Helena Valley, Lewis & Clark County, and the State of Montana use and enjoy the park every month of the year.
Here is a bit more information about these options for you to consider.
TSA Park Playground OPTION 4
Option 4 has the following features:
- A main play structure that includes 2 slides, multiple platform levels, 2 ladder type climbing features, a monkey bars style feature, a rock climbing wall, and a couple of other small play features. Note: This is the same as Option 5.
- The existing slide from the playground will be salvaged and moved to the location labeled “Existing Slide” in the drawings. This is the same as Option 5.
- A “Solo Spinner” play thing. This is the same as Option 5. https://www.gametime.com/products/solo-spinner
- 2 benches. This is the same as Option 5.
- A double bay swingset with 2 belt seat swings and 2 enclosed tot swings.
- A balance beam area with a curved and a straight balance beam as well as 3 pods for hopping on and off of.
- A 3-panel structure with activities for the little ones.
- Estimated Project Cost = $93,873.65