Possible Sale Of Triangle Park Gets New Obstacle

The City of Wolf Point’s next obstacle in the possibility of selling Triangle Park is coming from the federal level.

City attorney Montana Wilson reported that he made a request for a waiver so the city doesn’t need to pay for an appraisal of the park. At last month’s meeting, the figure for an appraisal was about $ 15,000.

Wilson said that the National Parks Service seems willing to waive the appraisal fee, but the problem comes with the city’s plan of using the funds received from the sale to improve O-Skat-E park on Fairweather Street.

“But we have the wrong type of property,” Wilson said during the meeting on Monday, June 15.

Federal requirements are that the second property can’t be one that has previously been used for recreational use. Wilson explained, “We can’t take a property that has already been developed for recreational use. So that’s a hold-up.”

Wolf Point Mayor Chris Dschaak said if the city wishes to move on with the project, different property must be selected that’s not a park.

“That’s the new stipulation as of right now,” Dschaak said.

Officials said the property must be about equal size and value of Triangle Park.

Wilson said that the owner of the property selected would need to allow surveying of the location and also agree to the National Parks Service’s decision to waive the appraisal for Triangle Park.

It was noted that the land could be tax deed property, as long as it has never been used for recreational purposes. The parks and recreation committee will meet to discuss possible locations.

In late 2024, Town Pump made a proposal that included paying the city $20,000 for the Triangle Park property.