GREAT FALLS- A Montana ExpoPark project in the making for several years will be presented to community members next week.
Great Falls Montana Tourism director Rebecca Engum says they have been working on this project for the past four years.
The first study found Great Falls would benefit by developing a multipurpose event center.
“They decided that the best place for the multipurpose event center for our community was at the Montana ExpoPark,” Engum said.
The newest study will be presented on Tuesday, November 27th, and will focus on the long-term effects the facility could have on the 133-acre site.
“The improvements are the things that really are not visible: water, sewer systems, and power systems,” Engum said.
Improvements to buildings, barns, and roofs would also be needed throughout the grounds.
“A few improvements to the Four Seasons Arena to make it a more useful flat surface space. Then of course construction of a multipurpose event center on the grounds,” Engum said.
The other events like concerts, basketball games, and floor performances would be moved over to the multipurpose event center.
Conventions and other flat floor events would still be held in the Four Seasons.
“After it is presented we will start to look at what needs to be adjusted to the plan to finalize it. Then we will finalize it and the next step is really ‘do we want to move forward with it’,” Engum said.
One big question, how will be the project be funded?
“There are funding proposals in the plan of ways to fund the expansion and the improvement of Montana ExpoPark,” Engum said.
If the community of Great Falls wants to make the changes at the Montana ExpoPark then they will move forward with fundraising.
The presentation of the newest study will be held at the Holiday Inn off of 10th Avenue South at 1 p.m. on Tuesday November 27th.
-Margaret DeMarco reporting for MTN News
