​

​


​Flathead Beacon | Dillon Tabish | August 30, 2017

​With the groundbreaking of a long-awaited rail park, Kalispell’s ambitious vision for a revitalized core area is coming into focus“This is truly a transformative moment,” Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson said last week, speaking to more than 200 people gathered in a dusty, wide-open lot tucked along the eastern outskirts of town.
“This is the moment in history 50 years from now we will look back on and realize the pain and sacrifices we made were well worth the effort.”
The bold declaration on Aug. 22 set the stage for a groundbreaking ceremony several years in the making, following countless public and private meetings. It also set the tone for a seismic event that could reverberate across Kalispell and dramatically reshape the landscape in the years to come.

​Click here for the full article

​

Daily Inter Lake | August 27, 2017 

The verdict is unanimous — downtown Kalispell is on the cusp of a renaissance.
Thanks to years of dedication, hard work and perseverance, the dream of removing the historic railroad tracks from Kalispell’s core area is close to fruition.
The new Glacier Rail Park, which was the site of a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning, will provide a terminus for rail traffic outside the city center. The last commercial rail customers in downtown Kalispell, CHS and Northwest Drywall, made this exciting moment possible by agreeing to move their businesses to the 40-acre rail park. Other businesses, some very likely new to the area, will surely follow.

Click here for the whole article

KPAX | By Jack Ginsburg | August 23, 2017

KALISPELL - The next step in revitalizing the Kalispell downtown is underway as the first phase of the new Glacier Rail Park has broken ground as part of the larger Kalispell Core Area Project.

Tuesday’s work is just the beginning of a five-year plan to remove the old rail tracks from downtown and make the area more pedestrian-friendly.
 “This is truly a transformative moment, this is the moment in history 50 years from now we’re going to look back and realize that the pain and sacrifice we made was well worth the effort,” said Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson.

Video posted here.

​


​

August 23, 2017 | By Mischa Wanek-Libman | RT&S

​Federal, state and local dignitaries kicked off construction of the Glacier Rail Park in Kalispell, Mont., Aug. 22.

The rail park is part of the larger $21-million Kalispell Core & Rail Development Project, which aims to revitalize Kalispell's city center by building an industrial park for rail-served businesses and removing railroad tracks that dissected the town. Stakeholders say the project will improve overall traffic flow, walkability and bikeability of Kalispell, which will contribute to economic development of the western Montana community.

See full article here 

​

















​August 22, 2017 at 5:04 pm | By MARY CLOUD TAYLOR  | Daily Inter Lake

​Dozens gathered in a dusty lot off Whitefish Stage Road on Tuesday morning to celebrate the long-anticipated groundbreaking of the Glacier Rail and Industrial Park. As Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson kicked off the ceremony, he described the project as the first step in “transforming the city of Kalispell.” This, he said, would be a moment in history the town would look back on 50 years from now with pride.
The rail park has been in the planning stage since 2010, but the community as a whole has been pushing for its creation for the last 15 years, according to Flathead County Economic Development Authority Board Chairman Justin Pearson.

Read more here
​

Daily Inter Lake

Construction of the long-awaited Glacier Rail Park will begin this month, kicking off the transformation of a 40-acre tract off Whitefish Stage Road into a business park that will spur more than $38 million in public and private investment over the coming years.
​
A public groundbreaking ceremony is planned at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 801 Whitefish Stage Road, formerly the McElroy and Wilkin gravel pit. Those attending are encouraged to follow the signs for parking at the east access point of the rail park at the intersection of Montclair Drive, Flathead Drive and Oregon Lane behind Office Max on U.S. 2 East.

Read the full article here.