Panel Discussion, “Health, the Outdoors and Montana’s Economy” The Ripple Effects of fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1-3 pm Red Oxx 310 N 13th St., Billings, MT
Montana’s thriving outdoor recreation amenities are crucial to Montana’s overall outdoor economy and way of life; both of which benefit greatly from a fully funded Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress in 1964 with the intent of fulfilling a promise to safeguard America’s public lands, creating high quality outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans. LWCF uses zero taxpayer dollars; instead using revenue from federal offshore oil and gas leases as its primary source of funding. The Fund is based on a simple concept: take revenues from the depletion of one resource – offshore oil and gas – and use them to conserve community parks, wildlife refuges, forests, open spaces, trails and wildlife habitat. The LWCF Act authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund at an annual level of $900 million, but only twice in more than 50 years of the program has Congress fully authorized this amount. As Congress debates whether to fulfill its promise on LWCF, this panel discussion will help offer more context on the importance of LWCF in Montana – both from a business/economics and health/wellness perspective. Senator Tester and Senator Daines have both sponsored legislation to fully fund LWCF. Representative Gianforte remains uncommitted to the same.
Billings has benefitted greatly from past LWCF projects. In fact, until 2019 our Parks Department has applied for and received more than $1.5 million in funds to develop the following parks:
| Grant Name | Grant Amount | Year Approved | Year Completed |
| OPTIMIST PARK | $18,540.00 | 1966 | 1968 |
| ROSE PARK | $14,928.99 | 1966 | 1967 |
| LILLIS PARK | $23,972.82 | 1966 | 1967 |
| BILLINGS RIVERFRONT ACQ | $37,472.95 | 1968 | 1976 |
| ROSE PARK | $75,975.66 | 1970 | 1973 |
| BILLINGS TRAILS END PARK | $821.25 | 1970 | 1971 |
| BILLINGS LOGAN PARK | $4,544.25 | 1971 | 1971 |
| BILLINGS PARKS ADDITIONS | $9,177.61 | 1971 | 1972 |
| BILLINGS WILSON ACQ | $7,950.00 | 1972 | 1972 |
| BILLINGS STEWART PARK | $55,036.78 | 1972 | 1974 |
| BILLINGS – AMEND PARK A/ | $122,480.00 | 1974 | 1978 |
| BILLINGS – PONDEROSA PARK /D | $10,076.14 | 1974 | 1977 |
| BILLINGS STEWART PARK | $12,938.58 | 1975 | 1979 |
| BILLINGS – PIONEER PARK /D | $36,053.78 | 1975 | 1978 |
| BILLINGS – SOUTH PARK /D | $26,102.60 | 1975 | 1978 |
| BILLINGS STEWART PARK | $22,984.78 | 1975 | 1978 |
| BILLINGS-PAR 3 GOLF COURSE | $277,819.98 | 1975 | 1979 |
| BILLINGS STEWART PARK | $2,981.50 | 1976 | 1978 |
| BILLINGS EDGERTON PARK | $16,197.46 | 1978 | 1980 |
| BILLINGS AREA CONSOLIDATED GRANT | $15,352.89 | 1979 | 1984 |
| BILLINGS AREA CONSOLIDATED GRANT | $4,013.04 | 1979 | 1984 |
| BILLINGS AREA CONSOLIDATED GRANT | $19,374.81 | 1979 | 1984 |
| BILLINGS TRAILS END PARK | $7,706.46 | 1979 | 1984 |
| BILLINGS AREA CONSOLIDATED GRANT | $7,827.31 | 1979 | 1984 |
| BILLINGS CASTLE ROCK PARK | $17,500.00 | 1980 | 1985 |
| BILLINGS RIVERFRONT PARK | $160,044.02 | 1981 | 1984 |
| BILLINGS CENTRAL PARK | $28,908.03 | 1981 | 1986 |
| BILLINGS HIGHLAND PARK | $20,000.00 | 1981 | 1986 |
| BILLINGS POLY VISTA PARK | $8,500.00 | 1981 | 1986 |
| 1985 STATEWIDE COMMUNITY PROJECTS | $21,768.70 | 1985 | 1987 |
| BILLINGS RIVERFRONT PARK ACQ. | $42,674.45 | 1987 | 1991 |
| BILLINGS RIVERFRONT PARK | $47,033.56 | 1989 | 1993 |
| BILLINGS HAWTHORNE PARK | $54,065.22 | 1991 | 1995 |
| BILLINGS STEWART PARK | $56,789.09 | 1991 | 1995 |
| CITY OF BILLINGS DESCRO PARK TRAIL | $90,900.00 | 2001 | 2006 |
| CITY OF BILLINGS DOWNTOWN SKATEPARK | $89,325.00 | 2003 | 2007 |
| BILLINGS SOUTH PARK PLAYGROUND | $75,000.00 | 2014 | 2019 |
| $1,542,837.71 | |||
| BILLINGS CENTRAL PARK TENNIS COURTS | $250,000.00 | 2019 | — |
The discussion will offer an opportunity for businesses and local health care leaders to explore the connection between Montana’s public lands and waters and overall health of our communities. Business for Montana’s Outdoors has historically focused on the economic impact of our state’s public lands, and encourages the conversation around the value of our outdoors to expand by bringing local healthcare providers into the conversation both as important economic drivers in Billings and as leaders who can speak with authority on the value of healthy communities across Montana.
This discussion will explore these themes and give our Congressional delegation, and the Billings community, a more robust understanding of the link between LWCF, Montana’s outdoor recreation economy and community health from Billings health and business leaders.
The public is invited and encouraged to come and join the conversation.