While the Zimmerman Trail underpass and the paved approaches are being built this fall, Billings TrailNet is working to build as much of the trail as possible between Zimmerman Park parking lot and Zimmerman Place on the east side of the tunnel.

Billings TrailNet will receive some money from the Recreational Trails Program to build a trail within Zimmerman Park, between the new underpass and the parking lot. In addition, the contractor working on the Zimmerman Trail project, Riverside Contracting, has offered to donate the gravel and millings unearthed from the project! 

estimated that we have approximately two miles’ worth of material to build the Skyline Trail toward the east. We need to find a convenient place near the roundabout to store the material, raise money for the project and finalize the design.

BTN Board member Jim Downs (first on right) walks a proposed trail with Yellowstone County Parks Board member Bruce Larsen (second on right) , MDT Engineering Project Manager Shane Johnson (first on left), HDR Engineer Tim Erickson (second on left) and HDR Project Coordinator Melissa Widseth (third on left).

In the meantime, Sanderson Stewart’s Skyline Trail Engineer Tim Pirtz and Billings TrailNet Executive Director Kristi Drake, met with neighbors at Zimmerman Place to discuss how the Skyline Trail could be designed to meet their needs as the first neighborhood to the east of Zimmerman Park.

The restroom for Zimmerman Park will arrive in late August and work will begin shortly thereafter to install it. Check out the design donated by A&E Architects and The Big Idea Company!

IMPORTANT NOTE: While Zimmerman Trail is closed until November, MDT and the City of Billings want to warn people that it is unsafe and ILLEGAL to use that road while it is under construction. Please detour up 27th or walk/run/ride the soft surface trails which are sanctioned by homeowners as okay to use.