Yellowstone River Parks Association

The Yellowstone River Parks Association is an organization that makes the most of the Yellowstone River, its banks, and environs for recreation, nature, study, tourism, commerce, ecology, and sport. YRPA precipitates, coordinates, and promotes projects and events which open up the beauty and usefulness of the River to all our residents and visitors.

Description:
YRPA is a volunteer group that works for development of the river greenway in the Billings area and beyond. We build and maintain trails and park spaces. YRPA builds benches, information kiosks, and picnic shelters in river parks. We are developing a Conservation Education Center upstream from Riverfront Park. The Center is available for use by teachers from all levels of education, elementary through college.

There are no dues; so there is no closely defined membership. Rather, the group only requires an interest in our mission and a willingness to work. The work is both physical and mental labor, with a need for all levels of skill and involvement. Our field work is every day from the last spring snow until we are frozen out in the fall. There is a steady ongoing need for hands on labor. This ranges through planting, irrigation system installation, gravel raking, light construction and concrete work, small heavy equipment operation, tree and brush clearing, and simple trail cleanup and monitoring.

Those who share this vision are encouraged to attend our meetings every Wednesday afternoon at 5:15 p.m. at the YRPA office located at 201 N. Broadway, inside Buchanan Capital on the corner of 2nd Ave North and N. Broadway, underneath Skypoint. Attendance at weekly meetings is not necessary to volunteer. Many of our workers rarely if ever sit at the conference table.

History:
YRPA has been around since 1991. In that time we have fostered the greenway plan signed by both the City and County. We have built 22 trail benches, three picnic shelters, and seven information kiosks in various river parks. The trail system on Norm Schoenthal island is our product. Development of Earl Guss Park is our ongoing project since 2000. The paved Dutcher Trail along the Yellowstone was started by YRPA with installation of concrete under the Johnston and South Billing Boulevard bridges. The trailhead at the top of Two Moon Park was built by YRPA in 2004. The Conservation Education Center was started in 1999. To date approximately 30,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted and all drip irrigated, converting gravel pits into an outdoor classroom.

Contact people:

Earl Guss, President, (phone), (email) John Spencer, Secretary, (phone), (email) Norm Schoenthal, project coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 1201 Billings, MT 59103

Web Site: http://yrpa.org

Directions:

Our office space is located 201 N. Broadway, inside Buchanan Capital on the corner of 2nd Ave North and N. Broadway, underneath Skypoint.

Last updated on June 30, 2009