Organization: WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS INC
Mission: TO ENSURE CONSERVATION, RECREATION, AND EDUCATION ON THE LANDS AROUND WHITEFISH, MONTANA FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Activities: OPERATIONS & EDUCATION: WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS WORKS AS THE COMMUNITY PARTNER AND CATALYST TO CREATE A NATURAL SURFACE TRAIL SYSTEM, KNOWN AS THE WHITEFISH TRAIL, ENCOMPASSING THE 13,000 ACRES OF STATE LANDS IN OUR STUNNING BACKYARD. OUR WORK PERMANENTLY PROTECTS AND CONNECTS THESE IMPORTANT LANDSCAPES, SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF TOURISM AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND ENGAGES THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. WLP'S EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ON THE WHITEFISH TRAIL OFFER A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NATURAL LANDS, AND OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE. WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS FACILITATES OUTINGS ON THE TRAIL AND WE STRIVE TO EDUCATE LOCALS, VISITORS, AND YOUTH ABOUT CONSERVATION AND THE INTERWOVEN ELEMENTS OF A THRIVING FOREST, SCENIC VIEWSHEDS, CLEAN WATER, CRITICAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, AND QUALITY RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED 100% THROUGH WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS ANNUAL OPERATIONS, GRANTS, AND PRIVATE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
CONSERVATION: OUR COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS KNOWN LOCALLY AS SMITH LAKE LEGACY AND PLACES WORTH PROTECTING CREATE A LEGACY OF PERMANENT, PUBLIC ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, UNCLUTTERED VIEWS, HIGH QUALITY RECREATION, WORKING FORESTS. OUR WORK CREATES PERMANENT, PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRAILS IN SUSTAINABLE, WORKING FORESTS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF LICENSES, AGREEMENTS, EASEMENTS, LAND SWAPS, COMMUNITY FORESTS, COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP, AND OTHER INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. OUR PLACES WORTH PROTECTING WORK IDENTIFIES OUR PRIORITY CONSERVATION STRATEGIES, DRIVES THE LEGALLY COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTS THE COMPLICATED FUNDING MECHANISMS AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE SMITH LAKE LEGACY EFFORTS WILL PROTECT AN ADDITIONAL 800 ACRES BY YEAR 2025.
RECREATION: THE WHITEFISH TRAIL IS OUR ANCHOR RECREATION PROJECT OFFERING A NON-MOTORIZED, MULTI-USE TRAIL NETWORK AND TRAILHEADS READILY ACCESSED FROM TOWN. THE TRAIL IS OPEN TO HIKERS, BIKERS, AND HORSE USERS AND IS COMPRISED OF STACKED LOOPS, SCENIC OVERLOOKS, SINGLE-TRACK TRAIL AND GATED LOGGING ROADS. OUR VISION IS TO CREATE A 55-MILE RECREATIONAL LOOP TRAIL AROUND WHITEFISH LAKE CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY OF WHITEFISH TO THE ADJACENT STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS. ONGOING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE IS MANAGED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WHITEFISH AND IS FUNDED 100% THROUGH THE WT ENDOWMENT FUND AND WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS. THE WHITEFISH TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD CONSTRUCTION TO CLOSE THE LOOP OF THE WHITEFISH TRAIL IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS AND MATCHING FUNDS RAISED BY WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS. THE CLOSE THE LOOP EFFORTS WILL PLAN, DESIGN, AND FUND THE FINAL PHASES OF THE WHITEFISH TRAIL BY YEAR 2025.
NTEE category: Recreation & Sports
Secondary category: Environment