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With Glacier National Park to its northeast and Flathead Lake to its south, Kalispell, Mont., sits between some of the most incredible natural scenery in the world. And, as the largest city in northwest Montana, Kalispell also acts as the county seat and commercial center, serving millions of visitors and locals every year. With its natural assets and commercial amenities, Kalispell’s downtown core is uniquely positioned for innovative economic development opportunity — as long as it can get people to stay a while.
Incorporated in 1892 as a railroad town, Kalispell’s railroad infrastructure has long been an important feature in the appearance of its downtown core. In the past few decades, however, the current rail and street configuration has increasingly restricted north-south traffic, causing congestion during the tourist-heavy summer months and created physical barriers that divide the downtown core and make it difficult for pedestrians to move through safely and easily.
In the last decade, Kalispell leaders have realized that redevelopment of the rail corridor is crucial to developing new and supporting ongoing entrepreneurship opportunities, managing traffic, and creating a more walkable, nature-focused downtown core.
Since 2012, the City of Kalispell and the Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) — with contribution from the Kalispell Downtown Association — have led the Core and Rail Redevelopment and Trail project, a multiyear, $21 million comprehensive transportation and economic development project that includes: downtown core area redevelopment, downtown trail & Complete Streets plan, and Glacier Rail Park, a rail-served industrial park outside of the downtown.
Credit: Kalispell Core and Rail Trail
Community Engagement
In the development of the Kalispell Downtown and Complete Streets plan, the City of Kalispell and FCEDA emphasized the need for intentional community engagement and created varied, meaningful means to facilitate that engagement. Due to their efforts, over 1000 Kalispell and Flathead County residents, business owners, and landowners participated throughout the summer and fall of 2018, evaluating design concepts and providing input for strategy and implementation.
Varied means of engagement and consistent communication helped make their community engagement efforts successful. Throughout the summer and fall, project leaders, design and planning consultants, and the “Trail Crew”, a 26-member citizen advisory group, conducted surveys, met with stakeholders individually and in groups, led railcar tours of the corridor, and hosted evening meetings at various downtown businesses and civic buildings.
Project leaders also hosted a week-long, staffed open house charette in the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce conference room, where community members could come any time during open hours to learn more about the various design concepts and provide input. This deep dive charette even extended to other local hot spots, including the library, the mall, and two downtown breweries.
Engagement continued post-charette, with meetings and presentations at 19 community events throughout the summer and fall, as well as six design revision meetings with the Trail Crew project advisory committee. The Trail and Complete Streets Concept Design Report was presented to the public in March 2019.
Components of the Kalispell and Complete Streets Plan
Funded by a $10 million US Department of Transportation TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant, the Kalispell Downtown and Complete Streets plan focuses creating an inviting, walkable downtown core area, which is about 2 miles east-west and about 0.5 miles north-south. The plan includes several elements: the creation of a two-mile urban trail, expanding the wayfinding system, one new Complete Street, development of high-density housing, and in the future, planning the redevelopment of 44 acres of dispersed vacant or blighted property, including brownfields.
Even more than the other components, the new urban trail system and the comprehensive wayfinding system center the pedestrian experience in the downtown core.
Credit: Kalispell Core and Rail Trail
In 2011, a community survey found that Kalispell community members wanted the city to have better directional signage for car drivers and pedestrians. In response, the Kalispell Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Kalispell, and the Kalispell Downtown Association/BID partnered to fundraise for a comprehensive wayfinding plan for the downtown core area and the greater city.
In 2016, after raising $200,000 from a wide variety of sources – NPS Preserve America Grant, Montana Department of Commerce, Kalispell CVB, Kalispell Downtown Association/BID, Flathead Rotary Community Foundation, the City of Kalispell, Hockaday Museum of Art, Museum at Central School, and the Conrad Mansion Museum — the City installed 68 new signs around the city, directing drivers and pedestrians to major attractions like museums, parks, and event centers. Of the 68 new signs, 32 designate Kalispell’s historic downtown and direct pedestrians and drivers to the Visitor Center as well as to downtown museums and Woodland Park.
In the Kalispell Downtown and Complete Streets plan, wayfinding signage in and out of the urban trail system will be incorporated into the greater Kalispell wayfinding plan.
Urban Trail System
Key to the Kalispell Downtown and Complete Streets plan’s focus on creating a walkable, inviting downtown core is the creation of a 2‑mile long urban trail system. The old railroad tracks that have physically divided the area have been removed to make way for the trail system, and to restore the original street grids, facilitate better traffic flow, and improve downtown’s walkability and bikeability.
The urban trail system is designed to increase safe passage for non-motorized transportation, connecting walkers and bikers to the downtown’s parks, businesses, and other amenities on a paved path through the downtown core area. Wayfinding signage will encourage movement through, in, and out of the trail, encouraging the economic vitality of downtown Kalispell by directing pedestrians and other trail users to businesses, restaurants, and breweries near the trail.
In addition, public art and natural plantings play a key role in the trail’s design and connection to Kalispell’s history and culture. Artists will use old rail ties, other former railroad materials, and metal in the creation of the signage, bridges, and railings. While the trail connects extensively to the downtown commercial corridor, trees, grasses, and other natural plantings will create a peaceful environment for pedestrians and other trail users to enjoy as they move through, in, and out of the downtown core.
Read more details about Kalispell’s Core and Rail Redevelopment and Trail Project here.
Based on Main Street America's experience with the Thriving Communities Program, this toolkit provides actionable guidance and resources to help communities succeed with ambitious and impactful transportation projects.
Learn how you can use transportation infrastructure as a tool for community transformation.
Hear real-world insights and stories from Main Street leaders who have faced crises and discover how collective action can protect and preserve our shared spaces on Main Street.
This publication is designed to help Main Streets and commercial district organizations better prepare for and respond to more frequent and severe disasters.
Marion, IA © Uptown Marion
This webinar will help you focus on the area where shared human experiences are most felt and learn small interventions to unlock the energy of the First 16 Feet in your district.
Nature-Based Placemaking uses a community's outdoor recreational assets as a foundation for community transformation.
Franklin, Louisiana © Franklin Main Street
Welcome to the inaugural edition of State of Main, the annual publication of Main Street America featuring thought leadership from across the network.
Use this resource to guide your efforts to established or re-draw the boundaries of your downtown or neighborhood commercial district. Published by Texas Main Street Program.
This study, from the Preservation Green Lab at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, demonstrates the unique and valuable role that older, smaller buildings play in the development of sustainable cities.
Evaluate the safety and usability of bike networks in your Main Street commercial district. Published by AARP.
This guide from Virginia Main Street explores the importance of wayfinding, the components of a custom wayfinding plan, design considerations, and implementation.
Sterling, Illinois. © Sterling Main Street
Watch this webinar to learn how you can create welcoming and comfortable third spaces and gathering places outdoors during winter cold months.
Construction can be very disruptive for downtown businesses. Use this sample mitigation plan to help you develop your own strategy to assist your downtown businesses during a construction project. Published by Cumberland Main Street.
This guide from Main Street Alabama explores how design relates to urban planning, construction, storefronts, existing assets, public space, art, and building codes.
In this AARP guide, learn how open streets projects and other design elements can improve downtown design and create vibrant and sustainable communities.
In this AARP guide, learn how public amenities can help build richer, more connected, and more sustainable communities.
In this AARP guide, learn how small parklets and pedlets can provide vibrant gathering spaces and improve sense of place in your downtown.
In this AARP guide, learn how access to trails and parks can enhance downtown commercial district revitalization efforts.
With articles written by industry experts on topics ranging from the transformative placemaking to inclusive entrepreneurship, the publication is brimming with tools, tips, and strategies that will help you lead a results-oriented revitalization effort.
Guidance on how to evaluate streets, balance transportation needs, and build partnerships with other leaders.
Learn how placemaking principles can be utilized as an implementation strategy of local Main Street efforts to empower community members and create more action-oriented programs
Metuchen, NJ © Lauren Beischer
A look at the connection between the wellbeing of residents and the vitality of communities and explore the wide range of design elements and tools available that will lead to more active, accessible and connected Main Streets. Published in State of Main.
Use these accessibility standards to guide you as you make accessibility upgrades in your community. Published by US Access Board.
Chicago, Illinois © Max Bender
Effective stormwater management is an important element of many streetscaping plans to reduce pollution of your drinking water and other community benefits. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Learn about Iowa’s exciting sustainability initiative and the ways two small towns are becoming more green. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
