The City of Missoula Parks & Recreation Department is seeking an experienced multidisciplinary planning and design team to provide services related to updating the city-wide Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails (PROST) Comprehensive Plan for the greater Missoula area. The selected firm/consultant team will be responsible for working closely with the department to create an innovative, holistic and comprehensive planning approach for parks, recreation, open space, and trails amenities, services, and programs for the next 10-15 years.

Missoula is located in the northern Rocky Mountains in western Montana near the confluences of the Clark Fork, Blackfoot, and Bitterroot Rivers. Its proximity to pristine wild lands and natural systems is unique for a city of its size. The city owns and manages local and regional parks of various sizes and types, a robust network of paved and unpaved trails, and thousands of acres of open space. Additionally, the city manages a robust year-round recreation program serving all ages and abilities with a focus on accessible and equitable services; and manages two aquatics facilities, the urban forest, and other various park spaces and landscaped areas throughout the city.

While the current Master Parks and Recreation Plan, completed in 2004, has served the community well as a guide for many years, this plan update will be essential for the future growth and development of parks, recreation, open space, and trails in the greater Missoula area. This planning process will be a great opportunity for residents to engage in the shaping of their local community, and to provide input on future park and trail locations, open space conservation, and recreational programming and services which will serve them for many years to come. The plan will be developed through the city-wide lenses of climate and resiliency, equity, and housing and will consider how the proposed master plan may impact the natural environment, economics, land use, access and mobility, multi-jurisdictional connectivity and partnerships, individual and community health (mental, physical, emotional), cultural opportunities, and other related elements. The city would like to gain a community vision for an appropriate, equitable, and sustainable level of service while considering growth in the community.

A copy of the RFP and supporting exhibits is available at: https://cloud.ci.missoula.mt.us/index.php/s/QAPHq3mmQRsaygm

Proposals must clearly document your ability to successfully complete the project. Electronic submissions are due Wednesday, May 10, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. MST. Proposals shall be submitted as a single file in PDF format and under 20MB in size, via the Proposal Submittal Form located HERE or by clicking the RFQ/SOQ Submittals button at www.missoulaparks.org.

Questions related to this RFP should be directed to: Zac Covington, Open Space Program Manager (406.552.6267, covingtonz@ci.missoula.mt.us)