Roots of Resilience: Changes Coming to L. Price Park
SMART is partnering with Fallon County MSU Extension Office and Plevna Public School to build a Native American Ethnobotany Garden in the L. Price Park on Baker’s Main Street, thanks to funding from the Montana Native Plant Society.
Fallon County is no stranger to the boom-and-bust cycle of the energy industry, times of prosperity followed by tight budgets and empty wallets. We watch as the next generation graduates from high school and leave for college, many not returning home due to the lack of opportunity. Healthy economies are diverse, resilient to “busts” of one industry, but how do we encourage diversification? That’s the question we are trying to answer at SMART, and expanding the amenities in L. Price Park is one step toward that lofty goal.
First, we want to tackle out-migration, how do we get kids to stay? How can we create opportunities for them? SMART is proud to partner with Plevna School’s woodworking class in building vital trade skills through projects to revitalize our downtown. We are providing practical, real-world applications of trade skills that simultaneously connect students to our community, strengthening their ties here. This is the foundation for future careers, setting the students up for success in our rural community. The construction and modification of planter boxes for the garden is the first project of our partnership, and SMART has high hopes for the long-term success of this program.
Second, we need to create an incentive for kids to return, or for new families to move. There are numerous studies that show beautiful towns are more prosperous, and improvements on Main Street both directly and indirectly boost the economy. We’ve all felt the difference between driving through a run-down town versus driving through a beautiful, maintained community. You are more likely to stop and shop somewhere inviting than somewhere without curb appeal. Business owners think the same way, too! A beautiful business district encourages travelers to spend money in our stores, as well as encouraging potential new businesses to open here.
The L. Price Park is a historically significant location on our Main Street, and revitalization efforts thus far have already transformed it from a vacant eyesore into a green space. We want to continue to elevate the park into an inviting, vibrant place while paying homage to our history. Fallon County’s MSU Extension Agent, David Kirschten, approached SMART with an idea. Why not create a garden with a purpose? The Native American Ethnobotany Garden is a living classroom of plants, showcasing our region’s deep history. Plants were selected based on their cultural, medicinal, and nutritional uses by the hunting parties of the Hidatsa, Mandan, Arikara, Northern Cheyenne, Lakota, Dakota, and Crow that have historically always grown in this area. This is the first phase of a larger initiative to turn this vision into a reality.
Monarda fistulosa / Bee Balm or Wild Bergamot
Photo Credit (Massachusetts Historical Society)
We will be introducing a large planterbox with integrated seating and modifying the current planter boxes to create additional bench seating. We anticipate the reveal of these new features and the native plant garden later this summer. If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation to support this project, please reach out or donate online!