The master plan has been released

THOMPSON FALLS - With much jubilation, the Master Plan for Thompson Falls was unveiled by the Downtown Planning Committee to the public last week in the Community Center. Light refreshments of cheeses, meats, fruit and hot beverages were provided to the attendees as the plan was introduced by Mayor Carla Parks and a community planner from a Charlo-based community planning company.

After the public was allowed to mill about and look at concept photos and other documents placed on the walls around the center, Carla Parks called everyone to attention, so a slide show presentation could be given by the community planner.

The community planner was part of a team who assessed data about Thompson Falls, which included surveys, public input, and statistics of the town, ranging from the town’s sidewalks, open lots, culture, attractions, and businesses. 

To start off the presentation, the community planner praised the committee and town for being such a proactive and high energy town.

Jumping right into the presentation, the planner said the town was already working on projects and that his company was there to help facilitate the projects. He then said that now that the plan has been created, it is time to celebrate it as a milestone. To emphasize what the Master Plan was for, he said, that it was to bring about an aesthetic appeal to the town, while also bringing about economic growth. 

After the presentation, while reviewing the plan with his wife, Bill Brisbee talked of his interest in how the plan emphasized aesthetics and appeal to help bring in economic growth.

“We left the Bitterroot because it was too fast, they had no plans, and growth was just destroying. There was no rhyme or reason to it… it just comes in. And that is one thing I would like to see this town do is have some kind of plan for the future that involves aesthetics, not just the economics… that is important. The aesthetics to me is superior,” said Brisbee.

The planner talked  of how the design of the Master Plan was different than other past community plans used for other towns. He described that in the past, communities were built around the idea of the next big business idea, but the Master Plan was shaped around the town’s assets and culture to make the town a unique place. He then took it a step further by saying that the idea of creating a unique town would make tourists want to stop because of the town’s individual appeal. 

The vision statement was read to the group who decided to attend the celebration.

The vision statement reads:

“Downtown is the heart of Thompson Falls. It is an active place, a vibrant place, a place with attractive and unique small town character. It is welcoming and friendly, quaint and safe. Downtown is an employment center, where historic buildings and new development blend together to house local stores, local restaurants and community services. It is a place to meet friends and family at parks and events, a place where visitors feel at home. It is the community’s trailhead for the amenities and recreation that give Thompson Falls a quality of life on par with anywhere in the west. While downtown is a distinct part of the community, it works as a team with all of Thompson Falls. It is a culmination of all of these things that makes Thompson Falls a community where people choose to live.”

Then followed a quick overview of how funding would be acquired through grants.

Getting to the heart of the Master Plan, the planner then explained the actions and the types of project, to the Thompson falls residents. He said that the actions were divided into four types: access and mobility, awareness, amenities and appearance; and three subdivisions: short, mid, and long term. He said the access and mobility actions were aimed at improving pedestrian structures. The amenities were aimed at recreation with ties to cultural spots to attract residents. A concept photo of a gazebo with plants around it was shown and a design for a river park was also shown. The awareness actions were presented as a means to help people with directions, like new signs, a community board to display events, news and what the town has to offer. The appearance actions were described as projects like the creation of a unified look for business fronts, and the look of the amenities, such as gazebos and a possible amphitheater. 

Parks finished the presentation by saying that the completion of the plan is important, because the groups who give grants need to see progress if they are going to give money to the community. 

One resident who was very pleased with the idea of the Master Plan and it’s organization was Thompson Falls resident, Mark Sheets.

“It just gives a good outline and a place to draw together all the projects, so you’re not getting little piecemeal things but actually have a vision for the long range. It ties everything in together,” Sheets said. 

Now that the Master Plan has been completed, it was discussed throughout the night that the next biggest projects were a visitor center, the recreation of Ainsworth Park, and the branding of the town.