Celebrating Greenough Park as Montana’s First Community Old-Growth Forest 
on Sept. 29

Public Invited to Dedication Ceremony and Nature Walk

Missoula Parks and Recreation proudly celebrates Greenough Park’s designation as Montana’s first Community Old-Growth Forest with a dedication ceremony on Mon., Sept. 29, 2025, from 5 to 6 p.m., in the park pavilion off Monroe St.

The event will include a few remarks from Mayor Andrea Davis, Parks and Recreation staff, and an Old-Growth Forest Network representative about the park and how continued maintenance efforts by the City help to protect the old-forest areas. Following the ceremony, everyone is invited to join a guided nature walk through the park.

In June, Old-Growth Forest Network staff notified the City of its wish to designate Greenough Park as a Community Forest, making it the first in the state of Montana. The designation recognizes the park’s importance to the community as well as the community’s commitment to maintain Greenough Park as an old-growth cottonwood forest.

Greenough Park was deeded to the City in 1902 by Thomas and Tennie Greenough with the intent that it be maintained in its natural state, and the City recommitted to this agreement in 1955. The park has old-growth trees that remain from a black cottonwood riparian forest along Rattlesnake Creek. For over 25 years, community volunteers and City staff have been actively removing invasive trees (especially Norway Maple) to protect and restore black cottonwood forests in Greenough Park. This long-term, ongoing effort is essential for maintaining these cottonwood forests in the park and will be a major topic of the covered in the guided nature walk.