Our beloved park is under threat. Lions Park is not just any park; it has been a cherished and heavily used green space for the community since 1901. It represents a living history where generations have come to relax, play, and create memories. Every summer, it transforms into a vibrant community hub.

Plans are currently underway to construct a 200’ x 85’ (17,000 SQ FT) concrete and refrigerated ice rink right on this historic ground. This development would occupy 25% of the park. There has been discussion about including a large Zamboni shop, installing additional lighting, and removing the triangular green space near the playground to make way for additional parking. 

This plan is a fundamental change to a park with over a hundred years of history. Paving our park to accommodate a professional-size ice-skating rink will remove our park and green space for the rest of the year. Inadequate parking at this location is already an issue. Lions Park is in a historic residential district, and the increased traffic, parking, lights, and noise will impose direct harm on the people who live in the neighborhood. It’s just not the right place for a development of this scale.

The Red Lodge community supports seasonal recreation, but we don’t want commercial sports facilities developed in the heart of our quiet historic downtown and in our beloved historic park lands. Our concern is the permanence and scale of this proposal, and the lack of meaningful community involvement. Long-term alterations to a historic city park should never come as a surprise to residents.

This ill-advised idea was developed by the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation as a Montana taxpayer-funded tourism grant project. The Foundation and the City have been in talks about this project since March 2025, with no communication to the residents of Red Lodge.

Such a transformation of Lions Park would irreversibly commercialize the Hi-Bug historic district, the park itself, and rob future generations of a priceless community space.

Given these stakes, we urgently call on the Red Lodge City Council and the Red Lodge Community Foundation to conduct a comprehensive environmental land use review before any further decisions are made. This review must assess the community impact, neighborhood impact, taxpayer impact, and consider alternative development plans that do not compromise our green space. We insist on public consultations to ensure that community voices are heard and considered.

Initiating an environmental review is not just a bureaucratic step; it’s a necessary action to ensure sustainable development that respects both our natural heritage and community values. We must hold our leaders accountable to their commitments to environmental sustainability and community welfare.

Time is of the essence, and we need your help. By signing this petition, you are standing with us to safeguard our park for current and future generations. Urge the City Council to conduct the necessary review and explore more eco-friendly alternatives. Together, we can ensure that our cherished Lions Park remains a green oasis and a symbol of our community’s environmental stewardship.

Please sign and share this petition to amplify our call for action.

If you can, please write to the decision makers. Remember to be polite and respectful in your messages.

Red Lodge City Council Members:


Jody Ronning, ronningward3@gmail.com


Patty Davis, pattydavisward1@gmail.com


Chelsea Toupin, toupinward1@gmail.com


Sandy Conlee, mtconlees@gmail.com


Anne Rood, annerood.ward2@gmail.com


Shinta Daniels, sdanielsward3@gmail.com

Red Lodge Mayor


David Westwood, mayor@cityofredlodge.com, (406) 446-1606

Red Lodge Area Community Foundation 


Tracy Timmons, Director


Maryvette Labrie, Grant Manager


email: pctgp@rlacf.org