By Michael Howell
A close neighbor to Hieronymus Park is feeling a bit imposed upon by park users and would like the City of Hamilton to step up and address the park’s needs instead of leaving it up to the neighbors to provide such things as parking and restroom facilities.
“It is our intention to work with the city and the community to continue to be a good neighbor, but we are asking the city and the community to return the favor,” Mary Sue Upchurch, General Manager of the Bitterroot River Inn and Conference Center, recently told the city council.
Upchurch said that the park has only six or seven parking spaces and four of them are reserved for handicapped use, three at the memorial and one at the park.
“That only leaves three regular parking places,” said Upchurch. She said that was obviously insufficient and as a result people would use the Inn’s parking lot. She said children come on field trips and the buses park in their lot. She said the park’s maintenance crews also use the Inn’s parking spaces.
According to Upchurch, the park users also end up using the Inn’s restroom facilities. She said the city has restrooms at some of its other parks and should consider one at Hieronymus Park. She asked the council to consider either building a restroom or at least placing a port-a-potty there in spring and summer. She also asked them to consider expanding the parking lot and to increase the signage about pets on a leash and enforce it.