By Michael Howell
At a meeting last week, the Ravalli County Commissioners agreed to accept ownership of the Victor Park. The Victor Garden Club is handing over the parkland, which is located across from the fire hall, to the county, and it will now be managed by the Victor Park District.
The Victor Garden Club, soon after its inception in 1946, purchased the land and established the park. From the beginning, according to Victor Garden Club president Tressa Baker, the aim was to turn the park over to the town of Victor as soon as it got incorporated or to a park district once that was established.
“The park district got established first,” said Baker, “so we are turning it over to them.”
The Victor Garden Club members have put a lot of effort into improving the park over the years. They have planted trees, shrubs and flowers. They have installed tables and swing sets. And they have done the tedious maintenance work on the park over all these years.
But those days are over. Baker said that club members were just getting too old to do the job anymore.
“We are very happy that the county has agreed to take the land and that the Victor Park District has agreed to take care of it,” said Baker.
Baker said that the garden club would remain active and continue to operate the Community Garden that provides food to the Victor Senior Citizen Center and to the Pantry Partners food bank in Stevensville.
According to Victor Park District Board Chairman Roger DeHaan, the district has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the county to handle the operation and maintenance of the park. The district collects a $10 per household annual tax to fund district operations.
“We are really interested in maintaining open areas for public use within the district,” said DeHaan, “and this park is a prime piece of land in that regard, located in the heart of the community.”