By Michael Howell
An open house celebration at Re-Max in Hamilton last Saturday served as the occasion for a surprise announcement by the newly formed Ravalli Recreation Committee and an unveiling of its grand vision of a multi-purpose, 80-acre recreation complex including lots of fields. The conceptual site plan that was unveiled contained a stand-alone track & field facility, a few soccer fields, six baseball fields, and a large swath of agricultural training fields. Then there are the courts. Two volleyball courts and one tennis court. There’s a lot of parking, a playground, a swimming pool and even a skatepark. In one corner there is a large multi-purpose indoor facility. One purpose might be basketball courts.
According to Julie Fillingham, owner/manager of Re-Max and Vinda Milless, a new agent in the office, formerly of The Bitterroot Team, the idea did not start out so big. The idea of doing something for the community came up in casual conversation between the two.
Both women spoke at the open house about the personal help that they have received at crucial points in their lives from the community, from friends but also from people they didn’t even know. They both thought it was important for Re-Max to make doing something for the community part of its business plan. The idea was to give back to the community by helping with something it needs.
“I’ve always believed in giving back to the community,” said Fillingham. “I have brought on what I think are realtors who believe in the same.”
Milless said that coming to work for Re-Max had a lot to do with the company, but it had a lot to do with Fillingham as well.
“She is someone who has been there for me and for so many others. I like that kind of culture,” she said.
So the two of them gave it a little thought and the idea of supporting Little League baseball in the valley came up. Milless said that later she talked to Tim Hickey and asked him what Little League players might be most in need of.
She said he responded by saying, “There’s no question about that, we need playing fields. We don’t have any playing fields or practice fields or anything like that.”
So, according to Milless, it all started out over playing fields for the Little League but as soon as they went about assembling a committee to put something together the idea ballooned from doing something for the Little League into doing something for the whole recreational community, ball players of every sort, runners and jumpers, swimmers, and skateboarders and even future farmers.
As the veil was removed exposing the conceptual site plan, committee member Ed Brenneman was quick to note that it was “an ambitious goal,” but he was just as quick to follow up by saying that, “together as a community we can do this.” He said the plan has already been modified and he expects that it will be modified some more as things go along. But right now the focus is on step one and that is acquiring the land. He said the overall goal was to make the recreational center self-sustaining and even bring money into the community.
The committee is in the process of getting its non-profit tax status and fund raising efforts are already being planned. Local artist Steve Wilson has donated a print and 250 tickets will be sold at $25 per ticket or 3 for $50.
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating may contact the Re-Max office at 363-5750.