Jon Thompson

Recent Posts

After delays, South Park ‘splash pad’ back on track

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Pool

Users of South Park in Billings have been waiting a long time for their new “splash pad,” also known as a sprayground, where kids can cool off among a variety of fountains, jets and other water features. First, construction was delayed for an entire year after the two companies that initially bid on the project had their bids rejected because of problems both had in posting a performance bond. When the project went out for bids again, General Contractors Construction Co. of Billings, which put in a low bid of just over $1 million, was awarded the contract. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Billings, News, CTA Architects, Dayton Rush, Dustin Grossman, General Contractors Construction, Jon Thompson, Parks & Rec

Playground opens, work continues on tennis courts

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Climb

There was a grand opening for the new playground at Pioneer Park in Billings on Friday, even as work continued on all-new tennis courts in another corner of the park. Work continued as well on a new playground at South Park and another tennis-court replacement, this one at Castle Rock Park in the Heights. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Billings, Castle Rock Park, Jon Thompson, Parks and Recreation, Pioneer Park, South Park

Old playgrounds being taken out at South, Pioneer parks

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South Park

All the playground equipment has been removed from South Park, and a similar removal will take place starting next week at Pioneer Park. This is not the work of the Grinch. The city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Lands had already been planning to install new, much more attractive equipment at both parks next spring, using money from the Citywide Park District created by the City Council three years ago. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Billings, Amenda Park, Castle Rock Park, Department of Parks, Jon Thompson, Pioneer Park, South Park, Stewart Park

Time to open city parks, officially, to dogs

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Dog girl

I come before you today to admit that I am a lawbreaker. Since our family acquired our first dog about 15 years ago, I would estimate that I have broken the local ordinance prohibiting dogs in city parks at least 300 times. I could have broken it that many times in Pioneer Park alone. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Prairie Lights, Animal Control Board, Billings City Council, Dave Klein, Jon Thompson, Norm's Island, Riverfront Park

Unstable rocks on Rims could loose ‘catastrophic’ flooding

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Ditch

Rich Clawson is convinced the city is going after the wrong rocks. Rather than taking down the “Santa Claus Rock” that towers over Sixth Avenue North, Clawson said, the city should be worried about unstable rocks, just four blocks west of Santa Claus, that could fall and plug the tunnel that carries the BBWA irrigation canal through the Rims. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Billings, News, Allan Workman, BBWA, Debi Meling, Gary Hoffman, Jon Thompson, Parks and Recreation Department