Bikers, folfers, hikers, musicians, strikers, sluggers and lollygaggers could find a home at a refurbished Centennial Park.

City of Helena officials are readying a preliminary master plan for public comment. To pay for a host of improvements at the park -- which could include a BMX bike course, disc golf range, amphitheater, pond, youth soccer pitches and softball fields -- voters might be asked to increase their taxes.

Roughly $5 million would be needed to implement the plan, to fix the 1940s-era Memorial Park swimming pool across the street, and to permanently maintain more than 1,700 acres of open space, city officials said. The Helena City Commission would first have to sign off on the final master plan and a levy vote.

The new Centennial Park would be a multiuse facility, not a sports complex, said City Parks and Recreation Director Randy Lilje. He said the final plan could look different than the preliminary one.

"It's a major undertaking, but it will really enhance the overall view of the area," Lilje said. "We're at a point now where we think we've got something workable. We want to get comments from the public."

Mayor Jim Smith said it's important to have the park looking good.

"It's right in the middle of town, and it's a real visible area for people," he said. "The nicer it looks, the better impression of Helena people are going to get."

Caution must be taken at the site, as three old landfills lie hidden underground and are prone to shifting.

The capped landfill closest to the railroad tracks is probably the most stable of the three, Lilje said, but the garbage can't be disturbed. Fill dirt and one foot of topsoil would have to be hauled in to landscape much of the area.

The abandoned railroad bed that runs from the Transfer Station to North Last Chance Gulch is a more likely site for structures, Lilje said.

Tom McCarvel said that when he was a student at Carroll, the park was literally a dump. Now the college's vice president for community relations, McCarvel said the master plan would lead to a marvelous community space.

He said it would complement the time and effort students put into coaching, refereeing and helping young kids. In addition, the college intends to build someday on the hill overlooking the park, McCarvel said, which means parking issues are important. Additional parking would be arrayed around the new softball diamonds and a new access road.

Mayor Smith said another important piece of the puzzle includes figuring out who owns seven acres alongside Lyndale Avenue. The city once owned the land and it is believed to now belong to the state.

Various "stakeholders" have been involved in the planning process.

Carroll College, Montana Department of Administration, Great Northern Town Center, YMCA and other recreational users have worked on the plan, which was drawn up by city-hired consultant LandArc.

Voters last approved a city bond issue when they agreed to borrow $5 million for open space and athletic fields in 1996. Last year, a $5.7 million county-wide levy was approved for Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds improvements.

Smith said he's not sure where else the city might find the funding for such a project.

"I think the people of Helena have really shown a commitment to open space and recreation," he said.

City administrators recently maxed out their borrowing limit in order to fund downtown redevelopment, or TIF projects, so voters would have to decide whether to borrow money for the park.

Proposed park improvements

Bikes aren't allowed at the Centennial Park skate park, but a low-budget BMX track could attract those wanting to test their skill.

The idea isn't to have a stunt park or a racecourse, but a "dirt jump track," said Tygen Oberst, a local biking advocate who has been involved in the Centennial Park master plan. The proposed track is just one of many ideas from soccer, softball and even music enthusiasts.

The jump track would be a great way to introduce all ages to the rigors of off-road riding, Oberst said. Ideally, the track would need to be designed by an expert and maintained by a local bike club. Trees and landscaping would be important to minimize crosswinds, he said. The park's central location would make it easily accessible -- by bike.

"It would be a little safer, and all you need is dirt," he said. "We don't need anything fancy."

Proposed improvements include:

- Softball: Dirt work has already begun on four fields. Additional work will take place next spring, including installation of grass and an irrigation system, according to Helena Parks and Recreation Director Randy Lilje. Play should begin in 2007, he said.

The fields wouldn't be lighted, and three of four would be fenced. The Helena Softball Association has agreed to maintain the site. The fields could also accomodate all or part of five youth soccer fields.

- Soccer: The proposed soccer fields would be smaller than regulation fields, mirroring its current use as a place for little kids to play "the beautiful game."

Centennial Park could accommodate up to nine soccer fields, Lilje said. The preliminary plan proposes using part of seven acres now owned by the state.

A previous master plan called for full-sized fields; they are now located near the Helena Regional Airport.

- Pond: A pond north of the Old Glory Landmark would be used for stormwater detention and irrigation, Lilje said.

The pond needs to be at least six feet deep to avoid aquatic growth. Water would come from a nearby well or a newly drilled one, he said.

- Trails: The park could become the hub for the city's trail system, Lilje said, leading eventually to Spring Meadow State Park and through the Lyndale Avenue underpass to downtown and trails beyond.

The trail would likely be rerouted around the City Transfer Station for safety, Lilje said. A link over the Montana Rail Link railroad tracks to Nature Park and Batch Fields is just a concept, he said.

- Amphitheater: Although the size and construction material remains to be seen, the amphitheater could be separated from the state by a pond. The venue could host shows that are causing noise problems elsewhere, Lilje said.

- Disc golf: A nine-hole disc golf course would lie on top of the capped landfill at the park's north end.

The area would be seeded, but extra fill and topsoil would have to be hauled in to landscape the area, Lilje said.

Reporter Jason Mohr can be reached at 447-4075 or jason.mohr@helenair.com.