Helena city commissioners debated a proposed multimillion-dollar parks bond for nearly four months -- and officials had added and subtracted millions of dollars from the wish list of parks improvements over the course of several years.

But a packed house of bond supporters Monday night made the commission's decision easy.

Folks spoke in favor of new, energy-efficient ball field lights, a new water park, an expanded skateboard facility, a climbing wall, tournament-ready softball fields and more.

After hearing unanimous support from 18 speakers, all five commissioners quickly agreed to place a $7.85 million bond on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The measure would provide $7.5 million in upgrades to a trio of parks at the heart of the Queen City -- renovating the well-used Memorial Park pool and adding family-friendly features, bringing an extensive menu of improvements to Centennial Park and making Kindrick-Legion Field more accommodating to both players and fans.

About $350,000 would go to bond administration costs.

While noting the number was a best guess from the data available, the city's financial chief said the bond could cost the average Helena homeowner less than $2 a month.

Commissioners in recent discussions had varied by as much as $2 million from each other and from the proposal put together by the City-County Parks Board. They'd also disagreed on whether to put the issue forward as one ballot question or split the parks into separate election issues.

In what Commissioner Alan Peura called a civics lesson, residents and stakeholders clearly voiced support for the full slew of proposals and a single ballot question.

"It's clear the community is ready to take it up," Commissioner Sandy Oitzinger said. "I just believe we should go forward without shortchanging or cutting corners."

Commissioner Bob Throssell said he recognized the support for improvements at the centrally located facilities, though he noted the limited amount of resources the city has available for developing neighborhood parkland.

Speakers said the bond would put only a minor dent in residents' tax bills while bringing a wide range of improved amenities to Montana's expanding capital.

"Our community's growing by leaps and bounds, and it's time to invest," Ellen Feaver said.

While she skipped her beloved Brewers game to attend the meeting, Feaver spoke in favor of the whole proposal.

Her sentiments were echoed again and again, as residents spoke in favor of the entire package and noted the high return for dollars spent on parkland.

The commission's decision effectively sets the Nov. 6 ballot. Voters also will consider two nonbinding referendums related to aspects of the U.S. war on terrorism, along with two commission seats and the city judge's position.

Contact Larry Kline at 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com.

What will it cost?

It's difficult to determine what the parks-improvement bond would cost the average Helena homeowner, but city Administrative Services Director Tim Magee gave it his best shot before city commissioners Monday night.

The taxable value of a home can vary widely, depending on whether its being priced by a Realtor or whether a homeowner is studying his or her state Department of Revenue assessment -- and DOR values may vary based on when the home was purchased or if improvements have been made to the property.

The median DOR-based value in Helena is about $75,000. For a home with that value, the parks bond would add $21.46 to the annual tax bill, Magee said.

To learn the DOR figure, homeowners should look at the market value on their latest property tax bill before calculating how much this proposal may cost their families.

Improvements

Centennial Park

Cost: $3.75 million

Plan: The proposal includes a four-field softball complex, 2.3 miles of trails, an expanded skateboard park, a bouldering/climbing wall, a loop trail and obstacle course for mountain bikers, multiple-use fields, more than 300 new trees and other improvements to this 49-acre park.

Trails would connect the park to other nearby areas, including Carroll College and the Great Northern Town Center.

Parks Board members see the facility as Helena's Central Park. Plans for the park's upgrade have evolved over the last decade. At one point, a $14 million sports complex was proposed.

Memorial Park

Cost: $2.63 million

Plan: The circulation and filtration systems need replaced, and workers would refinish the deck and pool bottom, Parks and Recreation Director Randy Lilje has said.

Officials also want to add water park amenities, including a double water slide, concessions building, spray-park features, a children's pool and a float channel for kids.

The children's pool would feature a gradually sloping floor and have no vertical sides, allowing youngsters to walk into the water, much like they would at a beach. The pool would only be about a foot deep.

The water park should increase revenues, lowering city maintenance costs.

The pool was built in the 1940s and renovated in the 1970s. It's the only remaining outdoor 50-yard competition pool in the state.

Kindrick-Legion Field

Cost: $1.12 million

Plan: The home of the Helena Brewers minor-league club and American Legion youth ballplayers is slated for new energy-efficient lights on metal poles, reducing the risk of wind damage, lessening light pollution to surrounding areas and lowering utility costs.

Also planned are improvements to the playing surface, which has drainage problems and poor, rocky soil.

New bleachers and a renovated clubhouse will help the park meet professional baseball standards. Supporters of the improvements said the upgrades would benefit players' and fans' experiences while maintaining the old-time ambience of the historic stadium.