When the Billings City Council placed the future of Ramada Park on its agenda, dozens of local residents showed up to make sure their voices were heard. Although the parcel is technically city‑owned, longtime neighbors argue that the park belongs to the community that has used it for generations.
Community ties to the park
Ramada Park stretches between Morledge Street and Ramada Drive and has served as a gathering place for families, children’s games and neighborhood events. “I grew up in this neighborhood. My grandparents lived here, and I came to this park,” said Mary Agamenoni, a resident who now brings her own children to the field nearly every day. “Rain or shine, they’re there.”
City council hearing
At the council meeting, Councilman Scott Aspenlieder explained that the undeveloped park represents potential revenue for the city, noting that many similar parcels remain idle because there is no funding mechanism for development. “It is just a complete open tract of land, unimproved,” he said.
Despite the council’s fiscal concerns, residents presented an alternative plan. Thomas Smith, who lives adjacent to the park, proposed a boundary‑line adjustment that would shift the park’s edge to a ditch running through the property. The change would expand his and his neighbor’s lots, increase their property tax assessments, and direct the additional revenue toward park maintenance, including new sprinklers and grass care.
Proposed improvement district
Smith emphasized that keeping the land in the neighborhood adds value to Billings and is not a waste of space. “The money used for the purchase of an adjusted lot would go into maintenance and sprinklers for the park to make the grass healthier and overall health of the park in check,” he said.
Councilman Aspenlieder indicated that the council would work over the next six months to create a special improvement district to fund the proposed upgrades. “We are looking at a process that could bring needed improvements while preserving the park’s role as a community space,” he added.
Neighbors’ resolve
For now, the grass remains a place where children play baseball, soccer and other games. Residents who attended the hearing said they will continue to attend future council meetings to ensure their concerns are considered.
“We were just hopeful to keep it as a park,” Agamenoni said, reflecting the sentiment of many who view Ramada Park as more than a piece of land—it is a cornerstone of neighborhood life.
The council’s next steps will involve reviewing the boundary‑line proposal, assessing the financial implications for the city and the property owners, and determining the feasibility of establishing the improvement district. As the discussion moves forward, Billings residents remain committed to preserving the park for future generations.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
