Lakeside dedicates new park

Local residents, government officials and students came out to Volunteer Park in the rain Thursday, Sept. 9, to say "thank you" to residents Bruce Ennis and Margaret Davis.

The two created and developed the now public lakefront park and gifted it to Flathead County.

"It's going to be a true gift that's going to keep on giving through the years," said Ray Sanders, chairman of the Flathead County Weed/Parks/Recreation Board.

The day-use park, worth roughly $3 million, was developed by the couple by acquiring property along the waterfront over the course of the past nearly three years with a goal to provide a safe swimming area for local youth. Construction on the 1.5-acre park began this spring and it was opened to the public in mid-August. The park includes 190-feet of waterfront, one large and two smaller pavilions, a bathroom, public parking, docks and a swim area.

The park was given the name Volunteer Park in honor of the spirit in Lakeside and those who have given time, funds and energy to make the community a better place.

The dedication ceremony, held last week, included performances by local school children as well as speeches by officials.

"Bruce and I were totally surprised and delighted," Davis said. "The dedication ceremony gave new meaning to 'singing in the rain.' The students were fantastic, the turnout was wonderful given the weather, the Stoner Creek band rocked and the public officials gave crisp speeches that captured the moment perfectly."

Children from Lakeside Elementary School performed a song written about the park as well as shared poetry fourth graders wrote about what can be done in the park in the summer and the winter.

Many of those who spoke urged the youth to play a part in maintaining and protecting the park. "I would like to challenge the young people here to take care of this park," Sanders said. "This is your park. Every time you are down here having a good time, think of Bruce and Maggie."

Gov. Brian Schweitzer was present for the event and also spoke to the lesson the children could learn from what Ennis and Davis did.

"It is more important to give than to make or to take," Schweitzer said. "We give an A-plus all the way for the entire report card for Bruce and Maggie."

Since he lives in the area, Flathead County Commissioner Dale Lauman said he has taken a special interest in the park and was pleased with the result.

"Bruce and Maggie have funded this park and took care of it and have presented the county with a great asset," Lauman said.

Representatives from both Sen. Jon Tester and Sen. Max Baucus' offices also offered comment.

"Bruce and Maggie, you have made us grateful and glad to be your neighbors," Tester said in a statement read at the event.

As a surprise gift to Ennis and Davis, community members had a large rock engraved and placed in the landscaping bed near the highway side of the park in honor of the couple.

The engraving included the Winston Churchill quote, "We make a living by what we get… We make a life by what we give."

The couple was also given a painting of a child playing in the park by local artist Terry Mimnaugh.

Though no one knew beforehand, the child in the painting turned out to by Ennis and Davis' granddaughter.

"Amazing!" Davis said of the girl in the painting being her granddaughter. "We will take away many fond memories of this day."