Ten Commandments park in Columbia Heights

A Creston horse rancher is building a Ten Commandments park off U.S. 2 in Columbia Heights. Philip Klevmoen’s park features three large timber crosses. When its completed, each of the Ten Commandments, along with key quotes from the nation’s Founding Fathers, will be placed on large billboards in a semi-circle around the park.

Klevmoen and his wife Suzy came to the Flathead in 2005 and have placed the Ten Commandments on billboards at their ranch on Highway 206.

Klevmoen and fellow organizers bought the 10-acre site in the Heights a few months ago. The former Beaver Wood Products site was declared a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency in the early 2000s, and a cleanup commenced.

Toxic chemicals and diesel fuel from treating lumber had leached into the ground. Even today, Klevmoen said, soils in certain areas behind the park can’t be disturbed.

The idea of the park is to celebrate the Ten Commandments and Christian teachings. Klevmoen said he found God when he lived in Las Vegas in the late 1990s.

He said he was into gambling and decided to change his life after people stole “millions” of dollars from him.

He forgave them and now his calling is to spread the word, he said.

Klevmoen’s goal is to have the Ten Commandments displayed on homes and cars across the nation, but this is the first park he’s developed.

He said he’s had plenty of help from local businesses — Brian Peterson made the crosses, LHC Inc. provided a discount on concrete, and Midway Rental, Bighorn Development and Mel Sheeran all helped.

People who donate can get a Ten Commandments bumper sticker, car magnet or even large banners if they like. The park will have an office and a prayer room.