BUTTE – The public is being asked to determine the future Silver Bow/Black Tail Creek corridor running through Butte.
“It’s about what the community wants living here. To me it’s about soliciting that input and getting an idea about what the community wants to see in this corridor,” said Nikia Greene of the EPA.
More than 50 citizens gathered Tuesday in the conference room of the Butte Brewery to mark what public use amenities they’d like to see along this portion of Butte once the cleanup is complete over the next five years. This is part of the settlement between Butte, the state and Atlantic Richfield to clean up the mine contamination in Butte. 
“So that includes stickers that allow the public to put on a map where they would want parking or community gathering spaces or play areas for children,” said Julia Crain of the Butte Superfund Division.
There was plenty of enthusiasm among the public.
“When we’re laying out the final design for the corridor, what features have public support, and more particularly which ones not so much so that we can make good decisions,” said Butte Superfund Coordinator Jon Sesso.
One of the sites set to be cleaned is called the Diggings East located at the intersection of George Street and Kaw Avenue. Once the cleanup is done, the public is being asked: where and what can be added to the site to make it great for public use?
“What kind of trail system will be useful here? What kind of amenity to have for your young children? How can we use it all seasons and really make it a vibrant area with a lot of vitality,” asked Crain.
