In Progress......
The River's Edge Trail
The Missouri River has always played a major role in the life of Great Falls. As the city grew and evolved so did the role of the river. The city's master plan developed by founder Paris Gibson in 1885 envisioned a public park system along the south bank from the city center to the Great Falls of the Missouri. That vision was sidetracked as industrial growth kept pace with city development. Railroads ran along both sides of the river to feed the industrial development. By the time the last of numerous railroads that had served the needs of the city left in 1980 the riverfront was almost devoid of industry. Left behind were the commercial scars and abandoned railroad beds.
The Trail kept growing to the point it has become a reflection of the city it goes through. It grows and changes as the interests of the people who live in the city change. A stroll down the Trail reveals art work, both traditional sculptures and more modern representations, along with informational signs about the flora and fauna and the history of the area.