Coldwell secures fish pond grant

The City of Troy will be spending $2,000 extra this year to help improve recreation opportunities at the city’s fishing pond, thanks to a grant from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Troy Mayor Darren Coldwell applied for grant funds to help beautify the fishing pond and enhance the experience of visiting anglers. He had applied for additional funds in order to install picnic benches, but that portion of the application was rejected as it didn’t fall into the program criteria.

“It is a pleasure to inform you that your application to the Community Pond Program has been approved for $2,000,” Program Officer Michelle McGree wrote in a letter to Coldwell dated Feb. 10, 2016. “The grant is for portions of your project tied directly to angler use, which includes the shade trees ($1,400) and concrete slab ($600). The committee did not feel that picnic benches fell under the program criteria; funds must be used for portions of the project that are necessary to create or enhance angling opportunity.”

Coldwell reported the award to the Troy City Council during the council’s regular meeting Wednesday, Feb. 17. He said the new projects will make a significant improvement to the quality of the experience at the Troy Fishing Pond.

“If you have been to our pond it is really missing shade,” he said. “So I was looking for a place to help us to provide not only trees but a shade structure as well. Actually my sister called me one day and asked if I was aware of the grant available to communities to improve current fishing ponds. It just so happened that the deadline was the end of last month. So I put together a proposal and a request for funding. This amount will provide for all the trees and a slab at the other end of the pond for handicap access.”