Mission accomplished

It has all come full circle.

For the past six years, through all types of weather and against all odds, the Seeley Lake ROCKS team repurposed a former baseball diamond at the elementary school into a weather dependent, night lit, fully functioning skating rink, complete with free skates, helmets, nets and changing benches.

Given the fickle nature of Montana winters, maintaining and operating an outdoor rink is no small task, and we depended on hearty skaters to pick up a shovel or a broom to sweep the ice from time to time.

Countless Seeley Lake kids learned to skate at that small rink. When a renewed interest in local baseball presented a need for that second diamond, we looked to our original mission statement for guidance. That statement — “building healthy children, strong families and vibrant communities through outdoor recreation” — led us to the right next steps. We supported a return to the site’s original use, and we went in search of another good spot for skating. The Seeley Lake Baseball Club now has two diamonds for their expanding activities, and ROCKS is teaming up with the Seeley Lake Lions Club to enhance the skating experience at the Lions Club Community Park.

Three local nonprofits worked together to make sure our families have plenty of options for great outdoor, year-round recreation and the proper space and equipment to succeed. This is a win/win for ROCKS and a win/win for Seeley Lake.