A proposal for a “living roof” atop the Missoula Public Library could come to fruition within the next two years after a coalition of local government officials pulled together $1.25 million to move the project forward.
The living roof, also known as a green roof, would cover the downtown library with plants along the third floor, fourth floor and the roof of the building — totaling a third of an acre.
Officials touted the environmental benefit of adding plants to the building to the Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA) on Thursday, which voted to approve spending $75,000 of Tax Increment Funding over two years for the project.
“It is a pretty sizeable area in the center of the city, it would also contribute to habitat for little critters and also really significantly cool those spaces,” MRA senior redevelopment project manager Annette Marchesseault said. “Right now those spaces are filled with stone, and that stone absorbs heat, holds heat and then radiates heat. Putting living plants up there certainly would benefit those spaces.”
The City of Missoula’s stormwater utility department secured a $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Upper Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Program.
To get the money, the city needed to provide a 25% local match. The Missoula Library Foundation provided $70,000, Missoula County provided $70,000, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation also awarded a $30,000 grant.
Tracy Campbell, the city’s stormwater utility superintendent, told the MRA board the new library was originally supposed to have plants on the roof, but budget cuts removed that portion of the project.
She said the project would add natural benefits to the library by using nature to address stormwater.
“Our goal is to prevent flooding and protect water quality, and one of the ways we can do both of these is by implementing green infrastructure,” Campbell said. “That’s using plants and soils and basically using nature to mimic the natural hydrological cycle. Green roofs is one of the ways we can do that.”
Campbell did note that the $1 million grant is nearing the final steps toward completion, but still needs to be officially awarded to the city before the project moves forward.
The plants would be installed in areas with stone ballast that are currently on the library roof, creating more energy efficiency for the building, Marchesseault said.
Slaven Lee, the director of the Missoula Public Library, said portions of the project will be publicly accessible through the library terraces.
“This will be a publicly accessible living roof, so it’s a huge educational opportunity for the community, for architects, contractors, students,” Lee said, adding that the library sees 500,000 people per year.
Other places in Missoula have recently installed green roofs, like in the Gerald Marks Exploration Center at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. Officials said there is an existing staff capacity to maintain the green roof once installed.
The project will likely take two years to complete, Campbell said, including the time needed to fully design and build the green roof.
Ice ribbon study
The Missoula Redevelopment Agency Board also approved a plan on Thursday to study the feasibility of an ice ribbon in Caras Park. The MRA previously funded the feasibility study for $150,000 in its fiscal year 2026 budget.
“It has some history and it has some substance in terms as having been recognized as a way to activate that park in the winter, so we have a 12-month facility,” MRA Director Ellen Buchanan said.
The plan recommends a recreational facility in Caras Park that can support outdoor skating and other amenities like an outdoor cafe, children’s play area and fire pits to boost activity in the area in the winter.
One member of the public opposed the feasibility study, arguing instead that the Missoula Redevelopment Agency should look to make improvements to Glacier Ice Rink, the city’s main ice rink.
“I don’t think that there should be a ribbon in Caras Park, I don’t think its needful,” resident Dara Wilson said. “I think that the glacier rink has been asking for money for a long time, for help.”
The board approved a plan to seek an outside consultant to examine what is needed to make the plan work, including gauging infrastructure requirements, operational costs and funding opportunities.
Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.
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