Last Wednesday, December 3rd, several community members attended the Climate Conservation and Parks Committee meeting, where the City, Parks and Rec, and Big Sky Baseball discussed possibly replacing Ogren Field’s natural grass with artificial turf. While presenters cited better accessibility and lower maintenance, many concerns remain about safety, environmental impact, recyclability, and the lack of supporting data on PFAS/PFOS, phthalates, and runoff. The community strongly supports the Paddleheads but opposes artificial turf installation until solid evidence and transparency are provided. A follow-up meeting will be held Wednesday, December 10th, from 10:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. in City Council Chambers, with public comment encouraged.

A new congressional concurrent resolution was introduced on July 16, 2025, by Senator Merkley and Representatives Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Raskin. The resolution supports the principles underpinning Lighthiser v. Trump, a new federal constitutional climate lawsuit brought by 22 youth plaintiffs challenging the Trump administration’s anti-clean energy and anti-climate science Executive orders. Children and future generations, especially those that have borne the brunt of climate change, deserve a livable planet without being burdened by a lifetime of hardship.

Please take 3 minutes to email Governor Gianforte’s office and Montana’s congressional delegation asking them to fight for Montana’s Solar for All program.