MISSOULA — The City of Missoula and Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) have reached an agreement to move forward with a new neighborhood center located at Lowell Elementary School.
The vision started in 2019 when Lowell School Principal Barbara Frank recognized her students and families were not getting the same opportunities outside of the school setting as those in other communities.
Frank knew she had the space at her school to create a neighborhood center but needed help.
Missoula Parks and Recreation, the Missoula Food Bank, and others jumped on board to help make her vision a reality. MCPS recently gave their approval to create the center, and the city committed nearly $100,000 of funding.
Frank says the neighborhood center will create opportunities beyond just her students and families.
"Adult Ed opportunities, craft and cooking classes, nutrition classes, parenting classes,” Frank told MTN News. “We want to have open gyms so that our kids can come in and have a safe place to play."
The final approval for the Lowell School Neighborhood Center is expected when Missoula City Council votes on the project next Monday.
