Walsh Applauds Montana National Guard, State Parks Collaboration

Press Release

The Montana National Guard and Montana State Parks today kicked off a project to repair the switchback road at Makoshika State Park near Glendive.

The project is a product of the Department of Defense Innovate Readiness Training program that seeks to promote troop readiness and cut project costs. Senator John Walsh, the former commander of the Montana National Guard, brokered this collaboration during his time as Montana's Lieutenant Governor.

"This partnership will help Makoshika's visitors again experience all the park has to offer," Walsh said. "I'm happy to see that work is beginning so Montanans can enjoy Montana's natural beauty and explore the last best place."

Over 100 soldiers from two National Guard units began work today and will work seven hours a day for six weeks to strip the asphalt and construct a new road. The switchback road was originally damaged in 2011 by heavy rains.

Makoshika State Park is the largest state park in Montana and attracted 600,000 thousand visitors in 2013. The park showcases badlands landscape, rare dinosaur fossils, and an educational visitor's center.

Walsh served in the Montana National Guard for 33 years and was appointed Adjutant General from 2008 to 2012.

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