Prickly Pear Land Trust and project partners – City of Helena, Department of Defense, onX Maps, and supportive landowners – have worked together to add 54 key acres of public land for local outdoor recreation at Mount Helena.

“It’s another really awesome addition to Helena’s South Hills and the public lands we all own,” said Mary Hollow, PPLT executive director.

Contractors have spent the last few months doing fuels mitigation and other work on the property, and both Hollow and Helena Public Lands Director Kristi Ponozzo praised the Grahams (landowners) for their care of the 54 acres.

“This kind of work is only possible with the partnerships, the strong partnerships that Prickly Pear Land Trust has built with the city of Helena and with the department (of Defense),” Hollow said. “We have really strong relationships with the Montana Army National Guard that have been beneficial for our service members and civilians alike and I think especially in these times projects like these are places where people can come together.