Silver Park was a collaborative effort between the Morris and Helen Silver Foundation, The Millsite Revitalization Project (Old Sawmill District), and the City of Missoula and reflects the Silver family's deep roots in the region and their commitment to transforming the community. The park has a rich history, having served as a working lumber mill site for nearly a century. Local resident Morris Silver purchased the land in 1959, and over the years, it was leased and subleased to multiple lumber mills., until the mills shut down in the1990s. After the mills ceased operation, the area became a contaminated brownfield site.

Once part of Missoula’s largest industrial complex and a contaminated brownfield site, the 15-acre area was revitalized over a decade, turning an industrial wasteland into a vibrant, green public space. This transformation mirrors the Morris and Helen Silver family’s legacy of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability, which they demonstrated through their contributions to local business and community development.

The park, with strategic and creative design is exemplified in its use of recycled granite pathways, recycled timber, and Cor-Ten steel for its structures, symbolizing the renewal of materials and the spirit of growth. Students from the Missoula College Heavy Equipment Program played a significant role in re-contouring the land, digging up abandoned industrial scrap, and even manufacturing topsoil from the rubble. Artistic designs by the Timber Framer’s Guild and Jennifer Anthony created inspiring shelters. George Ybarra’s art installation was made from repurposed materials honor Missoula’s industrial history, while offering a modern, eco-conscious aesthetic. This collaboration turned a challenging industrial past into a space for reflection, recreation, and cultural enrichment. Silver Park stands as a living legacy of Morris and Helen Silver’s progressive values, offering a place of inspiration and community for future generations.

Archival photos by Rollin H. McKay, courtesy of the University of Montana Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections.