The City of Billings is seeking grant funds of $125,000 from the Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program to provide an interpretive site and redevelopment of the Yellowstone Kelly gravesite at Swords Park. The gravesite reconstruction is part of the Swords Park Master Plan that has been adopted by the City Council and has been supported by the Billings Chamber of Commerce and CVB. It is also identified in the Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Swords Park brochure as one of the amenities seeking donations for improvements. The deadline for the Tourism Grant is August 1, 2012.

City Council may:

• Approve submittal of the grant application; or
• Not approve submittal of the grant application. If the City does not submit this application for the Montana Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program grant, it will need to seek funds from other sources such as private foundations and individuals.

It is estimated that the total cost for the Yellowstone Kelly Gravesite is approximately $139,000. The Tourism Grant (TIIP) requires a 2:1 match, but allows monies that have been spent in the past year for this project to be used as the match requirement. Yellowstone Kelly Gravesite is one aspect of the Swords Park Master Plan and this past year, the City of Billings completed the Swords Park Trail Phase 2 which is also part of the total master plan, so the funds spent on the trail can be used as the required local match.

Staff recommends that Council approve the application submittal to the Montana Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program for the Yellowstone Kelly Gravesite reconstruction as part of the Swords Park Master Plan.