Ashley Creek Park is a new, 20 acre public space on the west side of Kalispell, Montana. The project is made possible through a visionary gift by the Bibler Family Trust, whose members were inspired to create a public legacy in honor of their father, Sam Bibler, an avid gardener and active community member. Sam’s former private garden in the foothills above town drew hundreds of visitors annually, and Ashley Creek Park will extend that legacy with a public space that celebrates both natural beauty and civic generosity. The Trust has committed not only to funding the design and construction of the park, but also to donating the land and an endowment for long-term maintenance to the City of Kalispell—ensuring its future as a public resource.

The Berger team is guiding the project from vision to realization, working with the Trust, the City of Kalispell, and local residents to shape a space that honors its context and community. At the heart of the park is the eponymous Ashley Creek—a waterway that flows gracefully through the site, forming the park’s central spine and namesake. The design builds on Kalispell’s deep natural beauty, creating a pastoral, shaded park with walking loops, lawn spaces, playground, picnic shelters, and generous native plantings. A planned garden node within the park echoes the color-rich “painting with plants” approach of Sam Bibler’s private gardens, using specialty paving, local stone, and vibrant perennial palettes to create moments of delight and tribute.

Ashley Creek Park braids two threads of Berger’s work—residential craft and public impact— together to create a legacy landscape. It’s a place rooted in memory, built for the future, and offered in the spirit of generosity.