Broadwater County Trails Team Begins Walk Audits in Townsend Community
Author: Al Christophersen, Broadwater County Trails
Article Published: 09/18/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 11Broadwater County Trails Team Begins Walk Audits in Townsend Community
Al Christophersen
Broadwater County Trails
The Broadwater County Trails Team began conducting Walk Audits as part of their acceptance of a national AARP grant. The grant was to conduct Walk Audits and complete a final report of findings. This effort will help inform future grant applications with information about who uses the various walking infrastructure, their condition, and barriers to all users.
The Walk Audits conducted by BCT members look at a variety of conditions and situations. Audit members complete a series of worksheets that collectively help survey and document conditions of the surveyed area. Worksheets document the survey results for who is using a sidewalk or street, conditions of sidewalks, streets, and street crossings, safety findings, appeal of those streets and sidewalks, building a better block and winter condition issues.
The AARP Walk Audits will be looking at streets, crosswalks, and sidewalks in and around Townsend and identified trail routes in the Townsend area. Results will be analyzed and incorporated into a final report to be submitted to AARP by the end of December. BCT will endeavor to keep residents informed of our Walk Audit dates and times. We encourage local residents, seniors, students, mobility and sight-impaired individuals, business owners, city and county representatives to join us as audit members. Monitor our FB page and future articles to join us and help make Broadwater County and the Townsend community a safe and walkable community.
Join our Trail team, help with audits and trail efforts and support our work. The BCT team meets the second Thursday of each month at the lodge at 6 pm. For information contact: John Hahn, 406-202-1050; Carol Hatfield, 406-431-9656; or Al Christophersen, 406-439-0197.
