Pottsville 7 explain agreement with USFS

Nestled just east of Mullan, Idaho, a beloved green space is undergoing a quiet but determined transformation. Officially named Shoshone Park, the site is owned and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Yet for generations of Mullan residents, it has simply been known as Pottsville Park, a name rooted in history, when visitors arrived by rail at the Pottsville siding long before cars became common. 

Since 2021, a local group known as the Pottsville 7, operating under the Mullan Community Foundation, has been working hand-in-hand with the Forest Service to address long-standing deferred maintenance at the park. Their efforts are guided by a Challenge Cost Share Agreement, which enables the group to secure grants and organize private fundraising to support restoration and development. 

The work is extensive. More than 21 maintenance tasks have already been completed by volunteers, everything from lawn care and cleanup to staining picnic tables, refurbishing charcoal grills and reinstalling horseshoe pits. These small victories are part of a larger vision to preserve and revitalize the park for future generations. 

Key to the effort is Jedediah Friedman, a Forest Service recreation management specialist, who has collaborated closely with the Pottsville 7 and colleagues, including District Ranger Holly Hampton, Heritage Specialist Andrea Ramhost, Richard Matrisciano, Ian Cotter, John Heyn, and others. Friedman secured more than $135,000 through the Forest Service’s Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) to remove outdated restrooms and install new facilities. Pottsville 7 member Kjell Truesdell played a vital role in coordinating the project’s many moving parts, including volunteer support. That subproject is now complete. 

But the work is far from over. 

Major restoration efforts still lie ahead, including the west kitchen pavilion, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the caretaker’s cabin and garage. Development plans also call for replacing a former bridge, creating a trail with interpretive signage to showcase the park’s rich history, and installing playground equipment reminiscent of what once stood there. 

These projects will require thousands of dollars and significant time. Fortunately, the Pottsville 7 has already secured a $15,000 grant from the Idaho Heritage Trust and an additional $40,000 from the RAC to begin work on the kitchen pavilion. 

Local support has been strong. Fundraising efforts have drawn contributions from across the Silver Valley, with nearly 100 donations of $100 or more. Major contributors include Mike and Jae Jean Achord, the late Jim Terril, Building Maintenance and Supply, and Dave Smith Motors. 

The restroom project, in particular, benefited from the generosity of several businesses: 

Zanetti’s donated gravel and sand and provided cost-effective trucking for three consecutive days between Missoula and Shoshone Park. Coeur d’Alene Crane worked with the Pottsville 7 to lift and set approximately 50,000 pounds of concrete structures for each restroom. Redneck Recovery, Boston Harbor Services, and F&H Mine Supply Inc. contributed equipment, labor, excavation, and construction services at reduced costs. 

The Pottsville 7 and the Forest Service are deeply grateful for the hundreds of volunteer hours and private donations received from across the country. As the work continues, they emphasize that community support remains vital to the success and future of Shoshone Park, known to many simply as Pottsville.