{"id":3442,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:58:09","latitude":45.9775377444972122020772076211869716644287109375,"longitude":-112.545554637908935546875,"title":"Copper Mountain Sports and Recreation Complex","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/d6a6b7e7bedd41a1236c6a9e67906f05.jpg","address":"","all_locations":[],"zoom":16,"creator":["Lindsay Mulcahy"],"description":"What started out as a landfill is now a premier sports and recreation complex. The Atlantic Richfield Company pledged to spend $2.3 million on a park to serve as a waste cap if allowed to dump Colorado tailings in a repository on the site. It was agreed upon and construction began in 1997. Shortly afterwards it was realized that the ground water in the area was insufficient for irrigation needs and a pipeline was built to bring water in from Silver Lake. The complex was finally opened in August of 2001. <br />\r\n<br />\r\nThe complex includes a playground, a driving range, fishing pond, folf course, Little Guy Football fields, and Three Legends baseball stadium. The stadium is named in honor of Jack Whelan, Jim “Fonz” Hanley, and Jack Cavanaugh who were all instrumental in American Legion baseball in Butte.<br />","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":[],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/d6a6b7e7bedd41a1236c6a9e67906f05.jpg":{"id":5489,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Citizens of Butte hitting the first golf balls at the driving range at Copper Mountain Sports and Recreation Complex.","description":"The Montana Standard | July 31, 2001 | Walter Hinick","thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/d6a6b7e7bedd41a1236c6a9e67906f05.jpg"},"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/01e5b893517c6f593f7ccb6a20cbc7c8.jpg":{"id":5490,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Mining City Little Guy Football program, playing its first season at Copper Mountain Sports and Recreation Complex.","description":"The Montana Standard | September 23, 2001 | Walter Hinick","thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/01e5b893517c6f593f7ccb6a20cbc7c8.jpg"},"https://storyofbutte.org/files/fullsize/16d9283a6d37c8e6e5efd4145c8ef148.jpg":{"id":5488,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Judge Jack Whelan, Linda Cavanaugh, and Jim &quot;Fonz&quot; Hanley are pictured for the opening and dedication of 3 Legends Stadium.","description":"The Montana Standard | May 26, 2017 | Mike Smith","thumbnail":"https://storyofbutte.org/files/square_thumbnails/16d9283a6d37c8e6e5efd4145c8ef148.jpg"}}}