Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation ...

1 Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility PlanApril 2006AO 2005-122 Municipality of AnchoragePlanning department &Parks and Recreation DepartmentAnchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Planand Recreation Facility PlanFinalApril 2006 Adopted by Ordinance AO 2005-122 April 18, 2006 Prepared byLand Design NorthEppley Institute of Parks and Public Lands-Indiana UniversityAlaska Pacifi c Universityfor the Municipality of AnchoragePlanning DepartmentandParks and Recreation DepartmentThis plan has been partially funded through a grant from the department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Offi ce of Ocean and Coastal Resources fellow Anchorage resident:Our city is blessed by its location and the spirit of its people.

2 As mayor, lifelong Anchorage resident, and father of a young son, I am a regular user of our park system. Like you, I love our parks, trails, streams, Natural areas, and mountains. We draw our identity and community spirit from these memorable Bowl residents have an experience of city life in the wilderness that few other American metropolitan areas can match. Anchorage has over 10,000 acres of municipal parkland, 200 parks, and over 400 kilometers of trails and greenbelts that link neighborhoods with surrounding Natural open space and wildlife habitat. The city is blessed with large expanses of Natural open space within its boundaries and is surrounded by Chugach State Park and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.

3 By 2020, up to 50,000 new residents will live in Anchorage . Our park system will be challenged to keep pace with this growth. Every young person in our city deserves to grow up near a neighborhood park, close to a playground and ball fi eld with opportunities for after-school programs, sports, swimming, skiing and the enjoyment of nature. We must demonstrate our commitment to them by protecting and providing the public spaces and programs needed for their is why we are pleased to submit the fi nal Parks, Natural Resource and Recreation Facility Plan. The Plan provides a range of development options for the next 20 years based on our community s willingness and ability to fund new initiatives.

4 The plan is intended as a trail map, providing broad policies for where new parks and facilities should be developed and how to take care of our existing facilities. Most importantly the Plan provides a measurable and defendable process to acquire, develop and manage the parks, Natural resource and Recreation facilities in the Anchorage Bowl. As a community leader, I have learned that talking about a problem is not solving it. The Plan is intended to be used as a catalyst for improving the park system to meet our growing community needs. Three years ago we started this process by meeting with the public and the many partners who help provide Recreation opportunities to our city.

5 The results have led to the establishment of Park Districts with managers who are accessible to the public to implement such programs as the Clean and Green and Safe & Secure and to the Anchorage Park Foundation, which has raised more than $1 million in the fi rst year for park are eight core themes in this report that will help make our park system stronger: Take better care of what we have; Build strong private-public partnerships; Use parks as community building blocks; Provide balanced services and facilities for all residents; Provide safe and convenient access and connections; Promote stewardship of our Natural resources; and Create a strong park these goals will not be easy.

6 The vision asks something of every resident. It requires public support for innovative funding, it requires signifi cant private investment, and it requires us to be stewards of our surroundings. Together we can accomplish these ambitious but necessary goals for the future of our children and our community. The Anchorage Bowl Park Plan marks a new beginning for the city, a new dedication by Park staff and a new community spirit among us ,Mayor Mark BegichivvAcknowledgementsA special thank you to all those who have contributed to this Begich, MayorMunicipality of AnchorageMary Jane Michael, Executive Director Offi ce of Economic and Community Development Jeff Dillon, DirectorParks and Recreation DepartmentJohn Rodda, ManagerEagle River Parks and Recreation (Former Acting Director of Parks and Recreation )

7 Allan Tesche Debbie Ossiander Anna Fairclough Pamela Jennings Dan Sullivan DanCoffey Dick Traini Ken Stout Paul Bauer Janice Shamberg Chris BirchAssembly MembersSpecial Dedication- The entire municipality would like to acknowledge the work of past generations of park planners and community members who had the vision and foresight to preserve and shape the great parks, open space and greenbelts that add so much value to the quality of life for all Anchorage residents.

8 In particular, we would like to extend our warmest thanks to Victor Fischer who, as planning director, helped author Anchorage s fi rst formal Park Plan in 1954 and set the vision for future generations to come. We should aspire to such greatness for our Mollozzi, ChairJeff ClarkePeter CrosbyDiane EtterBarbara HoodKaren Loeffl erJames MasonEric McCallumKathleen PlunkettSandy TrainiSanford RabinowitchSpecial Thanks to Past MembersRichard LobdellGary MatthewsJames BalamaciSteve BeardsleyIn memorial for his lifetime dedicated to improving Recreation opportunities for our community~ Bill BrysonParks and Recreation CommissionviiCommunity Advisory GroupAcknowledgementsAndre Camara alaska Center for the EnvironmentJerry LewanskiAlaska department of Natural Resources-Chugach State ParkStacy SchubertAnchorage Chamber of CommerceJulie Saupe

9 Anchorage Convention & Visitors BureauMark Brooks Anchorage Hockey AssociationRalph ClampittAnchorage Horse CouncilCharles Utermohle Anchorage Running ClubPaul VerrierAnchorage Running ClubCarol ComeauAnchorage School DistrictGeorge VakalisAnchorage School DistrictBonnie MurphyAnchorage Senior Center Don BrooksAnchorage Sports AssociationMary NormanAnchorage Sports AssociationMike MitchellAnchorage Trails & Greenways CoalitionHolly KentAnchorage Waterways CouncilJohn OatesBoys and Girls ClubRobert LloydBureau of Land Management-AFOBeth EdmandsChallenge AlaskaDavid ManzerDistrict 1 Little LeagueMichael SewrightDistrict 1 Little LeagueGeorge GaguzisFederation of Community CouncilsJim BarrFriends of Bicentennial ParkLisa Eyler Great Land TrustBill Neher*Municipal Parks & Recreation Commission Gayle Knepper*Municipal Planning & Zoning Commission Nancy PeaseMunicipal Planning & Zoning CommissionDon PoultonMunicipal Planning & Zoning CommissionBob RobertsonPast Director of Parks and Recreation DepartmentKathleen PlunkettRussian Jack Community CouncilSherri JacksonSand Lake Community CouncilKlaus ReichSoccer alaska *former commissionerviiiAcknowledgementsTechnica l

10 Advisory GroupJessica ColtraneAlaska department of Fish and GameRick SinnottAlaska department of Fish and GameJerry LewanskiAlaska department of Natural Resources, Chugach State ParkPatricia JoynerAlaska department of Natural Resources, Forestry DivisionDiana RiggAlaska department of Transportation & Public FacilitiesTed Stevens Anchorage International AirportTim PotterDOWL Engineers, Cannelos*MOA-Heritage Land Bank Pat Tilton*MOA-Heritage Land Bank Alan CzajkowskiMOA-Maintenance & Operations DepartmentVince Mee*MOA-Maintenance & Operations DepartmentGeorge KendallMOA-Maintenance & Operations DepartmentStreet Maintenance, NorthRay RobertsMOA-Maintenance & Operations DepartmentStreet Maintenance.