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 State of Alaska > Natural Resources > Parks and Outdoor Recreation |
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2005 Awared Alaska Trail Initiative Grants |
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(Anchorage) – Fifteen Alaska trail development and reconstruction
projects will share more than $3.35 million in federal grants awarded
recently through the Alaska Trails Initiative, Samantha Carroll, state
trails coordinator in the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, announced
today. The grants, administered by the parks division, are the first to be made under the Initiative, a new federal program designed to provide funding to organizations for developing and reconstructing specific trails in Alaska, said Carroll. “Alaska has an outstanding heritage of trails that have provided residents and visitors alike with important access to recreational, commercial and cultural resources for many years,” Carroll said. “Thanks to efforts by Senator Ted Stevens to provide funding for the Alaska Trails Initiative, we will be able to preserve and extend this heritage into the future.” The grants were issued on a competitive basis for development and construction of the following trails: Sitka Cross Trail: Funds will be combined with private and municipal funds to build an important, construction-ready, section of the Sitka Cross Trail. Phase I funds will also be applied to the trail maintenance program and to pre-construction planning and development of other projects listed in the 2003 Sitka Trail Plan. Trail construction will provide local jobs and permanent recreation infrastructure for residents and visitors. Sitka Trail Works received $399,600 for this project. Girdwood Trails: This project will rehabilitate the oldest portion of the existing Girdwood Trail on the west side of the Alyeska Highway from the Seward Highway to Crow Creek Road. The trail has been in place for more than 16 years and the surface is damaged to the point of creating a hazard to users. The project is a cooperative effort of several agencies: the Girdwood Board of Supervisors Trail Committee, the Girdwood Parks Department and the Municipality of Anchorage. The agencies conducted a comprehensive inventory of the trail as part of this proposal. The Municipality of Anchorage, Girdwood Parks & Recreation Department and the Girdwood Trails Committee received $92,352 for this project. Kodiak Trails: The Abercrombie Drive Bicycle Trail/Pedestrian Pathway will link the Rezanof Drive Bicycle Trail/Pedestrian Pathway with the Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park and its popular trail system. The separated pathway will allow bicyclists and pedestrians to travel safely to and from the park without traveling on the roadway. A bicycle rack and trailhead informational kiosk will allow park visitors to exercise, access park information, secure bicycles and explore park trails. The Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Kodiak District received $294,929 for this project. Iditarod National Historic Trail Seward to Girdwood: The Chugach National Forest proposes to construct and restore 13.5 miles along two priority segments of the Iditarod National Historic Trail between the "12 Mile Hill" on the Seward Highway and the Bear Lake Trailhead, and between the Mile 72 on the Seward Highway and the Turnagain Pass East Trailhead. The project will address critical safety hazards and eliminate deferred maintenance backlog, bringing the trail to Forest Service National Quality Trail Standards and providing more than 100 miles of interconnecting trail opportunities. The project will result in the quality development and preservation of an outstanding national resource, benefit local communities and thousand of visitors and will serve as a catalyst to generate additional resources and support for the nearly 2,300 miles of Iditarod National Historic Trail between Seward and Nome. The Chugach National Forest received $238,555 for this project. Perseverance Trail: The first road built in Alaska and one of the most popular trails systems in Juneau will be repaired to reduce safety concerns and preserve access to the many miles of trails and ridges behind downtown. The failing wooded cribs along the first mile of the Perseverance Trail will be replaced by blasting a notch in the rock for the trail. Trail Mix received $654,289 for this project. Juneau Nordic Trails: This project seeks to recondition, reestablish and connect 10.5 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails at Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau. These trails also will eventually be usable in summer for mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders and the lower trails will be available for adaptive uses. Funds will be used for planning and development of this proposed trail system. Eaglecrest Ski Area received $87,734 for this project. Russian River Anglers Trail Proposal: This project includes the construction of a fishing/viewing platform at the confluence of the Russian River with the Kenai River and four segments totaling 1,333 feet of handicap-useable trail that will complete a 0.6 mile portion of anglers' trail along the Russian River. This will include re-vegetation of the abandoned trail and riverbank stabilization using biotechnical techniques. The major objectives are to provide user access along and into the lower portion of the Russian River, and to protect the riparian, aquatic, fisheries and heritage resources. The Chugach National Forest received $377,663 for this project. Hatcher Pass Trails: This project proposes trail signage, trail maintenance and rehabilitation of three popular Hatcher Pass trails, the Gold Mint Trail, the Independence Mine-Gold Cord and Summit Lake-Angle Bowl trails. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough received $167,399 for this project. Arctic Valley Trails: The Arctic Valley project will improve access and user enjoyment of Chugach State Park by upgrading existing facilities developed and maintained by the non-profit Anchorage Ski Club. The Anchorage Ski Club holds a long-term lease at Arctic Valley within the boundaries of Chugach State Park for the purpose of providing public recreation. A new trail will be built, along with upgrades to make the popular Rendezvous Peak trail system easier to use and better able to handle increased traffic. The Anchorage Ski Club and the Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Chugach District were awarded $95,904 for this project. Sitka World War II Causeway: The World War II Causeway project involves the design and construction of a handicapped-accessible walkway that would link refurbished and interpreted features of military ruins, which include gun emplacements, bunkers and an infirmary, along a one mile roadbed built by the Army in the 1940s. Development of the site will let visitors enjoy an interactive walking tour to view, touch and experience the living history of Alaska's role in World War II. Phase one funds will be used to clean up the current area and resolve safety issues so it can be enjoyed in its present state. Funds will be used to produce quality design and site interpretation documents to guide further project development and permitting. Sitka Trail Works received $133,200 for this project. Iditarod National Historic Trail Enhancement Project: This project encompasses the clearing, grading, marking and interpretive signage of the most dangerous section of the 1,150 mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race Trail. Most of this identified portion of trail runs directly on the original Iditarod Trail. It cuts through a number of unmarked, uncleared and unmaintained trail systems that present several safety concerns during the winter months. The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) is committed to enhancing the original historic trail so it will be a safe mulit-use median for the many recreationalists and residents who depend on the trail system for travel between shelter cabins, lodges and communities. The Committee intends to develop signage along the trail to identify location for GPS purposes, distance from location to location, and historical and cultural information about each checkpoint, cabin and feature along the enhanced portion of the trail system. The Iditarod Trail Committee received $426,240 for this project. Under Thunder Pathway: Under Thunder Pathway is a pathway linking a fourth of Juneau's most densely populated neighborhoods with each other, schools, business parks and shopping areas encouraging safe and efficient transportation and recreation. This project involves improving Under Thunder Pathway from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to Amalga Street along the base of Thunder Mountain with connections to neighborhood streets. Future plans are to extend and pave this trail all the way to the McNugget Intersection. Trail Mix received $88,800 for this project. State of Alaska Wildlife Trails: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game proposes to developed two new wildlife viewing tails (driving itineraries) that unify, highlight and interpret wildlife viewing sites along 1) the Kenai Peninsula and 2) the Southcentral and Southwest segments of the Alaska Marine Highway route. Wildlife viewing trails, which are popular in more than 30 other states, help to educate the public about wildlife, draw visitors to communities in need of economic development, and provide new recreation opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. These trails will spotlight and strengthen Alaska's role as American's premiere wildlife viewing destination. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game received $219,824 for this project. Matanuska Susitna Gorsuch Trails: The Matanuska Susitna Gorsuch Trails Project is the development and construction of a parking lot, trailhead and trail to offer public access to the Chulitna River at the end of a new public road being built that will connect the Parks Highway and terminate at the trailhead. The parking lot and trailhead will also include a trail that will give the public access to view Mt. McKinley (weather permitting). The Western Alaska Council of the Boy Scouts of America received $28,000 for this project. Crystalline Hills Trailhead: The project is at mile 35.2 McCarthy Road within Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve. The nearest community is McCarthy, about 25 miles from the existing trailhead. The existing trail extends about 2.75 miles into the Crystalline Hills. The project is limited to development of trailhead improvements and a trail guide. The project will improve access to the Crystalline Hills for wildlife viewing and recreational hiking. The Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve received $47,508 for this project. For more information on the Alaska Trails Initiative Grant Program visit the website at www.alaskastrails.org; or contact Chris Degernes at (907) 269-8702 or chris.degernes@alaska.gov; or contact Georgia Conti 269-8709 or georgia_conti@dnr.state.ak.us |
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Grants Links Grants Home Forest Legacy Program Certified Local Government Program Development Project Grants Land and Water Conservation Fund Recreational Trails Program Snowmobile Trails Program Alaska Trails Initiative Coastal Wetlands |
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Last updated on Monday, 05-Oct-2009 13:11:18 AKDT.
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