Meetings

During this initial stage, we looked at the project as it was originally proposed for funding in 1995. We listened to the public and agencies ideas on how they used the Greenbelt, what they wanted to change, and what they wanted to not change. This was a critical phase of project development as it was the basis from which the project was evaluated and developed.

The public addressed the following concerns:
Unsightly views into the trailhead areas from surrounding neighborhood homes
Noise from trailhead facilities to surrounding neighborhood homes
Increased vehicle traffic on surrounding neighborhood streets and roadways
Trespass from surrounding neighborhoods to access greenbelt
Potential for forest fires
Potential for wildlife impacts
Additional maintenance and operation on a shrinking budget
Unique areas or resources that need to be protected

The agencies addressed the following concerns:
avoiding Clearwater Creek and the South Fork of Eagle River
avoid salmon spawning areas (to ½ mile if possible)
construct unpaved trail to slow bikers and joggers
public education on bear and moose safety

Project staff took these comments along with the following design criteria to create a trail alternative to present in the environmental document:
on public land
acceptable slope angle
not in wetlands or floodplain
on well-drained soils
try to use existing trails where possible
avoid avalanche zones
include viewing areas
try to connect trail to community where possible

From these recommendations, the Preferred Alternative was created that would construct a 15.3-mile pedestrian pathway from the Glenn Highway to the Eagle River Nature Center.

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