2005thoughts

Hi Friends........I am passing on ACE's informative reminder to attend the Assembly meeting Tuesday evening to help pass the Parks Plan. The Coastal Trail is an integral part of the Parks Plan and some Assembly members have indicated they want to remove the Coastal Trail from the plan. Our message has been to leave the Coastal Trail in the Parks Plan (and other transportation plans) so we can continue to work towards a viable solution. Removing the Coastal Trail from these planning documents may stop work on the route selection, wastes the $3.5 million that has already been spent trying to find a good solution, and may ultimately require the Muni to pay back the $3.5 million that has already been spent.

I hope some of you can attend and testify at the Tuesday assembly meeting. I have attached a talking outline that I plan to use when I testify. Feel free to use any and all of my outline to guide your testimony. Hope to see you there on Tuesday evening...........Mike

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Alaska Center for the Environment

Take Pride in Anchorage

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Help Pass the Parks Plan - Assembly Meeting TUESDAY (12/12/05)

The Municipality of Anchorage is finalizing the Park, Natural Open Space and Recreation Facility Plan for the Anchorage Bowl. After several years of public input and planning, the Plan is up for a public hearing and final approval before the Anchorage Assembly. The Plan itself is a balanced approach to facilities management and open space protection. In light of the Assembly's actions to rewrite the Transportation Plan, however, it is important that the public makes a strong showing in support of the Parks Plan.

Please join us at the Library Tuesday night - your parks need you!

Assembly Meeting and Public Hearing

Tuesday, December 13, 6:00 pm

Assembly Chambers, Loussac Library

Hundreds of park and trail advocates turned up to support the Park Plan at the Assembly meeting on Nov. 8. Due to a packed agenda, the Assembly postponed testimony on the Park Plan until Tuesday Dec. 13.

To all who attended the Nov. 8 hearing, and who contacted their Assembly members independently, we thank you. A united community will strengthen the services Parks & Recreation offers. Supporters are recommended to testify at the Dec 13 hearing, and may also contact Assembly members in advance. The Park Plan is listed as the first agenda item, so plan to arrive at or before 6 pm.

The Park Plan reflects three years of public process and passed the Anchorage Park & Recreation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously.

Park Plan

Communities with adopted park plans can demonstrate that they know what they want and they plan to work together to accomplish their goals.

* Park plans attract grants (in 2005 Anchorage did not secure a Kroc grant for a Muldoon Community Center. An adopted park plan may well have buoyed the proposal).

* Park plans attract investment (investors in the Anchorage Park Foundation will look to an adopted park plan as a sign that the community of Anchorage is united and values investment).

* Park plans engage the community and involve community in the vision for the future (Anchorage logged over 4428 volunteer hours in Clean & Green, Safe & Secure campaign the summer of 2005. People are excited about making a difference in their parks).

The Anchorage Park Plan sets policy goals and allows policy makers to craft workplans and budgets that reflect community priorities.

2005 Parks & Recreation Accomplishments

Community generated park plan goals led to the following accomplishments in 2005:

* opened 4 Park District offices, increased facility hours to seven days per week, and increased participation levels with new programs for health and fitness;

* launched Clean & Green, Safe & Secure logging 4428 volunteer hours, making a difference in 30 parks and responding to the public demand;

* established the Anchorage Park Foundation and raised over $776,000 in contributions;

* completed a major public involvement program and developed a Strategic Action Plan with a clear public mandate for well maintained and safe parks for our residents;

* developed a public-driven Capital Improvement Plan;

* and received over $7 million in federal and state grants for renovation of existing and new park improvements and now have over 26 park improvement projects in design for construction in 2006.

Andre Camara Jr | Local Issues Coordinator | Alaska Center for the Environment | Phone: 907.274.3668 | www.akcenter.org