Note from the Director

Welcome to the first edition of the Anchorage Park Foundation’s quarterly e-newsletter. I hope you enjoy this opportunity to learn about recent park news, upcoming volunteer opportunities, and see some of our local park & trail champions featured.

As we strive to mobilize public support and financial resources for Anchorage parks, trails and recreation opportunities, communicating through an e-newsletter is a great way to let people know how to get involved. I hope you enjoy staying in touch with us. Please do send me feature items and photos.

Recent News

The Anchorage Park Foundation will launch a Spring Campaign this month.

The park bond season is upon us, and talk among recreation users turns to whether the public will support GO bonds this time April 3rd. The 14 park projects are outlined on the Anchorage Park Foundation website – many of the projects would serve the entire community’s areawide needs.

The Alaska State Legislature is in session, and the capital budget is not yet ready to move. Now is the time for constituencies to articulate their parks & recreation needs. Click here to see maps of the park projects for state consideration.

Cuddy Family Midtown Park will be under construction this summer. We will build the skating oval, the pond, and Betti’s Garden, as well as finishing the amphitheatre.

The new activity guide will be out March 25th. Summer camps and activities for kids will be prominent, but you can still find time for that paragliding class you’ve always wanted to take!

The Municipality of Anchorage will be receiving national recognition in 2007 by being named a Tree City, USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award recognizes Anchorage for improving our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees.

Parks & Recreation will hire 20 youth ages 16-18 this summer for Youth Employment in Parks! Learn more and download an application on Alaska Youth for Environmental Action's website.

Senator Hollis French Champions Parks

In 2006 Sen. French became the first legislator to request state funding be allocated directly to the Anchorage Park Foundation. Sen. French saw the beauty in leveraging private and public funds, and wisely judged that the foundation should be able to manage small projects more smoothly than the Municipality of Anchorage.

Thanks for pioneering with us Senator French! We hope many legislators get on board this session and invest in our public lands and waters through the Anchorage Park Foundation.

Volunteer Opportunities

Along with all the opportunities to clean and fix up the parks listed in our events section, please consider ongoing opportunities you and your active organization may want to take up:

Adopt-A-Park: Volunteers remove trash at least once a month and report safety hazards and concerns to Parks & Recreation. A sign is displayed in the adopted park recognizing the name or group name and the contribution they make to the park.

Adopt-A-Trail: Adopt a segment of trail with the same responsibilities as adopt-a-park -- the program always needs more community involvement!

Trail Watch: Trail Watchers set their own schedule, carry a cell phone and wear a reflective band or vest during normal trail use, to report crimes and vandalism. Trail Watch Ambassadors commit to a schedule, volunteer for special activities, and submit reports after each patrol. Sign up at www.muni.org/trailwatch.

Clean & Green: Community volunteer groups make a physical improvement to a park under Parks & Recreation leadership. Painting and pruning for trail safety are the two most popular projects.

Get Out Into Spring and Give Back to Parks

Volunteer Coordinator Wade Collins 343-4460 or collinsWA@muni.org
Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Beardsley 343-4288 beardsleyNJ@muni.org

Volunteer of the Month