Note from the Development Director
 This summer, the Anchorage Park Foundation is partnering with community groups, volunteers and the Parks & Recreation Department to improve parks & trails, give youth the opportunity for meaningful employment in Anchorage's public lands, and strengthen neighborhood communities.
Nonetheless, these are difficult economic times. We anticipate that the Parks & Recreation Department budget will be reduced alongside other city departments. The Anchorage Park Foundation will continue to remain faithful to our mission of taking better care of what we have and focusing on building stronger neighborhoods.
We look forward to offering our third annual Challenge Grant campaign this fall. Challenge Grants empower community members and user groups to implement park projects they care about with support from the Park Foundation.
Please stay tuned for more information on applying for 2010 Challenge Grants. I encourage you to join us for a Block Party near you and get involved in your neighborhood parks.
Summer Festival in the Park:
Friday, August 7, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Cuddy Family Midtown Park
Please join the Youth Employment in Parks and the Anchorage Park Foundation for our first annual Summer Festival in the Park: an after-work celebration of summer, sunshine, parks and outdoor fun. We'll have fun, healthy activities for the whole family.
Cuddy Family Midtown Park
201 E. 40th Avenue
Friday, August 7; 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
View event flyer here
Youth Employment in Parks teens will take the lead in a variety of fun recreation & art activities!
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Live Music: The Kat Moore Band & The Power of Ten
• Circus arts performer (stilts, juggling, unicycles!)
• Local Food
• Bring bikes for a bike parade with Off the Chain Bike Co-Op
• Bike activities for the whole family
•Art activities led by famed local artists:
Kayla Spaan
Printmaking, silk screening & kitemaking
Jimmy Riordan
Mobile library, book-making & kite flying
Jen Jolliff
Sand sculpting
Mary Hertert
Felting around sticks and stones
Amy Hettinger
Drawing from nature and performance with children
Summer Fix-It Block Parties
Last year, more than 1,000 Anchorage parks supporters joined the Parks & Recreation Department and the Anchorage Park Foundation to "grade" their neighborhood parks. The Anchorage Parks Report Card has the results of their evaluations of 53 parks throughout Anchorage. 
This summer, staff, contractors and volunteers are revitalizing 14 of the 53 parks. Volunteers have accomplished everything from removing graffiti to demolishing old playground equipment. Neighbors have celebrated their successes at a series of community block parties, where families grill burgers, play games, meet their neighbors and enjoy their new, refreshed parks.
The Summer Fix-It Block Parties are a great example of the difference that concerned neighbors can produce close-to-home. We encourage you to join us for our next Block Party in Chugach Foothills Park on Tuesday, August 11.
Get Involved
Challenge Grantees Need Your Support!
We hope you have seen the newly refurbished tennis courts at Delaney Park, the new trail at University Lake Park, the rebuilt Scotty Gomez Hockey Rink at Tikishla Park, and the rest of the challenge grants still in progress this summer.
Two projects are still actively fundraising: The Alicia Iden Nature Trail at Baxter Bog Park, and the Girdwood Skate Park. The Tanglewood Park Boardwalk & outdoor classroom near Bowman Elementary is seeking volunteers until snowfall. We hope you can pitch in!
More Ways to Stay Up-to-Date with Anchorage Parks
Looking for more ways to stay involved in Anchorage parks? Become a fan of the Anchorage Park Foundation on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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