Public Meeting #2

On the evening of January 25th the second public meeting was hosted at the Chilkat Center. Approximately 30 people attended. The meeting was again started by Interim Borough Manager Brad Ryan who welcomed attendees and provided project background. Members of the Corvus Design team (Chris Mertl and Erik Jones) gave a brief introduction on interpretation and summarized what we heard from the public during the open studio session. There was positive public conversation and consensus about the need to strengthen the cultural stories related to Haines' waterfront with an emphasis on the Chilkat Tlingit people. Stories included the original name of Haines being Dei shu, meaning "end of the trail"and the grease trail, Raven house, the relationships between the Chilkat people and the Presbyterian Church and US Army, and many others. Corvus Design introduced the idea of using the Chilkat blanket's color palette and local formline as possible elements to visually unify the trail and park facilities and this was met with approval by those in attendance (coordination and approval will be needed to ensure cultural sensitivity before progressing any further using this concept). Public input was received on themes for the new waterfront park and those discussed included "working waterfront", "fisherman's memorial" and "Chilkat culture" and most agreed incorporating all elements would be preferred. 

Discussion moved onto the trail alignment and the five layouts that were developed by the public at the January 23rd public meeting were summarized. Based on the five trail layouts, Corvus Design presented a consensus trail map that showed the common layout and trail types developed from the five public layouts. (See below). Based on the trail consensus map, typical trail sections were presented for each of the trail types identified by the public. Corvus Design, then presented a recommended trail plan that was largely based on the the consensus trail map and provided additional detail. (See below). Attendees discussed the recommended trail plan and were asked to provide additional comments. Overall, those in attendance approved the recommended trail plan with minor edits. The public was then invited to prioritize trail segments that has the highest community need and should be installed in the short term future. The highest priority segments are 1) Cruise ship dock through the harbor to Main Street, 2) Breakwater trail, 3) Beach trail from cruise ship dock to Portage Cove campground trail, and 4) Beach trail from Front Street and the Haines Highway to Picture Point wayside

We welcome additional input and comments on the work developed to date. These findings are preliminary in nature and will be further refined based on additional comments and input received at future public meetings and open studio sessions. Comments can be left with the Haines Borough or Corvus Design with links to comment to be found on the right.

Public meeting #3 and 4 are tentatively scheduled for mid-March. Please watch this website for meeting updates and the posting of new project related information.

Presentation

(Click Link Above to View PDF)

Existing Conditions & Community Consensus Maps

(Click Link Above to View PDF)

Corvus Design Recommended Layout

(Click Link Above to View PDF)

Presentation

Community Discussions And Map Viewing

Community Trail Priority Voting

Recommended Trail Priority Results

Open Studio Session

On January 24th and 25th, the Corvus Design team hosted two all day open studio sessions at the Borough Library. The open studio sessions were an opportunity for residents to stop by and view the materials generated during the first public meeting, provide input on interpretation along the corridor, and add information to the inventory mapping that detailed opportunities along the route. Over 80 people stopped by to provide input over the two days. Participants also provided additional input on the trail and park layout and assisted the planning team in developing the plans that were to be presented at the second public meeting on the evening of January 25th. We would like to thank all those that took the time to attend the open studio session and for providing your valuable input.

Interpretive Opportunities

Community Comments, Concerns, Suggestions, etc.

Public Meeting #1

On January 23rd, the Haines Borough and Corvus Design hosted the first public meeting which was held at the Chilkat Center. Over 35 members of the public attended. The meeting was kicked off by Interim Borough Manager Brad Ryan who welcomed attendees and provided project background. The meeting was turned over to members of the Corvus Design team (Chris Mertl and Erik Jones) who asked attendees to introduce themselves and to state one interesting or unique fact about Haines. The Corvus Design team provided a brief presentation about interpretive planning and the different types of interpretation that could be included in the project (see link below). The public was asked recall or to create a series of newspaper headlines about Haines either current or historic. These were discussed to understand the great stories about the community and how they might be applied to the Portage Cove Trail and Park and help celebrate Haines' culture, heritage and history. 

The attendees were then broken into table groups and were asked to identify the destinations, nodes and attractions along the corridor and within surrounding neighborhoods on large maps. They were then provided trail segments and asked to link the destinations with various trail types to create a trail that linked Portage Cove Campground to the harbor and out to Picture Point Wayside. Each team was also asked to locate a new park along the route. Once each table completed their trail layouts they were asked to present their layouts to the larger group. Below you will find images of the entire process as well as each group's final map.

What is Interpretation?

(Click Link Above to View PDF)

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Welcome to the Portage Cove Interpretive Trail and Park Website

The purpose of this project is the create a waterfront pedestrian route that links the State Park Portage Cove Campground to the new harbor uplands and continues to Picture Point on the Haines Highway. This 1.5 mile trail is to be an interpretive trail that celebrates Haines' rich history, heritage and culture. The trail is to be located on Borough lands and within existing right-of-ways and is not to be located on private land. If however landowners wish to develop partnerships and allow the trail to be located on private land, this can be negotiated with the Borough but the intent is that the trail is located on public lands. Also part of the project is the development of a new waterfront public park along the trail. The intent of the trail and park is to provide recreation and public access along Haines' waterfront while telling the stories of the community. Visitors to Haines will also be users of trail and park which will provide an opportunity for them to learn about the community while linking the cruise ship terminal and public campground to the harbor and downtown.

The project is being developed as a conceptual master plan that will show the basic layout of the trail and park and be supported by conceptual construction estimates, a phased implementation strategy, and identification of possible funding sources. The plan is to be developed within an inclusive public process. The plan will be a tool for pursuing funding and future detailed design of the trail and park. Corvus Design is leading the planning and engineering team that also includes PND Engineers.