Haines School Design Workshops

While in Haines this week we had the special opportunity to work with two classes at the Haines School and get the students input on what they would like included as part of the trail and park design. We hosted two design workshops with a third grade and a sixth grade class. Lots of creative ideas including a hummingbird garden, fire pits, viewing scopes, salmon printed paving, fishing piers, talking totem poles, ice cream stands, performance space, and of course.....ziplines and trampolines. Thanks to Holly at the Borough and Ms. Brown and Ms. White at the Haines School for letting us work with your great students.

Public Meeting 3 and 4 Summaries

On Monday, March 13, the third public meeting was hosted at the Chilkat Center for the Arts. Approximately 20 people attended the meeting. The meeting was led by Christopher Mertl and supported by Dick Somerville with PND Engineers. The focus of the meeting was to review the revised trail layout plans that had been updated as part of public meeting #2 and to selected a preferred park fill and layout plan based on the four park options presented.

A key component of the discussion was understanding construction costs, permitting and the design of facilities that could withstand storm events. Public sentiment was to develop a trail system and park that was cost effective. Attendees once again were asked to mark up the trail plans based on this new information. Additionally, a preferred park fill option was selected and the preference was to keep the park within the permitted fill associated with the harbor uplands project. There was also the direction to provide recreation nodes along the trail between the harbor and cruise ship dock that could include picnic tables, fire rings, benches and simple shelters. The trail was to be located at the 25' tide line with an understanding that the trail and recreation facilities might be impacted during a significant tidal surge. The preference was that the trail is accessible but a natural meandering trail that follows the 25' tide line and preserves much of the natural vegetation along the beach between the harbor and cruise ship dock.

The public also provided input on what they wanted within the park. The desired facilities included a large shelter with possible stage, memorial, picnic facilities and landscaping to the buffer the park from the adjacent parking lot. An ADA ramp from the park to the beachfront trail was also desired.

The preferred interpretive sign layout selected by the public was the Chilkat Blanket style sign.

Based on the input provided at meeting #3 and the two day open studio session the trail and park plans were updated to reflect the input and can be found below.

Preferred Trail Layout and Park Plan

(Click link above to download pdf)

The fourth public meeting was hosted on Wednesday, March 15 and approximately 25 people attended. Brad Ryan, Interim Borough Manager kicked off the meeting discussing implementation of the plan and funding sources. Funding identified was largely from outside sources. There was general consensus that this was preferred and that segments would be designed and constructed as funding became available. Dick Somerville presented the costs for the various segments of the trail and for the park. These are currently being updated based on public comment and will be uploaded to this site shortly. Overall, the public supported the preferred trail alignment, facilities and the park plan found in the link above.

Next steps is to update the interpretive plan with the new information and to present the draft final plan to the Assembly in late April.

Draft Park Fill and Layout Options

There was clear consensus that the public wanted to have the existing Lookout Park removed from its current location and a new park located at the southeast corner of the fill for the new harbors parking uplands. Four concepts have been developed that looks at a variety of fill options, trail alignments, and possible park features. Any fill located at or below the 21' tide line will require permitting. The options below will be presented and discussed at the public meeting on Monday, March 13. 

See previous postings for more details on the next round of public meetings.

Park Fill and Layout Options

(Click link above for PDF of four plans)

Draft Conceptual Portage Cove Trail and Park Plan

Below is a link to the draft conceptual Portage Cove Trail and Park Plan. This documents all work completed to date and will continue to be updated as new information and designs are developed or materials refined during this project. The plan contains the following:

• Inventory of existing interpretation in the community
• Project branding, color schemes and creating a unifying aesthetic for the trail, park and interpretation that is true and unique to Haines
• Themes and stories of Haines to be included
• Proposed interpretive plan, locations along the trail and proposed messages/themes/stories
• Examples of proposed interpretive sign layout and design (please don't get upset by the purse seiner images.....we know they are not used in Haines☺)
• Proposed preferred trail layout and trail types
• Trail type sections

A reminder we will be in Haines March 13 and 15th for the second round of public meetings. Please see posting below and we hope to see you.

Draft Conceptual Portage Cove Park and Trail Plan

(Click Link Above to View PDF)

Public Meetings 3 and 4: March 13 and 15

The second round of public meetings will be hosted at the Chilkat Center lobby on Monday, March 13th and Wednesday, March 15th. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 pm. The meetings will be led by Christopher Mertl of Corvus Design and supported by Dick Somerville with PND Engineers.

The first meeting will focus on summarizing work completed and public input to date, present the Portage Cove Trail and Park Interpretive Plan, review the preferred trail alignment, look a three possible park layouts and begin discussions on costs.

The second meeting will focus on the park planning and design, refinement of the trail alignments and more detailed costs. This will help determine priorities and the development of an implementation plan.

We will once again be hosting our open studio sessions at the Haines Library Conference room on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. This is another opportunity to provide input and get involved in the design of the Portage Cove Trail and Park.