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.