Access denied … To those who want to tear up the trail

A popular running trail is getting a facelift -- and at the same time, trying to avoid future damages.

The Michael Janecek Running Trail behind Palmer High School has been undergoing some renovations during the last month, most of which are aimed at keeping out all-terrain vehicles that have torn up the trail. Large boulders have been placed along the trail, designed to keep the ATVs from gaining access to the running trail.

"It's pitiful that we have to do all this work to make sure people don't tear up the trail, but they do," said Michael Janecek, the long-time PHS athletic director for whom the trail is named.

"Right now, that's our only solution. We don't want to put in a year of hard work and then have it torn up again. It's too bad people can't see how counterproductive they're being when they ride on the trails," Janecek said.

The trail work is being funded through a $10,000 grant through the Mat-Su Borough. Janecek has had the grant for several years, he said, but different borough projects that have been more immediate have taken precedence and the grant never was spent until now.

"The trail is designed to be of interest to not only residents, but also visitors to Palmer," Janecek said. "And we want to keep it like that."

Janecek said with any community project, making your money go as far as possible is always a priority, and he got help with this project to accomplish it. He said Wilder Construction gave him a good deal on the large boulders, which helped.

"They gave it to us for cost. They doubled the amount of rock we would have been able to buy with the grant," Janecek said. "Every business we've gone to has given us great deals, and we've been able to stretch the money."

In addition to the large granite boulders, a 400-foot fence has been installed as well. The work began around Oct. 1, and the first phase -- the fence and boulders -- is now complete. Work couldn't be started until then because of the state cross-country championships, which were held on the trail, and the large amount of use the trail receives during the cross-country running season.

The work went quick, thanks to volunteers who offered to help.

"Chuck Bostick, he's got a daughter who goes to Palmer and he stopped by to help us. That man dresses in a phone booth when it comes to running a loader. He was a huge help moving the rock," Janecek said.

Next spring, the next phase on the trail project will begin, with even more work planned.

That includes building up the trail surface and widening the trail in some spots. It could take more than a year to complete the build-up portion of the project.

"We need to really build up the surface to correct some major draining issues on the trail," Janecek explained. "We also need to widen it out so we can groom it for the cross-country skiers who use the trail."

The running and walking trail is located behind Palmer High School, and part of it runs adjacent to Machetanz Field.

The trail is "just a bump short of a mile," Janecek said. More precisely, a "bump short" makes the trail 70 feet short of a mile. It's a popular choice for runners and walkers because of its close proximity to downtown Palmer, and because it is usually a well-maintained and safe place.