Borough assembly approves land sale for park in Williwaw subdivision

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough Assembly unanimously approved an ordinance that was so well received, the assembly even took time for applause. Ordinance 19-013 was introduced for public hearing to sell land at a less-than-fair market value of $10 to erect a park in the Williwaw subdivision.

“It will give the kids something in the neighborhood healthy,” Williwaw resident Michael Fernandez said. “Our neighborhood, we really need something like that because right now kids running around the neighborhood, there’s not as much of it now but they see the desperation and despair they don’t have anything to have pride in.”

Williwaw, a Wasilla-area neighborhood, has long been plagued by drug and crime activity, and recently community members stood up to what they saw happening in their neighborhood. The borough’s sale of land for $10 to build a park is aiding their efforts. Fernandez reminisced to the assembly about testifying a year ago and how different the circumstances were. Fernandez and Williwaw community members formed the Families for the Improvement of Safety and Health, or FISH. Part of the goals of the organization was to get streetlights and a park and reach nonprofit status. FISH did that just six months ago.

“We’re no longer neighbors we’re actually becoming a big family,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez was one of six who spoke in favor of the ordinance, some of whom were moved to tears during their testimony. Fernandez detailed how the Sunrise Rotary got involved to help secure funding. The Williwaw community put on an event for kids to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. Fernandez said that no such organization and participation has taken place in over 20 years. FISH also helped put together pictures with Santa Claus and an Easter egg hunt. The only action to change the ordinance was to comply with borough code that the assembly could not give the land away for free, so it was amended to $10. Sunrise Rotarian Dan Kennedy proudly reached a $10 bill in the air, happy to help provide a resource for the community.

“When I look back at my years of serving on the assembly, I don’t think I’ll forget this moment,” Beck said. “I think this perhaps might be the happiest and proudest moment of my years of service here. I’m so happy to support this and I think this is just the Mat-Su at it’s best.”

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.