Comments sought on park

MAT-SU -- Should the National Park Service allow access to the south side of Denali National Park? Should a nature center be built to provide views of the back side of the mountain? How much of the area should be accessible by road, and where should that road go?

Area residents will have a chance to air their thoughts on the matter Monday. The Mat-Su Borough, along with the National Park Service and the state of Alaska, are sponsoring several open houses this week to collect information about the findings of a 1999 South Denali Citizens Consultation Committee, as well as to review evaluations of possible sites for a visitors center, nature center and other infrastructure and amenities.

Open houses have already been held in Anchorage and in the Upper Susitna Valley, and Monday's meeting will be the only one held in the core area of the borough. It will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety building, at 101 W. Swanson Ave. in Wasilla. The meeting will kick off with a brief slide show, followed by a question-and-answer session and a time for formal comments.

According to information from the National Parks Service, the area under study extends from Petersville Road's intersection with the Parks Highway to the southern boundary area of Denali National Park and Preserve, including the western portion of Denali State Park and the Peters Hills. The new implementation plan, accompanied by an environmental impact statement, will include suggestions for siting the nature and visitor center, as well as identifying and evaluating the design, capacity and function of proposed development. And, according to NPS information, the evaluation will include options and opportunities to enhance recreation and access throughout the South Denali region.

"We believe a new South Denali visitor destination offers the best option for future growth in visitation to Denali National Park and Preserve," Denali National Park Superintendent Paul Anderson said.

Gary Morrison, state parks director, agreed that new points of access would open up new options for tourism.

"We support the development of improved access to state lands on the south side of Denali, and a new visitor destination in Denali State Park," Morrison said. "This plan will provide many new opportunities for both Alaska residents and visitors."

Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy said the borough backs the project as well.

"Developing new facilities in the South Denali area is an important part of our plan to promote tourism and economic development," Duffy said.

Several options are on the table for discussion at the public meetings, including the option of having no new construction at all. One of those options -- to build facilities in the Peters Hills at the southern boundary of Denali State Park and provide access from Petersville Road -- has been underscored as the best choice by agency representatives, but other choices remain on the table. A plan to construct facilities at a site closer to Mount McKinley, called the Tokositna site, is one consideration, and for the fourth option, staff let the facilities sites open to recommendation.

After Monday's meeting, representatives from the three governmental groups involved in the project will make presentations in the Healy area Tuesday and in Fairbanks Wednesday.

Those who would like to comment but are unable to attend an open house can mail their comments to Miriam Valentine, Park Planner, Talkeetna Ranger Station, P.O. Box 588, Talkeetna, AK 99676 or e-mail them to dena_south_denali_public_comment@nps.gov. More information about the program is also available at the project Web site, www.nps.gov/

dena/home/planning/plans/southsd/.