Core-area resident taking a stand for local trail

MAT-SU -- There's a gem of a park in the borough's core area, and Trula Acena is just one of a growing group of people interested in making sure the Crevasse-Moraine trail system retains its park-like setting while the area around it grows.

"I use Crevasse, on average, four days a week, 365 days a year," Acena said. "To me, it's like my church, my spiritual place to be. This is where I de-stress, where I get away, and I think a lot of people feel the same way about it."

Acena is one of the founding members of Crevasse Moraine Trail Association -- a title Acena said is such a mouthful they've shortened it to CMTA. It's an informal group of people who enjoy using the Crevasse-Moraine trail system, which extends from Mat-Su Borough-owned land near the Palmer-Wasilla Highway to state-owned land off the Glenn Highway at Kepler-Bradley Park.

"Over a year ago, there was a group of us who wanted to address trail issues at Crevasse Moraine," Acena said. "We put up flyers that said if you're interested, show up at Trinity Lutheran Church. About 60 people showed up."

That was in spring 2003 and, Acena said, many of the members showed up concerned that their ability to use the trail would be restricted.

"The majority were horse people," Acena said, adding that many people who use the trail with horses were concerned they might be shut out of the trail system.

That didn't happen, Acena said, and what did happen may help keep the trail system an area for people to come and get away from the stress of day-to-day life without a long drive.

Those who attended that initial meeting used it as an opportunity to talk about incorporating everyone's needs and, as a result, many different trail users now have a voice in shaping the system's future. From runners and skiers to mountain bikers and horse riders, Acena said, there are a lot of people involved in the trail group, and they are committed to keeping it open.

"We are growing so fast and we have no planning here, so we're frightened that we're going to lose the trail system we have," Acena said.

The group is still informal -- its members haven't chosen officers or a board. Between writing grants and speaking on behalf of trail system users, they simply haven't had much time.

Last year, the group applied for and received a $16,000 grant from the Mat-Su Borough to do trail renovations. The grant was provided as part of the borough's tourism infrastructure program, paid for with money generated by transient accommodations or bed taxes.

Each year the bed taxes collected by the borough are split, with a portion set aside to fund the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau and another portion set aside for grants aimed at bettering public facilities such as parks, museums and parking areas.

The money CMTA obtained, Acena said, will make one loop of the trail system more accessible to seniors and others who may have difficulties using the trail. As one of the shorter loops of the trail, it's popular, but it crosses a swampy area that is difficult to cross in muddy or freeze-thaw weather. The grant will pay for stabilizing boards that can be placed in the trail that will keep the ground solid, even in bad weather.

Acena said the group's success has bolstered its commitment -- its members have applied for a second grant from the bed-tax receipts this year. The new grant, Acena said, would add a pavilion at the trailhead, so events such as the Dog Dash for DeeDee, now held every October, will have a place to organize.

It's sort of a thank-you gift; Acena said if it weren't for the Dog Dash, the trail system would still be one of the Valley's least-known parks.

"The last two times we've had the DeeDee Dog Dash there, it's just drawn a lot of attention to that trail," Acena said.

The group's activities haven't been limited to applying for grants -- members have gathered yearly for trail cleanup activities, and they meet monthly to keep people up to date on topics that may affect the trail system.

And there have been a rash of them -- the University of Alaska plans to sell a few parcels in the core area, the city of Palmer plans to extend water and sewer utilities and Matanuska Electric Association plans to extend a transmission line through the area.

The group has weighed in on some of those plans, and has heard presentations at its monthly meetings from some of the agencies involved.

Although Acena said the group has a lot of plans for the future, perhaps its most important mission in the short term will be to keep the trail system available.

"We're really lucky to have that trail system," Acena said. "I think we all need places like that to go to."

To find out more about CMTA or to join the group, contact Acena at 373-1231 or Karol Kolehmainen at 745-5646.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.