Cottonwood Creek Park dedicated with phase 1 of 4 completed

WASILLA — A new 10-acre park in Wasilla was officially opened Wednesday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting at Cottonwood Creek.

Cottonwood Creek Park is located off of East Palmer-Wasilla Highway approximately a quarter-mile from Parks Highway. Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle said the park is actually 11 acres in size but the large parking area encompasses one acre. Making the park a reality was a combined effort of several area enterprises.

First National Bank of Alaska donated 10 acres along Cottonwood Creek, Cottle said. However, the only access to the property was off Parks Highway behind Sportsman’s Warehouse. Cottle said because of the steep banks in that section of the creek, the park would not accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Cottle explained a land-swap between the city and Wasilla Lake Church of Nazarene, located across the highway, allowed the project to continue. The church donated the one-acre highway frontage and gained 20 acres from the city in return. The mayor said the church plans to expand both its parish and adjoining Wasilla Lake Christian School. However, there is no room for expansion at its present location.

In addition to the parking area, the first part of a planned trail system was put in place. The City of Valdez contributed an old bridge/ramp that Wasilla turned into a foot bridge. Cottle said the park is a work in progress.

This year, with assistance from Sunshine Rotary Club and city workers, the first of four phases was completed. Cottle said the city rented equipment needed and Rotary Club volunteers chipped existing trees which were then laid down as mulch for the trail. To date, the trail runs from the parking area to the foot bridge over Cottonwood Creek.

The mayor said phases 2-4 will include trail extension, picnic tables and possibly other amenities. Work will progress as funding permits. Cottle said once completed, he expects the walking trail to be at least a half-mile long.