Keeping Wasilla beautiful: Students in extended summer school program clean graffiti in tunnel at Newcomb Park

WASILLA — For some time now, the tunnel near Wasilla Lake has notoriously showcased graffiti, much of it offensive. Ray Hafen finally had enough and decided to wipe the slate clean.

“This was all horrible graffiti, this whole tunnel,” Hafen said. “We’re covering it all up.”

Hafen is a teacher for special education for the Mat-Su Borough School District and every summer he leads young adults in a district-wide summer school program called Extended School Year, catering to special education. The students work on various skills and projects to prepare for life as an adult. A half dozen of them emerged from the tunnel, covered in white paint, completing a job in two days that was originally thought to take nine.

Hafen began preparing for this project last winter and, since then, has rallied plenty of support within the community. The tunnel project was in conjunction with the school district, the city of Wasilla, and the Division Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

“I was running through here one day in the winter time, saw the terrible things up there and it did not make Wasilla look good,” Hafen said.

The tunnels had numerous messages of hate, gang symbols, swastikas, genitalia, and other unsavory images strewn across every inch of concrete. Hafen approached Mayor Bert Cottle and the project was “fast tracked.” The City of Wasilla provided all of the supplies to cover the walls: paint, rollers, gloves, and so on. Everyone was paid above minimum wage for their time.

One of the young adults, Tristen, was happy to see the fresh start.

“I’m glad the graffiti was dealt with. It’s actually pretty fun doing that stuff. I’ve thought about doing this kind of stuff for a job,” Tristen said.

With the past hidden behind white paint, the tunnel now appears born anew. The question is, how long will it remain that way?

One of the young adults, Josh, had a guess.

“I give it less than a month,” he said. “I’ve lived here my whole life so I kinda know what to expect.”

The outcome appeared professional and can been seen as experience relevant for a resumé. This hands-on experience and other efforts and resources aiding young adults to make the leap into contributing members of society is what the summer programs are all about.

Hafen implored local employers to hire these young adults that are ready and willing to work and they would be “great assets to the community.”