Mat-Su Health Foundation unveils plans for new community campus

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Health Foundation recently unveiled their plans for the Mat-Su Health Campus, a multifunctional community center set to be built around the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

“People were excited... They saw a lot of hope and promise,” MSHF President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley said.

MSHF made the announcement with an open house presentation showing preliminary designs of the future campus. Marketing director Robin Minard said that over 50 community members attended the event.

“Everyone’s comments were super positive,” Minard said.

The Mat-Su Health Campus is considered a priority project that falls in line with the Health Foundation’s mission to measurably improve the health and wellness of Valley residents, according to Ripley. She said it’s slated to be a welcoming community hub for all demographics to enjoy.

“It’s very exciting. It’s a very intentional planned community. I don’t think there’s anything like it in the Mat-Su. I think it’s an opportunity to show how we could be doing development that actually helps communities come closer together, where neighbors can know their neighbors and live in a really healthy place,” Ripley said.

Ripley said the project will move forward with multiple phases after they receive the master plan toward the end of the year. She noted that it was still very early to announce actual dates, but she guessed that they could potentially start breaking ground sometime in 2023.

While the final details are still being worked out, MSHF aims to establish a variety of assets and services around the campus, including housing units and lodging accommodations, childcare facilities, garden space, medical-related sites, food and entertainment establishments, and even some type of recreation center to tie it all together and further make the campus a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike for years to come.

“We can use these 30 acres to catalyze development that creates living wage jobs for our community. So, that bolsters our economy,” Ripley said.

For more information, visit healthymatsu.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com