Neighborhood parks could become popular

WASILLA -- A little park nestled in the trees with picnic tables, a bit of lawn and some playground equipment -- what neighborhood wouldn't want one?

Wasilla is looking at developing its first so-called "pocket park," on less than an acre on Lacy Loop near Spruce Avenue. The site would be set aside for picnic tables, trash cans, lawn and eventually maybe some playground equipment.

It's a modest vision that uses land already owned by the city, counts on community support and volunteers and requires grants and fund-raisers to get it off the ground.

Modest or not, other neighborhoods may eye it with envy.

"Can we get one in Mission Hills, too?" asked Wasilla Councilman Ron Cox earlier this week after a parks and recreation commissioner presented the idea for Lacy Loop.

"Sure," came the response from Public Works Director Don Shiesl. But first, there is the issue of money.

Shiesl said even the park on Lacy Loop is not yet a sure thing. The city has developed a master plan for the park in hopes of being able to locate some funds in Juneau or through grant programs. Shiesl said he doesn't anticipate breaking ground for the park this summer, but rather perhaps in the next year or two.

The public works director didn't seem surprised by Cox's request, however.

"Everybody would like to have a little park in their community," he later said. "They are very useful and very popular."

Wasilla operates just a handful of parks -- Iditapark, Newcomb on Wasilla Lake, Bumpus off Knik-Goose Bay, Nunley near city hall and Lake Lucille Park. The concept of smaller, neighborhood parks in residential areas is a new one for the city, but one Shiesl predicts Wasilla will be interested in.

"People are changing in the Valley," he said. He said there is a growing population of people who moved here from larger cities and are interested in quality of life issues. "They're leaving those amenities behind and now realizing how much they miss them."

Shiesl said the city chose Lacy Loop for this first "pocket park" in part because the city already had a small parcel of land available there. The lot is used as a leach field as part of a drainage system, but development of a park on the lot's surface would not affect this primary use.

At the same time, Shiesl said, the park seems to fit into the needs of the nearby residents.

"The subdivision is a starter-home subdivision," Shiesl explained. "There are a lot of young families there. It's well suited for putting in a little play area for kids."

Parks Commissioner Dave Tuttle told the council he is hopeful the community will back the plan. He told the council he believes neighbors will be interested in helping to mow the grass, pick up trash and generally keep an eye on the park.

"It will also help reduce vandalism," Tuttle said.

The neighborhood might also be able to use fund-raisers to purchase some playground equipment for the park.

In the meantime, the public works director said residents are always welcome to assist with existing parks.

"We're always looking for people to develop our parks," Shiesl said. Ongoing volunteer projects include everything from landscaping to construction work. More information is available by calling the city's public works department at 373-9095.