Open house Saturday to discuss South Side Denali development

TRAPPER CREEK -- Valley residents are invited to take part in an open house to learn more information about development of a southern entrance to Denali National Park near Petersville.

The informational open house will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trapper Creek Elementary School, and will be hosted by the South Denali Advisory Committee. Members of the committee will be at the open house, along with representatives from the National Parks Service and state parks representatives, other state officials and borough representatives.

David Jones, chairman of the advisory committee, said the various agencies will have tables and information set up. After an introductory presentation discussing the status of development and goals, attendees will be welcome to survey the maps and literature available and ask questions about the project. The planning, Jones said, is still in the early stages.

"We're just on the ground floor right now," Jones said. The first issue to be tackled, he said, will be how people in the area would like to see the road corridor developed. Unlike past attempts to get development plans started, the intent of the advisory committee, he said, is to include the public.

"[The open house will] get things started and let people be aware of what's going on," Jones said. "Our goal as a committee is to really keep the public informed and in touch -- that way they'll feel like a part of it."