Palmer gets a new public park

PALMER — A new park in Palmer represents an unofficial public-private partnership between the city and a local church.

The new Friendship Park at 1150 E. Helen Drive spans over three acres and includes a dirt walking track, a field area and a covered picnic pavilion still under construction. The park is directly adjacent to the First Baptist Church, and also features a prayer garden area centered around a large cross.

The park is owned and maintained by the church, but is open for public use. The city of Palmer provided water for the establishment of the field and worked with the church to push through any necessary permitting.

“Our desire is simply to give back to the community,” First Baptist Church pastor Bruce Rowell said. “It’s the kind of thing — obviously it’s a tool for the church — but it’s very much a ‘come and enjoy.’”

The park was funded through donations and a $15,000 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. Northern Industrial Training donated a team and the equipment needed to level the field area.

The church hosted a grand opening party for the park July 22, complete with hotdogs, face painting, balloon animals, bounce houses and a kids’ fun run. An Air Force color guard from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson raised the U.S. and Alaska State flags before the official ribbon cutting.

Church officials, Mat-Su Borough Manager John Moosey, Palmer Mayor Edna Devries, Palmer Deputy Mayor Richard Best, and over a hundred community and church members attended the event. Moosey said he is a regular member of First Baptist Church. Devries is running for state House.

Best said the new opening gives the borough’s and city’s growing populations something the need but the government can’t afford.

“The borough and the city of Palmer, we can’t afford as many parks as we would like to have,” he said. “This is an opportunity for a church like this to have an outreach and provide something.”

Moosey agreed.

“If you look here and see this huge subdivision — there’s no parks,” he said. “The church is really trying to be an outreach and be good neighbors and say ‘if you need help, hey, we’re here,’” Moosey said. “I really like that as Manager, but also personally as a member here.”

Eventually playground structures are also planned for the park as well as regular activities organized by the church, Rowell said. The park is also meant to be smoke-free, according to the church’s website.

Devries said she is happy to see a church stepping up to partner with the community to promote healthy lifestyles.

“The Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the state … people want to have a healthy lifestyle, people want to get off the couch from in front of the TV,” she said. “We’re glad the church stood up and said we want to be a part of this community, and give the community something it wants and needs.”

To keep the park free from vandalism, a task that has been a challenge at other public parks in the area, the church has installed security cameras. Rowell said they’ll also be relying on Palmer’s police department to roll by periodically.

“Obviously a part of the city’s support is the policy department. They’ll be great and come around,” he said. “We’re going to do our best to keep this a safe place.”