Palmer Hay Flats gets grant for wildlife viewing tower

MAT-SU — Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge received a $154,057 grant from the National Scenic Byways Program to construct a 30-foot Wildlife Viewing Tower on the southwest side of Reflections Lake at Mile 30.6, Glenn Highway.

Palmer Hay Flats marketing manager Linda Henning said the handicapped-accessible steel tower will allow visitors to view wildlife, migratory birds, expansive scenery of the refuge, the confluence of the Matanuska and Knik rivers and the Chugach Mountains.

The grant also includes installation of interpretive panels to highlight the variety of wildlife and scenery of the refuge, she said.

Alaska received four grants totaling $714,157 through the National Scenic Byways, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.