Point MacKenzie prison officially named

The new prison being built at Point MacKenzie will be called Goose Creek Correctional Center, the Mat-Su Borough announced Tuesday.

In a statement, borough spokeswomen Patty Sullivan says a citizens advisory committee suggested the name. The Alaska Department of Corrections and the borough agreed to approve it.

Goose Creek is a reference to a nearby tributary flowing into Knik Arm, Sullivan said.

The moniker puts an official title on the nearly $250 million project that began with a controversial site selection in 2006.

All members of the citizens advisory committee - chair Gordon Attaliades, vice chair Greg Bell and members Lynn Gattis, Art Scates and Toby Ridell - are borough residents living in Point MacKenzie.

The committee will meet publicly the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Point MacKenzie Public Safety Building.

The next regular meeting is Oct. 1.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252