Public to enjoy fruits of 2001 bond issue

MAT-SU -- Mat-Su Borough is proceeding on schedule with projects funded from the 2001 sale of $4.4 million in general obligation parks, recreation and trails bonds, according to Ron Swanson, borough community development director.

"I think it's neat that voters approved a bond issue for these badly-needed improvements," Swanson said. "These are the first significant projects we've been able to do in parks, recreation and trails since the 1980s.

"We will definitely be over the 80-percent mark by April of 2003," he added, referring to the requirement that 80 percent of the funds must be used within two years of the bond sale.

The borough assembly approved more than $800,000 for three major projects during its Feb. 5 meeting.

Approximately $500,000 was combined with money from other funding sources to total $1.1 million, which will go to improve Brett Memorial Ice Arena and the Wasilla Middle School outdoor ice rink.

The Brett Arena project will include expanded indoor facilities with hookups to city sewer, permanent locker rooms with showers and restroom facilities, larger public restrooms to meet health requirements, administrative offices and an arctic entry.

The Wasilla Middle School rink will be renovated and a portable structure currently located at the Brett Arena will be moved to the outdoor rink for use as a changing room. This facility will provide additional hours of maintained ice for hockey teams and figure skaters to rent during November through mid-March.

The assembly also approved funding for upgrades at Palmer and Wasilla swimming pools. Last year, $155,400 was spent to repair the roof of the Wasilla pool, leaving $179,600 for repairs, health and safety upgrades to both pools.

The third project approved Feb. 5 was $250,000, to be combined with funds from other sources, that will go to make campground improvements compatible with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at campgrounds around the Valley, trail restoration and stream bank re-vegetation to borough-owned land at the mouth of the Deshka River. Stream banks, according to the information memorandum included with the ordinance about the project, are currently so eroded that some campsites are in danger of disappearing into the river.

The three projects are only the latest in the planned improvements. According to Swanson, the borough went into action when voters approved the bond issue in October 2000 so projects could begin immediately when the bonds closed on Apr. 26, 2001.

Some improvements will be ready for use this summer. Work began during summer 2001 on the Alcantra Sports Complex located midway between Teeland Middle School and Ron Larson Elementary School. Paved bicycle paths will be finished this summer, and four soccer fields, four Little-League baseball fields, parking lots, rest rooms and concession stands are scheduled to be completed by summer 2003.

New playground equipment will be installed this summer in Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Willow, Big Lake, Wasilla, Palmer and Sutton.

"This is important new equipment," Swanson said. "It's more than just swings and slides, and it will meet ADA compatibility standards."

Swanson explained that equipment would be installed on borough and community land that is open to the public.

Also completed this summer will be improvements to regional parks at the Little Su, Matanuska River, Lazy Mountain and Lake Lucille.

These include dumping stations and ADA-compatible campsites at the Little Su and Lake Lucille, and ADA-compatible campsites at the Matanuska River. Swanson explained that improvements are designed to minimize use of black pavement.

"We are utilizing high-tech materials and methods which will retain the 'green look'," Swanson said. "These include new, plastic surfacing materials that protect grass from being crushed and allow it to grow."

Other ADA-related improvements include raised fire pits and wheelchair access to picnic tables.

Swanson explained that some communities are multiplying benefits of the bond issue by contributing volunteer effort to the projects. In Talkeetna and Sutton, the public will realize between $200,000 and $250,000 in outdoor ice-rink projects for the borough's materials expenditure of $100,000. According to Swanson, work on the Talkeetna ice rink has been completed and the Sutton project is underway.

Other ongoing projects include:

New boat ramps, picnic tables and restrooms at Big Lake and Lake Louise, to be completed by fall 2002.

Construction, maintenance and dedication improvements to the top 20 trails in the borough. An AmeriCorps team worked on improvements to the Butte Trail during summer 2001. Another crew will finish that work this summer.

Swanson added that some bond-issue funds would support reservation dedication to assure that the public use of trails is protected from future private development.

According to Swanson, two major expenditures remain to be presented for assembly approval. Approximately $140,000 is needed to improve an existing baseball field at Big Lake and construct a new soccer field.

In Palmer, $400,000 will go to move existing softball fields to a Bogard Road location and convert the former softball fields for Little-League baseball.