Trails and parks grants awarded

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation recently received an investment from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, which will help shape the future of outdoor recreation in the Valley. The award, granted over the next five years, will be used to fund trails and parks throughout the Mat-Su Borough.

“In 2015 we anticipate awarding $200,000 in grants,” said Kim Ryals, the Trails and Parks Foundation’s executive director. “We’re currently distributing funds to grantees from our first round of applications and we’ll have additional funding available in the fall.”

Ryals was hired as the foundation’s first executive director, coming from a career in nonprofit development for outdoor pursuits. Committed to the vision of a healthy, vibrant Mat-Su through quality trails and parks, Ryals sees the foundation becoming the “go-to” for education, advocacy and technical assistance, in addition to funding.

“We’re here to support the trails community,” she said. “Many individuals and groups have worked tirelessly to make our trails system what it is today — our goal is to leverage resources and support their work in any way we can.”

The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation is a relatively new organization. Ryals and the organization’s board works out of the Chalet at Government Peak, a new facility built by the borough and nestled at the base of the Talkeetna Mountains. The chalet is also available for rent and is a revenue stream for trails and parks projects. In exchange for managing the event space, the foundation retains a portion of its proceeds.

“It’s a fantastic public-private partnership with the Mat-Su Borough,” Ryals said. “I encourage people to get their events booked as soon as possible. The calendar is filling and, thanks to a generous gift from the Rasmuson Foundation, installation of a kitchen will make the event space an unparalleled place to celebrate or hold a meeting.”

The long-term funding from the Mat-Su Health Foundation gives the new organization a stable platform from which to grow their ability to support trails and parks. Ryals is most enthusiastic about increasing connectivity between trail systems in the Mat-Su.

“We want to keep an eye towards our ability to get around the Valley off-road, any mode, from one great place to another. Looking ahead and planning for regional connectivity is particularly important in a fast-growing area like ours.”

More information on the foundation’s grant cycles will become available in July on its website at matsutrails.org, where you can also find information on renting the chalet.

Spotlight of spring trails projects

Bench Lake Winter Trail Access (Meadow Lakes Community Development) — $9,500

Talkeetna Lakes Park Trails (Upper Susitna Soil and Water Conservation) — $10,000

Wasilla Creek Educational Trail (Student Conservation Association) — $8,700

Windsock Trail Upgrade (Willow Trails Committee) — $10,000

Carle Wagon Road Restoration (Backcountry Horsemen of Alaska) — $10,000

Government Peak Singletrack Hand-finishing (Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers) — $9,995

Palmer Hay Flats Trail Extension (Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats) — $10,000

Contact Kim Ryals at 746-8757 or kimryals@matsutrails.org.