Volunteers, private contractors discussed as park alternatives

BIG LAKE -- Big Lake seamstress Mary Moran doesn't really worry about whose fault it is three popular state parks and campgrounds are closed on the lake this summer. But this owner of the "You're Sew Special" sew shop in the Eastlake Mall knows visitation to the recreation spot is already down in the first the weeks of June.

"People think Big Lake is closed for the summer, but it's not," Moran said.

Dozens of locals showed on a sunny morning last Friday to hear their legislators rail against the state Division of Parks and the Knowles' administration for closing nine state parks and recreation sites in the Valley.

It should have been the start of a busy weekend at the lake. But with the state recreation sites at Big Lake South and Rocky Lake already gated off and another at Big Lake North closing June 21, business owners were predicting a slow summer.

"It [the parks closures] really has hurt -- even myself," said Connie Mahoney, owner of Mahoney's Restaurant in Big Lake where business is already down. "They [the visitors] drive all the way up here and there's no place for them to stay. It's a shame when we have a beautiful setting up here by the lake, and we can't use it."

Many of the people attending Friday's press conference were seeking information. But they also wanted to let legislators know they want the parks gates reopened and intend to ensure they are this summer.

Bill O'Hara, owner of Bill's Cat House, brought a pair of boltcutters to make the point. "It's a prop," he said with a grin. "I would never consider doing something illegal."

But Sen. Robin Taylor, R-Wrangell, also a candidate for lieutenant governor, didn't rule out self-help as an effective tool for Big Lake residents.

"We're asking nice today, Governor," Taylor said. But he predicts a pair of boltcutters just might be the "master key" to open the gates if the parks remain shut down.

The Valley's legislators, who organized Friday's gathering, encouraged members of the public to contact the governor's office to make their concerns are heard.

"There are other options to closing," Rep. Scott Ogan, R-Palmer said.

Discussion turned to having volunteers or private contractors run the more popular parks.

"Volunteers did a pretty good job," O'Hara said. The hint of adult supervision seems to help keep most rowdies in check, he said.

But he did say he'd heard about trouble already at the Rocky Lake state recreation site, which park officials declined to open after the winter closure.

"Kids have already been raising hell there this spring," he said.

Dan Elliott, former chair of the Mat-Su State Parks Citizen Advisory Committee, says he doubts volunteers could adequately manage the state's Big Lake facilities. It took instituting day-use fees and banning alcohol plus patrolling park rangers to rid the Big Lake campgrounds of a "criminal element" that used to find itself at the lakeside spots, Elliott said.

Most volunteer campground hosts are motor-homing retirees spending a summer in Alaska and can't be expected to police unruly campers, according to Pat Pourchot, commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, the state's umbrella agency over parks.