Wasilla expanding ever onwards with three ribbon cuttings in one week

WASILLA— The city of Wasilla continues to grow with three recent ribbon cuttings this past week, welcoming a new trail along the Menard Sports Center, a new pavilion at Nunley Park and the grand opening of Michael’s arts and crafts supply store next to Target.

“That’s a souvenir; you guys can all take a piece home,” Waslla Mayor Bert Cottle said, each kid grabbing a piece of red ribbon.

On Sept. 5, Cottle cut the red ribbon to the newly paved path along the Menard property with an elementary school group. He aims to have playground equipment installed by the end of next summer, adjacent to the trailhead in the huge gravel parking lot behind the Menard Sports Center.

“It’s for the kids,” Cottle said.

The new trail is seven-tenths of a mile of freshly laid asphalt, circling through another pathway along the road, making it a total of one mile to walk on. During then Menard trail ceremony, the public was free to enjoy an open house with free turf time, ice skating and cookies. This could help families living on the fringe of Wasilla like Meadow Lakes, with a closer place to take their kids without going downtown. He also envisions a pavilion near the equipment.

“We want to develop this into more of full use park,” Cottle said.

On Sept. 7, Cottle stood amongst the Nunley family at Nunley Park in downtown Wasilla for yet another ribbon cutting, christening the newly constructed pavilion, providing much needed shelter from rain, snow and other elements each fickle Alaskan season. Leonard “Leo” Nunley, Wasilla’s first mayor, gave way to several generations to play at a park named after him.

Katie Wolfe (Nunley) and her son, Abraham, Leo’s great, great grandson, is close to kindergarten and the prefect age for this park. It’s a go to destination for parents with young children, particularly for toddler and preschool ages.

“My favorite memory of him: he would always carry candies and chocolates in his pockets. He used to hand them out to everyone,” Leo’s granddaughter Joy Lynn said.

This sentiment was quite common and every relative present affirmed that he loved children, be it his on brood or from yonder. He was known to get dressed up for the holidays, pretty much every one was his favorite.

“He was all about family,” Mark, one of Leo’s sons, said.

His children laughed as they recalled how he would dress up as Uncle Sam every Independence Day.

“It’s humbling to have dad be recognized,” another one of Leo’s sons, Mark said.