Wasilla Planning Commission to host public hearing on changing Crusey Street to Warrior Street

During the upcoming Planning Commission, the public will have an opportunity to provide input as part of a public hearing to consider a request from the Wasilla City Council to rename Crusey Street to Warrior Street, and provide a recommendation regarding the proposed change.

The proposal follows that other local high schools Houston High School and Palmer High School both have streets named after their school mascots-Hawk Lane and Palmer Moose Drive, respectively.

The process to change the name began earlier this year after being proposed by Wasilla High School as a way to honor the pride the community holds regarding the high school.

In the proposal, WHS Principal Jason Marvel wrote:

“We have rich traditions, exceptional academic and athletic programs, and an inclusive educational environment where all are welcome. Two schools - Wasilla Middle School and Wasilla High School - reside on Crusey Street and we would like to continue to solidify the reason we are the Warriors - after our namesake, Chief Wasilla.”

Any resident or visitor traveling down Crusey Street cannot miss the ‘Warrior Nation’ flags flying along roadway.

“Renaming Crusey to Warrior Way continues to solidify Wasilla's namesake, Chief Wasilla, a Dena'ina Warrior in his own right.”

The Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly had previously taken up the proposal, approving a resolution that supported renaming Crusey Street to Warrior Street.

The name change is supported by the Wasilla Municipal Code 12.08.030, which allows the Wasilla City Council to change street names within the city limits and outlines the process.

The City of Wasilla derives its name from Chief Wasilla, a respected local Dena'ina Athabascan Indian Chief, who lived in the area more than a 100 years ago.

There is some debate about the meaning of the Chief's name. One source claims it means "breath of air" in the Dena'ina Athabascan Indian dialect.

Crusey Street was named after 2 brothers who had homesteaded at Milepost 18 of the Parks Highway during the 1940’s, and the brothers owned the land where Crusey resides. The Crusey brothers all lived most of their lives in Anchorage.

The name change is supported by the Knik Tribe. In a letter written to the city council in March, Richard Porter, the Chief Executive Officer of the Knik Tribal Council wrote:

“This would provide recognition for the Wasilla High School Warrior Athletics, as well as the community of Wasilla, Alaska. We are very grateful that last year the Wasilla High School changed its logo and mascot to represent our Dena'ina chieftains whom we call Qeshqa in our Dena'ina language.”

In 2021, with input from the Knik Tribe, the WHS warrior mascot was redrawn from a Lakota Sioux warrior to the Dena’ina Athabascan Chief Wasilla, continuing to honor the Chief.

The matter is open to public hearing during the Planning Commission meeting scheduled on July 11 at 6 p.m. at the Wasilla City Hall.