Wasilla parks commission discusses broad redesign of Nunley Park; caboose and amphitheater among contested items

The Wasilla Parks and Recreation Commission met to review an initial master-plan concept for Nunley Park and to weigh public feedback gathered over the summer. Staff presented survey results and a conceptual layout and asked commissioners for priorities for a phased redesign. The plan matters because Nunley Park draws families with toddlers and younger children, has recurring safety and maintenance problems with aging playground equipment, and sits on a parcel where council members previously ordered a pause on improvements pending broader public engagement. Recreational services director Scott Bell said staff brought a design partner, Corvus, to prepare a preliminary plan and that the city collected “more than 250 comments” through signs and an online survey over July. He told the commission the survey showed 87 percent of visitors use the playground and 55 percent use the restrooms, and that accessibility and proximity of toilets were recurring requests. Parks and property supervisor Jesse Griffiths and public works director Eric Traum described operational and site constraints. Griffiths…