Community Development highlights Big Lake recreation acquisition, Jonesville shooting park and land transfers

Community Development Director Jillian Morrissey presented the department’s FY2026 request April 9 and described priorities that include operating the pending Big Lake Recreation Center acquisition, advancing the Jonesville Shooting Park and managing newly acquired state land.

Morrissey said the manager’s proposed budget contains two new full‑time equivalents to support the Big Lake Recreation Center’s acquisition and operations and that the department has reworked programming so ice and recreation offerings can be distributed across multiple borough facilities. "Once we acquire Big Lake Rec Center, we will have six sheets of ice in the borough," she said, noting plans to move some learn‑to‑skate and ice programming to outdoor covered rinks to increase access.

Jonesville Shooting Park and land patents Morrissey said the budget includes a $500,000 appropriation to move the Jonesville public‑use shooting park project forward; the department is preparing a phase‑1 design and feasibility request for proposals and has received donor support including $50,000 from the Mat‑Su Trails and Parks Foundation. She also announced the borough had received patents for roughly 2,500 acres of state land at Government Peak Recreation Area, with an additional roughly 700 acres expected in the next 30 days.

Pools and facilities Morrissey reviewed operational work at pools and parks. The Wasilla pool required a three‑month closure for drain and piping repairs; the department provided seven‑day programming at the Palmer pool during that closure and plans to expand pool hours to seven days a week in FY2026. She said the department has implemented online services for reservations, permits and park functions.

Staffing and transitions The presentation lists added positions in parks and public services tied to new facilities (two parks positions for Big Lake, two landfill staff for a new tipping floor, three central fire area positions in the manager’s package) and a plan to repurpose staffing where feasible. Morrissey said the department will adopt operations plans for Government Peak Recreation Area once title transfers are finalized.

Next steps and funding Morrissey said procurement for Jonesville design work will go out this spring and that additional grant applications will be pursued. The Big Lake acquisition and appropriation are included in the manager’s proposed capital package and will be considered during the budget hearing process.