Denali Borough adopts Community Outdoor Recreation Plan to guide trails, parks and recreation projects

The Denali Borough Assembly voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to adopt the Community Outdoor Recreation Plan (the "CORK"), a borough-led plan that documents community priorities for trails, parks and recreation facilities across borough communities.

The plan is the product of a two-year public process led by a volunteer committee and outside technical assistance. It inventories existing trails and facilities, summarizes public survey results, and lists short- and long-term project concepts intended to be shovel-ready for grant applications. Concepts cited in the plan include community connector bike paths, multi-use trails near Healy and Antler Ridge, improved trailheads and waysides, and school-based sports infrastructure.

The plan recommends establishing a standing community outdoor recreation committee, subcommittees for trails and for partnerships, and stronger project-level planning so the borough can submit evidence-based grant applications. The assembly and staff said the document will help prioritize capital budgets and form a basis for funding requests from federal and state programs.

Assembly members and staff praised the volunteer committee's work and the visual format produced by the borough's consultant; they asked staff to incorporate implementation costs into upcoming budget planning so the borough could seed smaller projects while pursuing larger grants.

Ending: The assembly adopted the plan unanimously; staff will circulate bound copies, begin outreach to potential partners and present implementation budget proposals in upcoming budget work sessions.