Planning commission endorses Denali Borough Community and Outdoor Recreation Plan, urges public open house

The Denali Borough Planning Commission on Jan. 15 voted unanimously to officially support the borough's Community and Outdoor Recreation Plan, the two-and-a-half-year effort of a citizen committee to inventory trails, identify recreation priorities and propose implementable projects.

Committee members and planning staff briefed commissioners on the plan's background: an advisory Community Outdoor Recreation Committee formed in mid-2022 led outreach and drafted the plan with technical assistance from the Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program and mapping support from Alaska Trails. The plan outlines five goals (community identity and priorities; indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and parks; trails; education and partnerships; and implementation) and lists project concepts that the committee said would require further planning and funding. The committee recommended the plan be adopted and continued as a standing committee to help implement near-term (1 year) and medium-term (1-5 year) actions.

Commissioners asked about accessibility and the plan's emphasis on trails and winter recreation. Staff and committee members said one highlighted project, Antler Ridge, is being developed to ADA standards, with ADA parking, accessible picnic loops and an ADA trail loop; the borough was pursuing National Environmental Policy Act and historic-preservation compliance and hoped to advertise a construction bid for summer work. Commissioners also discussed use of the plan as a framework for mapping and signage and for coordinating with federal, state and nonprofit partners on funding and maintenance.

A motion to officially support the Denali Borough Community and Outdoor Recreation Plan passed unanimously. Staff and committee members said a final public open house will be held the week after the meeting (next Wednesday) to present the plan and gather final comments before the assembly considers it.

Next steps: with the commission's endorsement the plan will appear on the assembly agenda; staff and committee members will continue outreach, pursue funding opportunities such as scenic-byway and wildland-urban-interface grants cited in the staff memo, and continue project-level planning for trails and separated pathways.