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Commission recommends prioritizing internal trail and campground groundwork at Tanana Lakes for new AFLAP round
Summary
Staff presented three AFLAP funding options for Tanana Lakes: pave remaining roads, plan/construct trail-network improvements, or build campground access infrastructure. Commissioners recommended prioritizing internal trail improvements and groundwork to prepare for campground access, directing staff to pursue those elements in AFLAP applications.
Borough staff asked the Parks and Recreation Commission for guidance on how to pursue a limited-window AFLAP (Alaska Federal Lands Access Program) funding opportunity for Tanana Lakes. The department presented three main options: pave remaining gravel road segments, fund planning to connect the park into the wider bicycle/pedestrian network, or prepare access roads and site work that would enable future campground development.
Staff noted past success with AFLAP at Tanana Lakes (recent major improvements in 2023–24) and emphasized that the program opens infrequently. "This is a really important opportunity for us," a presenter said, explaining that large construction funds are possible but that planning money can help make future construction-ready applications more competitive.
Commission discussion focused on priorities and tradeoffs. Several members favored paving where it is most urgently needed; others argued that internal trail network improvements and preparing foundational campground access (roads, utilities and connectors) would better align with longer-term recreation goals. Commissioners also raised concerns about competition among borough applications and whether multiple borough proposals might compete for the same statewide funds.
Outcome: after discussion a motion passed recommending that the borough prioritize internal improvements at Tanana Lakes (trail-network improvements and foundational campground-access work) when preparing AFLAP applications and related grant submissions.
Next steps: staff will incorporate the commission's guidance in grant scoping and will report back as application details firm up. The borough retains flexibility to submit multiple applications as allowed by the grant program.
