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Contractor chosen for Cottonwood Eastland trail work; DOT permit, maintenance plan still in progress
Summary
The Kachemak Bay State Park advisory board heard a detailed update on the Cottonwood Eastland trail project: an initial contractor was selected to start flagging this spring, a DOT driveway permit is being processed and construction is expected to begin in September, with maintenance shared between Friends and the bike club.
The citizens advisory board for Kachemak Bay State Park on April 9 heard that a contractor has been selected to advance the Cottonwood Eastland trail project and that preliminary work will begin once a special use permit and a DOT driveway permit are in place.
Board members said publicity about the project generated additional interest after the Friends circulated a national article. "We did get two (RFQs) and then four other inquiries after the article," a committee member said, and parks staff confirmed a contractor was chosen to begin flagging imminently so work can proceed this season. The speaker added that actual construction is slated to start in September to avoid overgrown vegetation during the summer.
Why it matters: The project will add formal trails and user infrastructure inside the Cottonwood Eastland unit of Kachemak Bay State Park and involves multiple partners. The board emphasized that environmental and maintenance safeguards must be built into the agreement before heavy construction starts.
Board members asked how maintenance will be handled and whether the work complies with the park management plan. "The contractor has to comply with environmental requirements during the build process," a parks representative said, noting the maintenance plan will be shared between the Friends group and the cycling club while state parks retains oversight. Members requested a future presentation from the bike club so stakeholders can hear how the group plans to manage trail use and potential conflicts.
Parks staff noted that several agencies and groups have roles in the project — state parks (landowner), the Friends, the bike club, and DOT (driveway permitting) — and that some permits and appeals remain in process. The board agreed to continue oversight and requested timely updates on DOT permitting and the special use permit required to start preliminary work.
The advisory board did not take a final vote on project approvals at the meeting; staff said the next procedural steps are completing permitting and finalizing the maintenance plan prior to construction.
