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Cottonwood Eastland trail plan seeks RTP grant and parking; board to provide letter of support
Summary
Friends and Homer Cycling Club presented an 11‑mile trail master plan for Cottonwood Eastland with a total estimated cost of about $830,000; presenters said they will apply for a $200,000 RTP grant and asked the advisory board for a letter of support and help securing a parking site and required management authorization.
Community volunteers and trail designers outlined a multi‑phase plan to build multi‑use trails at Cottonwood Eastland and asked the Kachemak Bay State Park Citizens Advisory Board for a letter of support for an RTP grant application.
Camille Johnson, speaking for Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park and the local cycling club, said Ptarmigan Trails mapped roughly 11 miles of multi‑use routes and that the full project is estimated at about $830,000. Presenters said they hope to apply for a roughly $200,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant for phase work and will seek local fundraising to meet a match. Phase 1 was cited in the presentation as about $284,000 in scope.
Presenters emphasized two items required for grant eligibility: a legally binding authorization (special‑use or management authority) for trail work and a parking solution at East End Road Mile 17 to serve the trailhead. The parking lot estimate discussed ranged from about $70,000 to $85,000 for a 15‑space pull‑off; presenters said a written contractor estimate is being requested to firm the figure.
Board members and staff asked how the park would document authorization. Camille said the special‑use permit application has been submitted and "it's now sitting in Hans' hands," and that a letter of support is not a legally binding authorization. Hans (State Parks) and staff acknowledged they are working on the management authority paperwork and will continue coordinating with the applicants.
The board agreed there were no objections to drafting a letter of support; the chair will finalize a draft for Camille to include with the RTP application. Presenters noted the RTP application deadline and public‑notice period and described ongoing public outreach and agency coordination, including anticipated letters of support from the borough and other community organizations.
Next steps reported by presenters include providing a written parking estimate, securing management authorization to accompany the grant application, continuing public input through October 31 and beginning fundraising for the local match.
