Mat-Su Borough bed tax will help to fund winter trail maintenance grants for 12 local organizations, three located in the Upper Valley. The Willow Trail Committee, Petersville Community Non-Profit Corporation, and Curry Ridge Riders will all receive funding this year.
The 12 organizations will share the $200,000 Borough allotment for the trail work. Each organization must provide a 50 percent match for their funding, but it may come from in-kind labor. Michelle LaRose of Curry Ridge Riders says their group provides volunteer labor for their match.
The Borough allows the funding to be used for fuel, equipment repairs and use, maintenance, and signage. LaRose says this funding from the Borough allows the Curry Ridge Riders to get a jumpstart on the pre-season grooming and preparation. The group also receives funding through the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, but that funding comes through later in the season.
She says depending on the year, weather changes could mean more maintenance and damage or even loss of equipment. In 2023, a snow cat was nearly lost when water holes developed on the trails. The engine had to be replaced, but it will be operational this winter.
LaRose says the Riders also received a Recreational Trails Program grant to install signage at mile markers to help fill in the signage gaps so riders can expect more navigational help along the trails.
The Borough also granted the Riders a conditional use permit to build a portable shelter and to park their snow cats at mile 128 on the Parks Highway. The group still needs DOT to grant access through their land to get to the permitted Borough parcel, but LaRose says they are working with Borough staff to get the agreement in place.
All 12 organizations have at least some focus on winter trails, whether for snow machining, skiing, or mushing. According to the informational memo presented to the Assembly last week, the agreements with the organizations will be provided to the Borough Manager for signature soon.
