Assembly votes on funding park and wayside improvements

Talkeetna Lakes Park is one of the several areas in the Mat Su Borough receiving a heavy dose of funding for improvements.

After last year’s tourism infrastructure study, the Mat Su Borough Assembly discussed upgrades to parks and waysides and what areas would be best served.

Linda Brenner, Community Development Director, says that about $360,000 in accommodation tax money was allocated in February to make improvements to trails, waysides and tourist areas. 

Last week, the Borough Assembly approved an ordinance which allows $280,000 to be spent across the Borough in various areas.  $130,000  will pay for parking lot improvements, benches, trail work and winter trail grooming in the non motorized Talkeetna Lakes Park. 

Another $130,000 will be spent at Moose Creek wayside south of Sutton and 20 thousand dollars is allocated to be spent on temporary restrooms and waysides. 

Brenner says that any funds that are leftover after these improvements are made will be slipped into other projects.  One of those areas that may get extra help immediately without the dedicated funds is the Talkeetna Village Park, which Brenner says is in need of a porta-potty and immediate closure of the Village Park outhouse.  

The wayside and park allocations are NOT part of the bed tax grants available to Borough communities, she says.  She still encourages all communities to submit projects even though they may not seem to fit the mold.  She wants to know what the need is in all communities.  Borough bed tax grant applications are due June 30^th.