19 Dec 06, 03:47 pm
Denali Borough Assembly considers state recreation area
By Stefan Milkowski
Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2006
Posted in Local, News
The Denali Borough Assembly will take a closer look at a resolution calling for the creation of a state recreation area along the Stampede Road north of Healy.
The resolution was introduced at an assembly meeting last week and generated significant interest, Denali Borough Mayor David Talerico said Friday. Now the borough will research the process of forming a recreation area, discuss the idea with the state Department of Natural Resources and gather input from the public. Talerico said the resolution will be on the assemblyâs Jan. 10 meeting agenda.
The resolution, as itâs written now, calls on the state to designate a recreation area on a chunk of land west of Eightmile Lake â a spot along the Stampede Road â and bordered on three sides by Denali National Park and Preserve.
The move comes as the state Department of Transportation is proposing to upgrade a trail extending from the road. Assemblyman David Evans, who originally pitched the idea for the state recreation area, said last week that his proposal wasnât in conflict with the DOT plan and that the increased management would allow the road to be upgraded without resulting in misuse of the land.
Other local residents supportive of the resolution are still opposed to upgrading the road.
âI think itâs a great idea,â said Will Forsberg, director of the local Panguingue Creek Homeownersâ Association, of the resolution. âItâs time to do something with that piece of land there, not run willy-nilly in there with this dirt road.â
Talerico said there seemed to be a lot of support for keeping the area open to current uses, including off-highway vehicle use, dog mushing, skiing and other outdoor activities.
The DOT plan would allow those uses to continue, and the proposed resolution asks that they be allowed if the location became a state recreation area.
Staff writer Stefan Milkowski may be reached at 459-7577 or smilkowski@newsminer.com.
By Stefan Milkowski
Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2006
Posted in Local, News
The Denali Borough Assembly will take a closer look at a resolution calling for the creation of a state recreation area along the Stampede Road north of Healy.
The resolution was introduced at an assembly meeting last week and generated significant interest, Denali Borough Mayor David Talerico said Friday. Now the borough will research the process of forming a recreation area, discuss the idea with the state Department of Natural Resources and gather input from the public. Talerico said the resolution will be on the assemblyâs Jan. 10 meeting agenda.
The resolution, as itâs written now, calls on the state to designate a recreation area on a chunk of land west of Eightmile Lake â a spot along the Stampede Road â and bordered on three sides by Denali National Park and Preserve.
The move comes as the state Department of Transportation is proposing to upgrade a trail extending from the road. Assemblyman David Evans, who originally pitched the idea for the state recreation area, said last week that his proposal wasnât in conflict with the DOT plan and that the increased management would allow the road to be upgraded without resulting in misuse of the land.
Other local residents supportive of the resolution are still opposed to upgrading the road.
âI think itâs a great idea,â said Will Forsberg, director of the local Panguingue Creek Homeownersâ Association, of the resolution. âItâs time to do something with that piece of land there, not run willy-nilly in there with this dirt road.â
Talerico said there seemed to be a lot of support for keeping the area open to current uses, including off-highway vehicle use, dog mushing, skiing and other outdoor activities.
The DOT plan would allow those uses to continue, and the proposed resolution asks that they be allowed if the location became a state recreation area.
Staff writer Stefan Milkowski may be reached at 459-7577 or smilkowski@newsminer.com.
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