P A R K S & R E C R E A T I O N D E P A R T M E N T M u n i c i p a l i t y o f A n c h o r a g e , A l a s k a

Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska Parks & Recreation Department

632 W. 6th Avenue, Suite 630 P.O. Box 196650

Anchorage, AK 99519 Tel 907-343-4355

URL www.muni.org/departments/parks

Background Singletrack Advocates (STA) presented a proposal to Parks and Recreation Staff in October 2012 to plan, fund, design, construct and maintain a 6 mile extension of the existing Kincaid Park singletrack trails—soft-surface, narrow trails built for mountain biking, running, snowshoeing, bird and wildlife viewing and skiing. The initial trail concept area was located north of Raspberry Road in the vicinity of Little Campbell Lake. A portion of the proposed site is owned by the Ted Stevens International Airport (TSIA) and is under a lease agreement with the Municipality. TSIA does not support the expansion of the proposed recreational trails on the leased property. This determination may impact the proposed trail development and the project timeline. STA is in the process of revising the proposed trail development. Planning and Public Involvement Parks and Recreation staff has been working with STA regarding their North Phase trail proposal and to define a Maintenance Agreement for the singletrack trails at Kincaid and Hillside since October of 2012. This discussion has included input from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A draft Maintenance Agreement between STA and the MOA has been completed and is currently undergoing staff review. The North Phase trail proposal has been shared with several agencies, clubs and user groups that use Kincaid Park. The proposal was presented to the Sand Lake Community Council in March. STA and Parks and Recreation staff have been collecting public comment regarding the STA proposal since March.

Date: April 11, 2013

To: Parks & Recreation Commission

Cc: Holly Spoth-Torres, Parks Superintendent

From: Maeve Nevins, Park Planner

Project:

PRC 13-15: Kincaid Singletrack North Phase Trails Proposal

M e m o r a n d u m

PRC 2013-15 Staff Report April 4, 2013 Page 2 of 3

P A R K S & R E C R E A T I O N D E P A R T M E N T M u n i c i p a l i t y o f A n c h o r a g e , A l a s k a

The following list is a summary of groups contacted about this proposal: • Alaska Department of Fish and Game • Sand Lake Community Council • Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage • National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program • Alaska Trails • Mighty Bikes • Arctic Bicycle Club • Dirt Divas • Speedway Cycles

Project Details Approximately 6 miles of singletrack trails are proposed as an extension to the existing 9 mile Kincaid Park singletrack trail network. The route would run east to west by the World Cup Nordic Start area and then down to the Sisson loop and connect with the Coastal Trail. There are very few Nordic trail crossings in the proposed project area and this extension would complete the entire network within Kincaid Park as a perimeter loop. With respect to TSIA’s recommendation, STA is currently modifying the project proposal to avoid encroachment of new trails on any leased land parcels. STA plans to consult with the Northwest Archers Association to avoid archery activity and with the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA) to minimize impacts to existing Nordic trails. Singletrack Advocates will secure all funding for this project, administer all grants and provide grant reporting. The current total proposed project budget for the North Phase is $116,076 (see attached budget). Subject to project approval, STA is targeting construction of the project for July 2013 through the fall of 2013. Attachments

• Project Maps (Original North Phase Concept) • Typical STA Singletrack Trail Section • Land Ownership Map and Table • Project Budget • Kincaid Singletrack STA Project Summary (Phase 1)

PRC 2013-15 Staff Report April 4, 2013 Page 3 of 3

P A R K S & R E C R E A T I O N D E P A R T M E N T M u n i c i p a l i t y o f A n c h o r a g e , A l a s k a

• Challenge Grant Request to Anchorage Parks Foundation • TSIA Comments • AK Department of Fish and Game Comments • Sand Lake Community Council Support Letter • NSAA Support Letter • National Park Service Support Letter • Alaska Trails Support Letter • Arctic Bicycle Club Support Letter • Alaska Dirt Divas Support Letter • Mighty Bikes Support Letter • Speedway Cycles Support Letter • Public Comments (emails of opposition and support)