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Post by ladybugkids on Dec 10, 2009 5:37:42 GMT -9
We have an opportunity to make our voices heard in the Denali State Park Trail Management Plan scoping phase, but need to respond quickly. The public comment period closes Monday, December 15. Comments may be entered via one of several links on the Denali State Park Trail Management Plan webpage. Please, take a few minutes to provide input regarding your trail experiences in Denali State Park and the types of activities you'd like to see supported (hiking, skiing, snowmaching, geocaching, canoeing, etc.). The following is excepted from an e-mail I received from Claire Holland LeClair, Project Leader: "This is the first of a series of updates on the Denali State Park Trail Management Plan. Project staff will provide regular updates throughout the planning process.
Forty-eight people attended the three open houses for the Denali State Park Trail Management Plan the first week of November. Open houses were held in the TrapperCreek/Talkeetna area, Wasilla and Anchorage.
During this phase of the planning process, project staff are focusing our efforts on gathering available information about the park and surrounding area. This includes land status research, biological, physical and cultural resources and trends in recreational use. We are combing registers from Ermine Hill and Little Coal Creek trailheads for information about trail use and looking at comment letters from the South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (April 2006) to glean information pertinent to this planning process.
We encourage you to share your ideas and suggestions for the Denali State Park Trail Management Plan if you haven't already. We'd especially appreciate information on the above topics as well as any ideas you have for new trail opportunities you'd like to see in the park. In terms of new trails, please let us know specifically where you'd like the new trails developed, their purpose, and the experience they should provide. The questionnaire on our website provides an outline for the specific information we are seeking on the existing trail system and recommendations for new trails.
Many thanks to all who have submitted written comments and/or filled out a questionnaire.
Here are some of the comments received to date:
"I think it is important to use the park's limited resources to first focus on trail maintenance before new trails are created. It is better to have a few good trails than many poor trails. I would prefer less development and less fees."
"I would like to see hardened designated trails for summer use and multi-use of those same trails in winter that are wide enough to be used by machiners, skiers and dog teams."
"Consider how the trail plan will affect the local community. Allow for commercial permits so that the community can both make a living through guiding services and responsibly promote the park's recreational opportunities to their clients."
We want to hear your ideas and concerns and ask that you be as specific as possible. You can submit comments or fill out a questionnaire on line at the Denali State Park Trail Management Plan website."
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