We're at the start of a public process...

For those of you that don't know us, I'd like to introduce Anne Brooks and myself. I'm Peter Briggs, and I'm owner of Corvus Design (a landscape architectural and planning consultancy). Our firm has a term contract with the Anchorage Park Foundation to provide design and planning services. (If you would like to know more about Corvus Design, we invite you to have a look at our website: www.corvus-design.com). We were asked by the Anchorage Park Foundation to provide planning services and outreach for potential work in the northern half of Russian Jack Springs Park (RJSP). As part of our team we have included Anne Brooks, of Brooks & Associates (www.brooks-alaska.com). Anne provides incredible public outreach experience and facilitation skills.

For your benefit, here is a list of the knowns from which we are currently working:

• In 2008, $750,000 was appropriated by the legislature for Russian Jack Springs Park (RJSP)
• These funds were appropriated to the Anchorage Park Foundation.
• The legislature has directed APF to improve the northwest corner of RJSP, with initial discussion of improvements being related to youth and play.
• A January 2010 Russian Jack Community Council Resolution requested that the Anchorage Park Foundation conduct a public involvement process to see what the citizens would like within the northwest corner of the park.
• There is an existing Master Plan for Russian Jack Springs Park that was originally finalized/adopted in 1979, with a graphic update to the mapping occurring in 1997. On page 37 of the 1979 master plan narrative, it states "A major recreational use to be emphasized is play. The plan proposes a series of creative play areas associated with picnic facilities." in addition to: "...a major play attraction with community wide interest will be developed just north of the intensive sports area near 6th Ave." The master plan also provides guidance for other park improvements that may or may have not been implemented yet.
• According to the 2006 Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Plan, RJSP is classified as a Special Use area with components of Natural Use (79.68 acres), Community Use (79.68 acres) and Specialty Use (159.35 acres) This document also states that Northeast Anchorage is under-served by park facilities (based on 2003 statistics, to achieve the MOA Level of Service targets, an additional 71 acres of neighborhood park, and an additional 74 acres of community park are needed for Northeast). This lack of service was recognized back in the 1979 master plan, with specific notation that RJSP could serve as an important neighborhood use area.

With the request from Russian Jack Community Council via resolution, we are at the beginning of a public process. The only scheduling that we have created is to be able to anticipate required municipal process (Urban Design Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, etc.) if the public involvement process allows. If the community is amenable, our goal will be to move the project onto a design and construction trajectory that allows bidding during a beneficial time of year (ideally late winter/early spring) and a full season of construction.

The current goals of this project are (pending modification/addition during our public process):

• To consult the greater community (but with outreach emphasis on the local) to identify how rehabilitation of the park would serve their needs and desires, specifically as they relate to their enjoyment of and recreation in the northwest portion Russian Jack Springs Park.
• To use this as an opportunity to empower and energize communities and groups that lie on the margins of “typical” park users, in addition to consulting with those that embody traditional park users.
• To create a public involvement process that is founded within respect for all voices (past and present),a desire for a healthy and informative community dialogue, and a desire to work toward community consensus as possible.
• To develop a project charter that enshrines the philosophy of the process and guides actions.
• There is no preconceived outcome – doing nothing is an acceptable outcome.

A model project charter would be something like: (The items below have come out of previous consultation with other communities. As needed, we will change this list or start from fresh.)

• Show respect for each other
• Put aside personal issues and work together as one
• Make a fresh start – be willing to begin anew – don’t forget the past, but learn from past experiences. Improve on the past to make things better today.
• Respect everyone’s rights and opinions
• Practice listening to and hearing what people are saying
• Always ask if you did not understand what a speaker is saying
• Don’t be afraid to say what you think or feel
• Don’t agree to anything unless you fully understand its implications
• Develop and respect ground rules – for meetings and workshops
• Put your hand up when you wish to speak during meetings (ground rules)
• Debate the issues on friendly terms
• Learn to negotiate
• Give people opportunities to express their opinions either written or verbally
• Break into small groups at meetings
• Volunteers to speak to people who can’t attend meetings
• Go and ask why some residents didn’t come to the meeting and tell them it is important
• Leave ill feelings at the door
• Organize separate venues for young people on the same subjects as older people.
• Try to reach common ground at meetings.
• Encourage constructive discussion, not arguments
• Ensure there is an information flow from meetings – positive information, letters, posters, minutes
• Talk to the person/people involved in the situation directly (don’t complain to others)

This is functionally where we are in the process, setting a framework and process as we begin to meet with the community. We invite you to actively participate in the public process, or to observe from the sidelines. In addition to meeting with community councils and their committees, schools, stakeholder groups and as many people as possible who might want to share their thoughts, we are also excited with the prospect of some community events where we can directly engage with people in the park.