Thank you for your comments! Post 7

Thank you for those that have posted comments so far, whether on our blog or via the comment collector. To share the comments from the collector, we will be compiling them and posting them generally within a week of receipt. Remember that for posting comments to the collector, we do need a first and last name (you can always request that it not be listed when we post them). If you would like a direct response, please provide a valid email or phone number. Responses will also be posted here if we are unable to get a hold of you. Here are more comments we've received to date:

The N. side of the the park is one of the most beautiful places in town. After you chase the bums out and repair the playgrounds, leave it alone. The only thing that north parcel really needs is better, more frequent ski grooming in the winter. - Shannon Gramse

I live near Russian Jack and would love to see it developed and maintained as an inviting recreation space. East Anchorage deserves a well cared for park. I love the idea of a winter terrain park designed for kids and would certainly appreciate trail/light renovations. Thanks for your work on this project. - name requested to be witheld

October 14 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

We will be meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission next Thursday, October 14^th to update them with a summary of the public outreach process to date. The public is welcome to attend.

September 16th NECC Meeting

The NECC held a meeting at which they passed a resolution that requested that any plans for improvements for north RJSP be delayed until after a Master Plan update is completed for Russian Jack Springs Park. Minutes are not available yet for specific wording of the resolution, but it should be something along the lines of: "We the Northeast Community Council respectfully ask that the APF, Corvus and Brooks and Associates cease any development until discussing a new Master Plan is coordinated with all communities in the region and proper notice can be sent out within a 1 mile distance of the entire boundary of Russian Jack Springs Park.” It is not confirmed, but the vote was believed to have been 10 in favor with 1 opposed.

Briefing Meeting - September 16th

On September 16th, we had a meeting with invited state legislators, community council presidents for Russian Jack and North East, the Mayor’s office, and others. Parks and Recreation Staff, Anchorage Park Foundation Staff, and Corvus Design and Brooks & Associates were present to provide an update on the public outreach process to date. A summary document was provided to them (available via our related files link).

A brief summary of the discussion was that the legislators who had secured the appropriation upon which this project is based supported the work to date, felt comfortable with the type and level of outreach, and wished to see the process move forward. This was echoed by others within the room, with the exception that the President of North East Community Council relayed the concerns of some of his constituents, and did not take a stance other than to relay these concerns (regarding a desire to have a Master Plan completed prior to any new work in the park). He also notified us that the community council had a resolution on its agenda for their meeting that evening that would demand a that a Master Plan be completed first.

Aerial photos

For your reference, here are a few photos someone gave us of some of the northern part of Russian Jack Springs Park (clicking on them will take you to a higher resolution version):

Thank you for your comments! Post 6

Thank you for those that have posted comments so far, whether on our blog or via the comment collector. To share the comments from the collector, we will be compiling them and posting them to the blog once a week. Remember that for posting comments to the collector, we do need a first and last name (you can always request that it not be listed when we post them). If you would like a direct response, please provide a valid email or phone number. Responses will also be posted here if we are unable to get a hold of you. Here are more comments we've received to date:

9 month out of the year, this park is below 32* and 6 plus months its snow covered. I hope you are designing for this park and not some place in California. Non of your pictures of "choices" look like this park usually looks, even the water is liquid! Please start every meeting reminding people that its "weird" (abnormal) right now. ~ Ed Brewer

Response: Good comment, and it echoes what we've been hearing during our meetings. The images we showed in the 'dotmocracy' activity were based on the input and ideas we received during the outreach process so far. As for winter activities, skiing is definitely something we've heard, as well as activities that are all season (dog walking, running, etc...). Images of playgrounds in winter was also requested. One of the graphic boards that we have had at meetings (available via the related files link) was intended to spur people into thinking creatively about the winter months.

Russian Jack & Fairview Community Council Meetings

We attended the Russian Jack Community Council meeting on September 8th to bring them up to date, and share information on the public process that was completed over the summer. In addition to a summary, they were encouraged to visit this blog for more information, as well as to provide any comments they might have. Attendants seemed to be happy with the public outreach, and interested in seeing how the process will move forward.

We have offered to Anchorage community councils that we are available to provide them information on the north RJSP planning process. At their invitation, we attended the Fairview Community Council meeting on September 9th to provide them a brief summary, and to encourage them to review the information and comments available on this blog, and to provide input/comment of their own as they might desire.