The Fairbanks Borough is updating its Comprehensive Plan and now is the time to speak up for trails and greenspace.
The plan is a “a big-picture guide” for the next 20 years, covering things like housing, land use, economic development, and transportation. All those things have some relation to trails and greenspace.
The borough has held several open houses about the plan and there will be more opportunities for input. There is also a “virtual roadshow” that you can look at HERE. This process will last into 2026. But people can comment now and commenting makes a big difference in shaping things to come.
A plan like this is so huge it seems overwhelming, but don’t be intimidated. Just think of what you would like the borough to look like in 20 years. Feel free to comment with a big brush. You can comment on all the things you want to include in one comment, or you can comment on issues one at a time in different, focused comments. Right now, planners just want to get a sense of what’s important to borough residents.
You can just send in comments on the main PAGE (there’s a box for comments, scroll down) or you can go to the “virtual roadshow” and enter your comments there. You’ll have to do a bit of navigating on that one. See the “roadshow” HERE.
My focus for this blog is on trails and greenspaces, so I’ve got some things that can help guide your thinking. How do you feel about these possibilities?
- More protected greenspaces? Or do we have enough already?
- Develop our current greenspaces more (such as more trails, parking lots, and access facilities at Isberg Recreation Area or Skyline Ridge Park), or leave them undeveloped? Something in between?
- More trails? More full trail systems, such as at Birch Hill, Tanana Lakes, or Chena Lake recreation areas?
- More trails that connect existing trail systems?
- More developed trailheads (such as with signboards and maps)? More wayfinding signs on existing trails?
- Better maintenance of our existing trails? A paid seasonal trail crew?
- More groomed winter trails?
I’m sure you can think of more things to comment on. Right now, there is no deadline to comment, but do it sooner rather than later so that it doesn’t get lost in the busyness of our everyday lives. The most important thing is to comment. Your voice is important!
To find out more about the Comprehensive Plan and to comment, go to this PAGE.
To comment, scroll down to the “Comprehensive Plan Update Comment Form.”
Be a part of helping to shape the borough for the next 20 years!
If you have anything to add to the discussion, please leave your comments below.
My Comments
Below are a copy of my comments submitted (finally) on January 18.
While there are many things that concern me about life in Fairbanks, I will focus this comment on trails and greenspaces.
In the comprehensive plan update I would like to see an emphasis on trails and greenspaces. Fairbanks residents value both.
It’s so important to our physical and mental health to be able to get outdoors and get some exercise. Trail and greenspace allow people the space to do both all year long on their own terms: at their own pace; by themselves or with others; as part of an organized event or as an impromptu get-together; with their dog; at night or during the day. I think we all agree that we want to have a population that is as healthy as possible.
Trails and greenspaces also bring other values to our community. They make it easier for people to access natural resources, such as for hunting, fishing, and gathering. They offer a place for local tour operators. They draw visitors here by giving them a place to experience some of the wildness that is still such an Alaskan mystique. Studies show trails improve home values, too.
As facilities go, trails and greenspaces have relatively low maintenance costs. They do need to be maintained, but if built (or rebuilt) properly, they can go for a long time with minimal maintenance. Trails and greenspaces really are a great return on investment for our community.
I would like to see a comprehensive plan that:
- Looks at the overall spacing of greenspaces and trails with a goal to make sure they are easily accessible to neighborhoods and places of work.
- Builds connecting trails between our existing trail systems so that people don’t need drive far (or at all!) to reach a trail.
- Builds more developed trailheads with ample parking and signage, and more on-trail directional signage so that finding and using trails is less intimidating for people.
- Better maintains our existing trails and any new ones, including paying for a seasonal trail crew.
Thank you,
Eric Troyer
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