You have an opportunity to speak up for trails.
At its Thursday meeting, the Fairbanks Borough Assembly is voting on its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list of projects (Resolution No. 2026 – 04). Several of those projects are trail-related. While most of the projects are on the list far out into the future (2032 or further), a couple are closer (see descriptions below).
This is a good opportunity to let the Assembly you care about trails. You can speak on one or more specific projects or just let them know you support trail projects in general. If we don’t speak up, it’s reasonable to assume that Assembly members will think we don’t care.
Here’s how you can speak up.
Testify at the meeting
You can speak at the meeting. You have to wait until the ordinance has its public hearing, which depends on where it is in the agenda. (Resolution No. 2026 – 04 is 13e on the agenda, which you can see HERE.) You can speak in person or by telephone. You have three minutes. People who sign up to testify are allowed to testify first. For more information on testifying see HERE.
Call or email the Assembly
To contact the full Assembly you may either send an email to the Assembly at Assembly@fnsb.gov, or use the Contact Form HERE.
You can also call or email individual Assembly members. Find their contact information HERE.
Projects on the CIP List
Here are specific projects on the CIP list.
Birch Hill Rec Area Multipurpose Building Construction Project
This project, being championed by the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF), would replace the old Timing Building. The new building would include “ADA upgrades, additional space for private classes, new storage, dedicated offices, and modern timing and media production rooms.” The project has already received $400,000. The NSCF is asking for another $500,000 this time. The NSCF is using the funding to help gain outside funding so that the cost of the building to taxpayers is greatly reduced.
Skyline Ridge Park Planning & Development
This project is set for Fiscal Year 2028 at a price tag of $1.5 million. That is the estimated cost of the project but not necessarily what it will cost the borough taxpayers. There are several private and federal grants that borough staff can apply for to help cover the costs.
Here’s a description of the project:
This project aims to develop Skyline Ridge Park’s trail system and connect the park to the Goldstream Valley Public Use Area. Improvements include building a parking lot, trailhead, and bathroom, as well as wayfinding and signage, selective clearing, hardening of trails, building new trails, and removal of abandoned Army installation infrastructure. The potential of this park has been underutilized, and the proposed single track mountain biking trails would be of use to an underserved user group.
FNSB Public Community Trails Improvement Program
This is an ongoing project to spend $350,000 a year toward trail projects in the borough. It’s not on the list to be funded this year because it has a surplus of funds right now. I’ve written a separate blog post about why that is HERE. While this project has hit a minor bump in the road, it is still worth of support.
Below are other trail-related projects on the list and what Fiscal Year they are now scheduled for:
- Isberg Recreation Area Master Plan Implementation CIPMR (FY 32, 33)
- Peede Open Space Planning, Design, & Development CIPMR (FY 33,34)
- Equinox Marathon Trail Improvements & Completion CIPMR (FY35)
- Alaska Long Trail Planning, Design & Establishment BY (Beyond FY 35)
- Tanana Lakes Recreation Area: Trails & Trailheads Improvements (Beyond FY 35)
- Chena Lake Rec Area – Trails and Trailheads Upgrades (Beyond FY 35)
- Birch Hill Rec Area Trail Lighting Improvements (Beyond FY 35)
If you care about trails in the Fairbanks Borough, I hope you will find at least one to advocate for and let the Assembly know.
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