Soon, voters of the Municipality of Anchorage will be receiving their ballot by mail or heading to the polls to vote on April 2. I urge all my friends and neighbors in the Eagle River, Eklutna, Birchwood and Chugiak area to vote in favor of Proposition 9.
In April 2023, Anchorage citizens voted to create the Chugach Access Service Area (CASA). The service area includes all who live in the Anchorage Bowl. Those of us who drive to the Hillside or visit Chugach State Park (CSP) access points have probably noticed the roads leading to the park and trailhead parking lots are in rough shape. Potholes, disintegrating pavement, and congestion from visitors parking along neighborhood streets near park trailheads are an annoying problem and frequently a danger. This is an emergency response problem and a pedestrian danger that is beyond the resources of the Limited Road Service Areas which maintain the roads to address.
We can begin to change that. Proposition 9 would authorize $4 million in bonds paid for by taxpayers within CASA, to rebuild the gravel portion of Upper Canyon Road to the CSP boundary. People living in Eagle River and north to Eklutna, Indian and Girdwood will pay nothing. Of all the access problems in CASA, this is the highest priority. The improved road will be paved and designed to alleviate drainage problems and provide additional parking along the road outside of the park. CSP is currently planning improvements to the Rabbit Lake/Sunnyside Flattop Trailhead with state and federal funding to complement the road improvements Proposition 9 will bring. It will also address the heavy visitation this underdeveloped, year-round trailhead receives.
— Pete Panarese
Eagle River
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