OPINION: Bring back a safe, clean Town Square Park

Some of us may remember when Anchorage’s Town Square Park was comprised of a bunch of old buildings — including a Burger King. Forty years ago, our community shared a vision to create a park in the city center that was a clean, safe, open space for residents to enjoy and gather. At the time, we had learned lessons from other towns across the country that failed to think about the future as their cities were growing like ours. With the community behind him, then-Mayor Tony Knowles acquired the land, tore down the old buildings and created a new park in Downtown Anchorage, making a landmark move for our downtown and surrounding growing city.

This all happened when the population of Anchorage was around 200,000. Facebook did not exist, the computer of choice was an IBM 286 PC and cellphones were only installed in cars for wealthy people and weighed a ton. The Minnesota Drive bypass and Benson Boulevard did not exist, and neither did our neighborhood recreational centers.

Back then, the park was used by everyone in the community. You could go listen to live music, participate in events and even go ice skating in the winter. On a sunny day, you would regularly see families in the park with their kids or nearby office workers taking their lunch break. It was a place that everyone enjoyed.

Unfortunately, Town Square Park has fallen into disarray. Kids are no longer playing in the park and downtown workers and visitors are not enjoying the space. People feel unsafe walking through the park or avoid it altogether. The only time it feels somewhat safe is when the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and others hold events in the park that bring a crowd. However, as soon as the activities end, the unsavory activity resumes. To put it simply, Town Square Park is a mess. It doesn’t have to be this way.

More than five years ago, Anchorage residents began the effort to reimagine Town Square Park with an eye toward the future. Following significant discussion and many ideas, a new plan was drafted that would increase safety and bring regular community use back to Town Square. Due to a lack of leadership, however, that plan has been sitting on a shelf somewhere.

Some will say we cannot afford to do it. Others will say we can’t get it done.

Well, I heard the same thing when I was mayor of Anchorage about building the new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, fixing Lake Otis Drive and Tudor Road, expanding the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, building the Mountain View Library, Girdwood Community Center/Library and Fire Station, the Eagle River Library and more. But we came together as a community and got every one of those done.

I have no doubt that if we work together and make this a priority, we can turn Town Square Park back into the clean and safe community gathering place it should be.

Imagine a completely renovated Town Square Park where families and visitors can gather year-round in a brightly lit, activated, safe space that serves as a gateway to our beloved Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The pop-up weekend markets and holiday gatherings we currently host will have a better home in the heart of Anchorage, and families will have more winter recreation activities like ice skating or curling, as we’ve seen in the past. This is the Anchorage we can and should live in.

On Monday afternoon, our community will gather in Town Square Park to celebrate the inauguration of our new mayor, Suzanne LaFrance. I am excited about the new energy her leadership will bring to our city and I think we all hope this event will be the beginning of bringing back a safe, clean Town Square Park for the whole community to enjoy.

Mark Begich is a former U.S. senator and also served as mayor of Anchorage.

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