This July the City of Soldotna and the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will be hosting our annual Soldotna Progress Days celebration. As Soldotna’s mayor, I invite everyone to help us celebrate and savor how Soldotna has progressed, and see what we have to offer.

“Quality of Life” can be defined as the general well-being and health of both the individual and the community. I believe that we have an excellent quality of life here, and that we all will work together to continue to make progress in that area. The city has come a long way since its inception, and we will continue to maintain and improve, not only for residents and business owners of the city, but for those within the region that we serve, and for visitors from around the world who come to Soldotna. I have heard repeatedly how proud folks are of our city, how attractive it is becoming, and how much we have to offer.

We have good roads, excellent police protection, a fine library, beautiful parks, and finally a cemetery to call our own. The city administration and personnel are top-notch. The local trails system and the Kenai River provide ample opportunities for us to enjoy the outdoors at any time of year. Central Peninsula Hospital offers excellent health care. Kenai Peninsula College prepares students for employment in many high-demand fields. I believe that these health care and education systems are key components for a healthy economic base here in town.

We have seen an increase in business and residential construction. People want to live here, work here, shop here, and recreate here. The Storefront Improvement Program has been very successful in beautifying our downtown. The city is also exploring additional ways to encourage economic development. Soldotna Creek Park hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year. The ARTSpace project provides opportunities and venues for artists to both create and display their work.

We’ve all heard comments about how Soldotna is developing, and I am very proud of that. It must continue. The quality of life that we enjoy here in Soldotna is valued by all.

The fishing season is in full swing, and I hope that each of you will be able to enjoy our crown jewel, the Kenai River. Have fun and success fishing, float the river, or simply relax and take a walk on one of our many paths and trails. Once again, I want to invite you to enjoy the parade, the festivities, and all that Soldotna has to offer.

Enjoy Progress Days!

Pete Sprague is mayor of Soldotna.