The road to North Kenai Beach, currently called South Spruce Street, could be changed under a measure being considered by the Kenai City Council.
Vice Mayor Henry Knackstedt introduced a resolution to rename South Spruce Street to Kenai Beach Street during the council’s June 4 meeting.
“It’s occurred to me, growing up here and trying to describe how to get to the beach, well, it’s the road to go down to the beach,” he said. “I can never remember which one it is.”
Calling the road Kenai Beach Street, he said, “would be pretty darn clear.”
Deborah Sounart, another member of the council, said she supported the move. It’s ironic, she said, that the road leading to North Kenai Beach has the word “south” in its name.
Alex Douthit, also a member of the council, was less favorable. He said that he’s never struggled with accessing the beach and wondered whether the confusion warranted “renaming a whole road” and causing businesses and residents to change their addresses.
There are few residents on the road, Knackstedt said, one home, two churches and two businesses.
The resolution was forwarded by unanimous consent of the council for consideration by the city’s planning and zoning commission, who will discuss it during their June 25 meeting. The council will consider the change on July 2.
A full recording of the council’s meeting can be found on the City of Kenai Public Meetings YouTube channel.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
