Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Playground at Municipal Park on South Forest Drive in Kenai. The City of Kenai Parks and Recreation Commission have made Municipal Park their number one priority for upgrades and plan to install playground equipment for children ages 2-5 later this summer.

Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Playground at Municipal Park on South Forest Drive in Kenai. The City of Kenai Parks and Recreation Commission have made Municipal Park their number one priority for upgrades and plan to install playground equipment for children ages 2-5 later this summer.

Kenai looks at park improvements

  • By DAN BALMER
  • Saturday, March 1, 2014 10:39pm
  • News

The City of Kenai Parks and Recreation Commission has identified Municipal Park as a top priority for upgrades and plans on adding a playground for young children ages 2-5 this summer.

At the Feb. 19 city council meeting, council member Terry Bookey, the parks and recreation commission liaison, said the commission would like to meet more than the scheduled six times a year because of the number of projects they would like to accomplish this year.

The commission last met on Feb. 6 to discuss Capital Improvement Projects for 2014, which included playground upgrades to Municipal Park. The commission does not meet again until April 3. Bookey said the commission would like to meet every month with the exception of July.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“They would rather have the option of canceling a meeting instead of scheduling special meetings,” he said. “Due to constraints placed on special meetings, you can only talk about specific topics addressed. In July there is so much going on with the personal use fishery, the parks and recreation department is so busy they would not be able to participate.”

Parks and Recreation Director Bob Frates said July is such a hectic month for his department with more than 50 percent of his staff involved with the dipnet fishery cleanup.

“July is just a crazy busy month for everybody,” he said. “(Dipnet season) takes up a lot of resources from parks to police. After an action packed month we take a step back after the dust clears.”

Bookey said Kenai residents have been looking for a playground for young children between the ages of 2-5. The current playground at Municipal Park is intended for children ages 5-12.

At the Feb. 5 city council meeting, council members made recommendations to city manager Rick Koch on a budget of $50,000 for playground equipment and a total budget of no more than $120,000 including installation.

The council made recommendations for specific types of equipment, like a duo seesaw, animal rockers and an up-and-over play system. Frates said he is now in the process of soliciting the playground manufacturers for proposals.

The commission will then make their recommendations for which equipment will fit within the budget, Bookey said. Before any money is expended the council will have to approve it because it is not in the budget right now, he said.

Bookey said the commission may have funds available for this fiscal year 2014 to accomplish the priorities at Municipal Park, but are waiting to see what the numbers are.

“In the discussions, the commission felt (Municipal Park) was a project not yet complete,” he said. “Instead of moving on to work on another park, will work on Municipal Park and find a way to address the 2-5 year old age and make it complete.”

The proposed 2-5 year old play area site is in the field next to the current playground.

Council member Mike Boyle said he has heard complaints from older kids that want open green space. New playground equipment in the park would take away open green space for the older kids who like to “play with a stick and ball,” he said.

Council member Brian Gabriel said the public has made it known they want younger playground equipment and there are a couple ball fields in town.

Frates said in addition to adding a playground at Municipal Park, the department plans to extend a trail segment to connect the park to old town from North Spruce Street to South Forest Drive. Another proposed trail extension is a continuation of Shquitsatnu Creek Trail from Fourth Avenue to Second Avenue back to the Spur Highway. He said the projects have not been approved yet but he expects them to be completed this year.

“We have a couple ideas unfolding this summer that the commission will take a look at,” he said. “Having a trail connect old town to the ball fields and Municipal Park has real potential for the community.”

Bookey said the commission’s second priority is upgrades to Beaver Creek Park and in the future would like to make upgrades to the skate park.

Beaver Creek Park, which serves Kenai residents in the Beaver Loop area, is another vital neighborhood park on the commission’s radar for improvement, Frates said. It is an older park developed in the 1960’s that has proven its worth but residents have expressed a desire for upgrades, he said.

While the commission also identified the skate park for upgrades with user’s requesting the addition of street elements like benches and railings, Frates said there is no money available for that project this year.

Council member Tim Navarre said he was in favor of any park improvements.

“I do like doing more things to improve the quality of life of our residents,” he said. “It is positive for the community.”

Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Robert Weaver was last seen at the Doroshin Bay public use cabin on June 25, 2025. (Photo provided by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Kenai wildlife refuge seeking information on missing man

Robert Weaver was last seen near Skilak Lake on June 25.

The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team conducts a training mission in Seward, Alaska in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team
Anchor Point fundraiser to benefit Alaska rescue and recovery group

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2016.

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic staff (left to right) Angie Holland, RN; Jane Rohr, Sonja Martin Young, CNM; Robin Holmes, MD; and Cherie Bole, CMA provide an array of reproductive and sexual health services. (Photo provided by KBFPC)
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic releases report on STI trends on the Kenai Peninsula

The report pulls from data gathered from 2024 to early 2025.

Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Swimmers, parents call on Kenai to support Kenai Central pool

The KPBSD Board of Education last week said communities will need to step up and take over administration of pools within the next year.

Traffic passes by South Spruce Street in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai drops effort to rename South Spruce Street

The resolution would have changed the name to make it clear which road led to North Kenai Beach

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

A makeshift coffin decrying the risks of Medicaid funding cuts is seen on Thursday, June 26, in front of the Blazy Mall in Soldotna. The cuts were included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Ahead of Senate vote, Soldotna protesters defend Medicaid funding

Cuts to the program were included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning.

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough school board to finalize budget

The new budget designed by the committee will be considered at a public hearing during the full board meeting on Monday evening.

Most Read