WHAT'S ALL THE DIGGING ABOUT NEXT TO THE NATURE CENTER?

Thanks to receiving a Recreational Trails Grant, we have been able to begin working on a trail to connect the Lower Parking Lot to the Nature Center.  The new lot has been great for providing additional parking and increasing safety (less people are now parking on Eagle River Road).  It has also been instrumental in allowing people with disabilities to access the Rodak Nature Trail and Viewing Decks.  They can now bypass the steep section of the trail that begins behind the Nature Center.
The new trail design and construction is spearheaded by Blaine Smith (with Alaska Trails) along with our staff trail manager Gus Gustafson.  The original "sneaky trail" that existed in that location was used by volunteers to quickly access their cabins.  The intent of the new trail is to make it as safe and easy as possible for those parking in the lower lot to reach the Nature Center.  The large crib stairs with handrails is slated to be completed by mid-July. 
We cannot thank our trail crew volunteers enough. So many of them have come out daily to help with the backbreaking work of digging and moving dirt and rocks.  THANK YOU Jerry, Joe, Mike K, Mike, Pat, Sheri, Dan,Ruth, Daniela, Paul, Lyndon, Tom, Hank, Ruth, Kate, Betsy, Elaine and Marc.