Daily Sitka Sentinel

City Looks At Role In Tending Rec Area

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

Three weeks after the state stopped maintaining Halibut Point Recreation Area, it’s becoming obvious the city needs to step in – at least as a facilitator for a solution, Sitka officials said.

“I feel very much that the park is becoming an issue for city hall,” City Administrator Mark Gorman said. “We’re already getting people coming in: ‘I’ve got a reservation, and I can’t get access.’ ... We’ve tried to help them connect with the state.” 

Other concerns have been raised about trash, bears, crime, underage drinking, and safety at the 40-acre beachfront park. The park includes an ocean-front beach, a fish stream, public toilets and two picnic shelters with fire pits.

Gorman said that he will ask the Assembly at next Tuesday’s meeting for direction on what, if anything, the city should do in the absence of state maintenance and supervision. He said it’s better to tackle this sooner rather than later.

The National Park Service has stepped in to maintain the state’s Castle Hill and Old Sitka historic sites. Halibut Point Rec and the Starrigavan boat launch are the two other Alaska State Park sites on the Sitka road system that were left without management when the state cut off funding July 1.

As for the Halibut Point Recreation area, Gorman said, “If we don’t step in we will be pulled in and in a reactive way, instead of a proactive way. It is the most popular recreational site in Sitka. To say it could be boarded up and be self-maintained is myopic.”

On the other hand, there is the question of whether the cash-strapped city can afford to take on another responsibility, Gorman said.

After the State Parks cut funding for the single parks technician in Sitka, it issued an RFP for a private entity to maintain the local state parks sites, but received no response.

In late June the National Park Service stepped in to maintain Castle Hill and the Old Sitka historical site through the end of October.

Gorman said there may be opportunities for creative solutions under an agreement with the state for the city to take over management of the rec.

“The devil’s in the details,” he said. “We need to look at private-public partnerships to maintain it on our behalf.”

Gorman said he’s been talking to Mike Eberhardt, Southeast state park superintendent, about options that Gorman will present to the Assembly on Tuesday. He said he is interested in working further with Eberhardt on pursuing a management authority agreement with the state, but doesn’t want to get too far along without a public discussion and direction by the Assembly.

“I’m looking for authority to formally negotiate with the state,” he said.

In the end, the city may not be able to avoid getting involved, at least to help facilitate a discussion that will lead to a solution.

“I think we have a responsibility to the community to maintain access to the most popular recreational area in the city,” Gorman said.

Gorman said there are some solutions that will cost the city less than others, and cited the Sitka Fine Arts Camp as a model.

“Let’s take a lesson from that experience, and be creative, use volunteers,” he said. “This is a can-do community.”

Mayor Mim McConnell agrees that the Assembly has a role to play – but she is not sure how much the city should take on.

“I know it’s important to the community, and it needs to be managed somehow by someone,” she said. “I think working on it collaboratively with others may be the only solution that works for everyone since no one can afford to do it on their own. ... That does not mean we’re making a commitment, but it’s worth talking about.”