By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
After a three-year hiatus, the state is again funding and staffing state parks in Sitka, with notable changes to the Halibut Point State Recreation Area and the Starrigavan Boat Launch.
Brad Garansky, chief ranger of Southeast Alaska state parks, said that the state is “still hard at work getting everything back up to standards.”
Among the changes to Sitka’s state parks, Garansky pointed out that the picnic pavilions at Halibut Point now “have to be reserved online.” Reservations can be made at reserveamerica.com under the page on the Halibut Point SRA.
Also, a $5 per day fee, or a $50 annual parking pass, is now required to park a vehicle at Halibut Point Rec. The day fee is payable in cash, and the parking pass is available at dnr.alaska.gov.
Another difference is that Seasonal Park Specialist Nick True has returned to his former position. He has received help from the Alaska Conservation Corps and volunteer hosts as Sitka’s parks are taken out of mothballs.
At the Starrigavan-Old Sitka boat launch at the end of Halibut Point Road there is now a $10 one-time boat launch fee. However, Alaska State Parks will now honor the $75 boat launch decal sold by the city for use of the city’s boat launches at Crescent and Sealing Cove harbors.
There is a long-established Sitka state parks citizens advisory board, which meets at noon on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be at noon Thursday, Oct. 10, at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Garansky noted that there are openings on the board, and any interested persons can find an application at dnr.alaska.gov. Board meetings are open to the public.
Garansky added that with the state’s resumption of management of the state parks in Sitka, the state is “slowly working on improving Castle Hill and some of the outlying marine parks as well as money and time allow.”
