By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitkans can voice their opinions on the future of outdoor recreation near town at Sitka Trail Works’ annual meeting, Thursday evening at Centennial Hall.
After gathering suggestions from the public in an online survey in the spring, Trail Works wants input on a variety of specific projects that range from an extended trail segment along Indian River to a more ambitious loop trail west of Redoubt Lake.
As trail planning moves forward, Sitka Trail Works Executive Director Ben Hughey wants to see what the public thinks of the various proposals.
“This is going to be a community planning session,” Hughey said.
“This spring, over 800 Sitkans shared their thoughts on the future of our trail system. We’ve analyzed those comments and spent the summer identifying routes that could satisfy the community’s top priorities,” he said. “Now we’re bringing back tangible ideas for more feedback. We’ve mapped over two dozen conceptual plans for trail projects, all still in draft stage. Starting on Thursday and continuing through the fall, we’re asking Sitkans how these ideas resonate and if we’re creating a plan that will benefit the community.”
Those who responded to the survey expressed a desire for easy loop trails, challenging day hikes and longer backpacking trails, he said.
A Trail Works flyer states that ideas include two possible options for rerouting the start of the Mt. Verstovia trail, adding a loop onto the Cross Trail near Sitka High, reconstructing the Lake Suloia trail in the West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness and building a marine trail. The trail network of Sitka National Historical Park could be extended farther north along Indian River. For backpackers, a loop trail connecting Kanga Bay, Goddard Hot Springs and Redoubt Lake is up for consideration.
Once an idea gets chosen, Hughey noted, the next steps are to work with landowners and secure funding.
“The steps from idea to implementation are many. Once the community prioritizes among these draft trail ideas and formalizes the next Trail Plan, the steps toward construction depend on funding and on partnerships with the land management agencies,” he said. “For example, if the Verstovia reroute is selected as a priority in the Trail Plan, we would then be working with the Forest Service, who is the land manager, to refine the idea and seek grant funding.”
A project that occurs on federal land would likely involve an Environmental Analysis or Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Following Thursday’s meeting, Trail Works will launch another online survey. Unlike the spring survey, the new one will include specific plans and proposals, Hughey said, and Sitkans will be able to vote on their preferences. He expects the survey to go online in the coming weeks.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Centennial Hall and will begin with an open house in which attendees can discuss trail plans. At about 6 p.m., Sitka Trail Works members will vote on the nonprofit’s board, after which the meeting will return to discussions. Representatives of the U.S. Forest Service also will be present to accept public input on possible new public use cabins. The event will include a potluck dinner.
Also Thursday at Centennial Hall, the Assembly and city Planning Commission will have a joint work session with public input to discuss the findings of the recent end-of-season tourism survey. That meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Hughey said plans formed in the trail planning process likely will take time to come to fruition.
“Next year, apart from finishing the Cross Trail and some smaller trail projects, we’ll be focused on refining plans and... chasing funding. These major trail projects require several years of preparation.”
