Recreational Trails Program 2000
Grant Application for Lower Service Trail Lighting Project

Submitted to: Recreational Trails Grant Program Alaska State Parks Attn: Ron Crenshaw 3601 C Street, Suite 1280 Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5921

Submitted by: Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage 203 West 15th Avenue, #204 Anchorage, Alaska 99501-5163 907-276-7609 (telephone) 907-258-7609 (fax) nsaa@alaska.net (e-mail) October 15, 1999 1.

GRANTEE INFORMATION: Name of Organization: Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Contact Person: Dr. Peter Mjos Mailing Address: Peter Mjos 1725 East 24th Anchorage, Alaska 99508 or Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage 203 West 15th Avenue, #204 Anchorage, Alaska 99501-5163 Tax ID No.: 237232617 Contact information: Peter Mjos 907-277-8998 (telephone) 907-729-3363 (fax) torsk@alaska.net (e-mail) Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage 907-276-7609 (telephone) 907-258-7609 (fax) nsaa@alaska.net (e-mail)

2. PROJECT TITLE: Lower Service Trail Lighting Project

3. AMOUNT OF FUNDING REQUESTED: $25,000

4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION This project requests partial funding of $25,000 for a project to provide lighting to the "Lower Service Trail," a 4100' trail beginning at Service High School which was completed in 1998. This funding will be matched by more than $50,000 in in-kind contributions and volunteer labor by individuals with extensive experience in previous successful trail lighting projects. The project will benefit a wide variety of winter recreational trail users, including students from Service High School and the adjacent new elementary school, high school cross-country running and ski teams, the Anchorage Junior Nordic League, and the Anchorage public.

5. PROJECT CATEGORY: Non-motorized

6. PUBLIC ACCESS REQUIREMENT The Lower Service Trail is an existing, dedicated trail located entirely on public lands, including Anchorage School District lands and Far North Bicentennial/Hillside Park. The Anchorage Department of Parks and Recreation supports the proposed project of the Nordic Skiing Association to provide lighting for this public use trail. (See attached letter of support.)

7. DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION This project requests partial funding for a project to provide lighting to the "Lower Service Trail." This 4100' trail is located in Anchorage, Alaska north and northeast of the Service High School football field and practice fields. It provides a loop connecting the lower or north side of the practice field with the "Junior Nordic Trail" which runs from the Hillside trail system to Service High School. The Lower Service Trail was utilized in 1999 as the starting loop for the nationally recognized Tour of Anchorage ski marathon. The "Lower Service Trail" was completed in 1998 by volunteers from the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, to compensate for loss of recreational, training and racing area due to the fencing of the Service High School football field. For example, the football field area had earlier been used as a starting area for local and national skiing events, as well as by Junior Nordic League, the Service High School skiing and cross-country running teams, and the public. To make full use of the opportunities provided by the Lower Service Trail, the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage is planning to design and install lighting for the entire trail. The estimated total cost of the lighting project is $76,960. This proposal is requesting funding of $25,000 from the Recreational Trails Program in support of this project. The remaining funding of $51,960 will be come from in-kind contributions and volunteer labor, representing a matching contribution of 208%. Most of the individuals involved with the construction and lighting of the "Junior Nordic Trail" have committed to participate in the Lower Service Trail Lighting Project. Thus the projected in-kind contributions and volunteer labor represent a very realistic assumption based on a recent very positive experience. The project will involve installation of approximately 30 lights to be placed at approximately 150' intervals--the same as for the Junior Nordic Trail. Visually, the lighting will very closely resemble that for the Junior Nordic Trail. The project will also include lighting for the practice field area east of the Service High School football stadium, a heavily used area which is currently mostly dark during winter. Based on previous experience, the project will be completed within approximately 30 days during the summer of 2000.

8. MAPS AND OTHER VISUAL MATERIALS Attached to this proposal are the following materials showing the location of and detailed technical information for this project: Aerial photograph of project area and surrounding park area to north and east, including site plan. Topographic map of Project Area Topographic map of Project Area and nearby areas of Far North Bicentennial/Hillside Park Topographic Map of Project area and broad surrounding area including Far North Bicentennial/Hillside Park. Enlarged section of Arctic Orienteering Club map of project area and surrounding park areas, including location of existing trails. Electrical engineering schematic diagrams (Panel Layout, Load Center Wiring, Post Mounted Meter/Main Disconnect, Electrolier Detail)

9. PUBLIC BENEFITS For six months of the year, the most heavily used time for Anchorage trails occurs during the late afternoon and evening hours, in darkness. Lighting vastly enhances recreational opportunities for Anchorage residents during six months of darkness. Lighting also is important for the safety of recreational trail users, especially children, in avoiding moose encounters or getting lost on trails. The project will relieve congestion of two-way skiing traffic on what is at present a single, lighted in-and-out connection from Service High School to the Hillside Park lighted trails. User groups benefiting from the lighting project will include: Elementary students from the new elementary school presently being constructed to the west of Service High School, which is immediately adjacent to the Lower Service Trail. The trail provides gently rolling terrain appropriate for novice skiers. Anchorage School District physical education classes from Service High School. The Service High School cross-country running and skiing teams (during the 1998-99 season more than 150 students skied for the Service team). Other Anchorage School District ski teams which train on these trails, especially when conditions are marginal at lower-elevation trails such as Kincaid Park. The Anchorage Junior Nordic League, which is based at Service High School and meets Monday through Thursday evenings (as well as Saturday mornings) from November through mid-March. In 1999, approximately 150 children participated in this program every evening. Other winter trail users. Lighting of the Lower Service Trail will provide an additional lighted skiing opportunity for the highly popular Service/Hillside ski trail system, relieving frequent parking congestion at the Hillside and Hilltop parking areas. The gently rolling terrain will be especially attractive to users of varying skill levels, similar to the opportunity provided by the "Mize Loop" at Kincaid Park. Recent surveys indicate that there are 60,000 cross-country skiers in Anchorage.

10. COMMUNITY SUPPORT Attached to this proposal are letters of support from members of Bicentennial Park user organizations, the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, the Anchorage Junior Nordic League, officials from the Anchorage Department of Parks and Recreation and the Mayor's office, and other members of the public. We also anticipate that additional letters of support will be mailed directly to the Recreational Trails Grant Program.

11. SPONSOR COMMITMENT The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage has for decades built and maintained most of the recreational ski trails in Anchorage, and has successfully completed numerous lighting projects within the past five years. Many of the individuals participating in the project will be veterans of the nearby "Junior Nordic Trail" lighting project which was successfully undertaken by the Anchorage Junior Nordic League in 1995. The work for the project will be organized by the Nordic Skiing Association's Trails Committee, under the direction of Peter Mjos. All project expenditures will be documented and reports will be submitted as required. Funds will be administered by the treasurer of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage. The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage is a non-profit organization. Prior to construction, the project plan must be approved by the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Board. Upon completion, the Municipality of Anchorage will assume responsibility for maintenance, as has been the case with all previous trail lighting projects.

12. PROPOSED BUDGET A detailed project budget is attached.