Public comment on the Kenai River Ranch design concepts closed Friday. After those are reviewed, agencies will present the preferred design concept to the Bureau of Land Management.
Local Alaska State Park Superintendent Jack Blackwell…
Blackwell: “We should expect to do that around the end of October.”
The property is located near Mile 12 of Funny River Road and was acquired under the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill habitat protection program. Currently it is cooperatively managed by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the Department of Fish and Game.
State managers began seeking input this spring on how the property should be managed, including whether any recreation facilities should be developed on the property.
Public comments received on the three design concepts have not been reviewed but Blackwell described the feelings of attendees at the last community meeting on September 9.
Blackwell: “I think there were a lot of folks who liked the property as it is currently being managed, I think there are some concerns from people about increasing use and activity on the property. But it’s hard to say without going through all the comments and reviewing those one at a time.”
He said the presentation to the BLM will conclude the planning phase of the project. Any development for the 146 acre parcel will depend if agencies can secure funding.
Click here to see the three design concepts for the Kenai River Ranch.