Since 2000 the Soldotna Parks and Recreation Department has been working to improve parks, sports, and activities.
Department Director Andrew Carmichael spoke with us about an update that has been a goal for years.
Carmichael: “When we did the Soldotna Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Master Plan one of the big pushes from the community was an indoor space, a big indoor space for turf. We have kids driving from Homer all the way to Anchorage, we have lots of kids from here driving to Anchorage to play on the sports surfaces they have up there and then we have a lot of people running out in the snow. But the impetus from that was to add on a dome, an inflatable dome much like you see in Anchorage to basically provide an indoor space year round, especially in winters like this winter when we don’t have the snow, we don’t have the snow cover, we don’t have the toys for non-snow winters, we’re stuck inside. So that would provide opportunities year round for people to recreate.”
He said the funding has always been the biggest question, that they would love to find all grants to be able to make it a reality however if it were put to bonds the decision would go to Soldotna voters.
Carmichael: “Years ago the former Finance Director said “Ya’lls going to get us gimmeed to death.” And I’ve took those words of Joe Wilkens to heart and I’ve always operated in a manner of to do things with an eye on the finances and whether the cost was benefitted worth it. When you run the numbers, at $70,000 a year to keep someone incarcerated, if you can keep one kid out of a problem life you go a long ways and that goes a long ways in terms of recreation.”
Carmichael said although the decision to ever create a domed recreation complex would be up to the voters, it’s the parks and rec departments job to provide options to make the public’s requests come to light.