September 6, 2017, Anchorage, AK –On Thursday, September 7 from 5:30-7:30pm, volunteers are invited to Valley of the Moon Park for a Neighborhood Park Fix-It hosted by the Anchorage Park Foundation and Anchorage Parks and Recreation. As the park undergoes construction projects including a dog park renovation and parking lot expansion to support rising park use, the community will join United Way Emerging Leaders and Mayor Ethan Berkowitz in planting a rain garden to improve drainage. Volunteers are asked to come dressed in comfortable clothes that can get dirty.
The rain garden will be constructed around the parking lot upgrades which include 28 additional spaces. Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs in a depression to collect storm water runoff to be absorbed into the ground. An important piece of creating a healthy park ecosystem, the rain garden will help reduce erosion, flooding, and improve water quality of the nearby Chester Creek by filtering out pollutants.
Anchorage voters bonded in 2016 and 2017 a total of $350,000 for improvements to Valley of the Moon Park. Upgrades include safety LED lighting for the parking area and pavilions, new dog park fencing, entrances, and ADA accessible pathway, and additional parking to mitigate on-street parking hazards. Construction began in August and is expected to conclude mid-October, weather dependent.
“Park Fix-Its harness neighbor power to improve parks,” says Anchorage Park Foundation Executive Director Beth Nordlund. “The new rain garden will grow to be a beautiful feature, while also functioning as natural watershed protector from erosion and pollution.”
Valley of the Moon Park Fix-It
Thursday September 7, 5:30-7:30pm
Valley of the Moon Park
610 W 17th Ave
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/454697578234209/
For twelve years, the Anchorage Park Foundation has worked alongside Anchorage Parks and Recreation and community groups to perform necessary improvements to Anchorage parks and trails. An additional Trail Watch event will be held on Saturday, September 9, 9am-12pm at Valley of the Moon Park to finish planting and clear sightlines along the Chester Creek Trail. For more information or to RSVP for a Park Fix-It, contact the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Volunteer Coordinator, Michelle Fehribach at FehribachMR@muni.org or 343-4587.
