Anchorage Park Foundation is so grateful to all the volunteers and support from the community to celebrate our love for Chugach National Forest, downtown Anchorage, and holiday lights. A team of workers from AK Tree Service, North Star Equipment Services, and Airport Equipment Rentals hoisted the 31-foot tall White Spruce tree into place. Chugach Electric employees and members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), hung the hundreds of LED lights that were provided by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Anchorage Park Foundation. The tree was generously donated by Chugach National Forest and will shine bright for the holiday season. A special thanks goes out to parks supporter Schawna Thoma for helping to bring project volunteers together.
The Chugach National Forest tree was installed next to the annual Holiday Tree that was decorated by Anchorage Parks and Recreation in early December. An ice rink will be installed this week for skating in the park once again. Carlile Trucking hauled the 31-foot tree from the Portage area to Downtown Anchorage.
“We were thrilled to work with so many community partners to bring this tree and more light downtown,” said Dave Reaves, Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547. “We encourage folks to venture downtown to enjoy the holiday lights while they skate in Town Square Park.”
“Anchorage Downtown Partnership is thrilled to continue to support the holiday tree tradition that brings light and joy to Town Square Park and fosters the vitality of Downtown,” said Amanda Moser, Executive Director of ADP. We invite Anchorage to come downtown and celebrate the holiday.
The tree installation is generously supported by: Chugach National Forest, Carlile Trucking, AK Tree Service, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Chugach Electric Association, the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Airport Equipment Rentals, the Anchorage Park Foundation, the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), North Star Equipment Services, Northern Compass Group LLC, Jewel Lake ACE Hardware and, Airport Equipment Rentals.
The Anchorage Park Foundation earlier this year was awarded a $125,000 USDA Forest Service Urban, Community and Forestry grant by Region 10 State and Private Forestry to help improve forest health.
The park is located at 544 W 5th Avenue between the Performing Arts Center and The Kobuk. Ice skating will be available for the winter season and the holiday lights will be up for most of January.
