William B. Lyons Park is Mountain View’s “Central Park”, offering a community gathering space and play opportunities to youth participating in Boys & Girls Club programs at the Mountain View Community Recreation Center next door.
After reviewing needed repairs to William B. Lyons Park, APF and the Anchorage Parks & Recreation Department (APRD) partnered with the Mountain View Very Important Parks (VIP) committee to seek an Alaska Legislature capital grant to accomplish a complete “make-over” of William B. Lyons Park. This $193,500 grant enabled APF and APRD to make extensive improvements to the equipment and facilities in the park.
In order to engage Mountain View youth in planning the park improvements, volunteers from the Alaska Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects worked with students at Clark Middle School to design new elements for the park (read this great article from the ADN!)
APF and APRD began implementing this community vision in Summer 2011 (see top photo.). Volunteers made repairs designed to make the park more welcoming:
- Removed parking area that served as a drive through, changing neighborhood traffic for the better and increasing the play space in the park;
- Spread top soil to prepare for reseeding the lawn;
- Re-painted park equipment and removed graffiti;
- Planted new trees and perennials; and
- Planted seasonal flowers in the planters around the park.
Thanks to the Mountain View VIP Committee for their involvement in prioritizing repairs and recruiting volunteers! The APF is proud to fund neighborhood park fix-its with support from Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska State Legislature.
Click here to see the Photo Gallery from our Ribbon Cutting on Facebook!
PARK HISTORY
The Municipality of Anchorage purchased this property using bond funding and Community Development Block grants in 1972 to add additional parkland to the Mountain View area.
The park was originally known as Mountain View Park. It was renamed in honor of William B. Lyons, the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. In 1997, the Municipality of Anchorage partnered with the Boys & Girls Club to build a recreation center at William B. Lyons Park.
Detailed results for William B. Lyons Park
2011 Neighborhood Park Fix-It
Total park improvement value: $182,036
