Members of the Haines Borough’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee last week expressed support for moving Lookout Park to a location in the southeast corner of an expanded parking lot at the Small Boat Harbor.
The seven-member group – which as of this week has seats open for four voting members – lacked a quorum, so couldn’t take official action. Members Ginger Jewell, Rich Chapell and Daymond Hoffman were present. The group’s ideas will be forwarded to the borough planning commission.
The fate of the waterfront park became an issue about a month ago, when plans for harbor expansion revealed it would become surrounded by a parking lot.
Several residents, including users of the park, have objected to the plan, saying it would degrade an existing attraction. The park includes a historic steam drill the borough recently refurbished and a fishermen’s memorial.
Jewell told the group she thought the southeast corner, or waterfront edge of the parking lot, could work. The relocated park could be oriented along the south edge of the parking lot to eliminate possible conflicts with a planned boat ramp there.
Chapell added that relocating the park there would create a large, unobstructed section of parking lot, an improvement over keeping the park at its current site.
A new walk along the south edge of the parking lot could lead pedestrians along Front Street to the site, Jewell said.
Options to date include moving the park either to the southeast location, to Picture Point, or to a street-side location on Front Street south of the parking lot.
Chapell suggested a scenic walkway atop one or two existing rubble-mound breakwaters, which would provide an unobstructed view. Sitka has such a lookout, he said.
Mayor Jan Hill, who has directed the recreation committee and the borough’s planning commission to come up with a direction for the park, told the committee Thursday that she saw no problem leaving it where it is.
The assembly hasn’t appropriated money for changing or moving the park. Borough manager David Sosa has cited a ballpark figure of $500,000 for the move.
Assembly member Mike Case and ex-officio member Al Giddings also attended the meeting.