The Haines Borough is moving forward with plans to install a pavilion, stone fireplace and stairway at Picture Point, developments public facilities director Brad Ryan hopes to have completed by December.
The pavilion will be sited in the southern pullout, the one motorists first encounter when driving out of town toward the ferry terminal. It will be set against the cluster of trees so as not to obstruct the view, much like how the new bathrooms are situated in the northern pullout, said tourism director Leslie Ross.
The pavilion will be able to hold two to three picnic tables, she said.
Unlike in some projects where the borough provides design documents to bidders, the borough is asking interested parties to come up with their own designs for the pavilion, stairs and fireplace, with some basic specifications.
For example, the borough is asking the pavilion be modeled after the one on Ned Rozbicki’s property on Beach Road, and that it fit on a 24-by-16-foot pad.
The reason for the “design-and-build” approach on the three items – which are being bidded out separately – was mainly time and money, facilities director Ryan said.
The deadline on the $184,400 wayside grant secured through the National Scenic Byways Project is Dec. 31, which is why the borough is scrambling to get the pavilion, stairs and fireplace done before then, Ryan said.
“To make that happen, we had to make some pretty quick decisions,” he said.
The borough is asking the stone fireplace be designed to stand alone at the northeast corner of the pavilion, but close enough so users can remain under the pavilion while enjoying the fire.
The stairs will be located near the new bathrooms, by the trees, and will be used to access the beach, Ryan said.
According to the bidding documents, the stairs have no maximum bid, but the pavilion and stone fireplace quotes cannot exceed $25,000 each.
Ryan said the winning applicant will not be judged solely on the lowest price, but on the quality of the proposed design.
Tourism director Ross, who has been handling the Picture Point project since the resignation of community and economic development director Bill Mandeville, said these three items will likely represent the end of the project for now.
“We will be done with this whole project unless we get another wayside grant,” she said.
Recent developments at the northern pullout include the installation of the bathrooms, rough trail access cut into the east side of the lot, logs placed to designate the parking area and grass seeding in the picnic area.
About $28,000 already has been appropriated for a “Welcome to Haines” sign flanked by two totem poles made at Alaska Indian Arts. It’s unclear where the sign will be situated.
“I’ve gotten pretty much just positive comments on it. A lot of people are excited,” Ross said. “Every time I am out there, there are constantly people stopping and using the picnic tables.”
The Picture Point Design Committee is meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the borough conference room to discuss quotes turned in by the Friday deadline.