I was a board member of Alaska Indian Arts during the transfer of the Parade Grounds to CIA. While I recognize the situations are not identical since the Parade Grounds was privately owned, I would offer the following observations regarding the possible transfer of Tlingit Park.
CIA has done an excellent job maintaining the Parade Grounds — it’s never looked better since I arrived in Haines in the early 1980s and created a pottery studio in the barracks building.
As a volunteer at the finish line for the bike relay, I can personally attest that CIA has not restricted access to racers, race officials/volunteers, or the public.
As the race marshall of the Chilkat Challenge Triathlon, whose biking leg ends and running leg begins at the barracks building, I can similarly attest that racers, race officials/volunteers and the public have not been deprived of access to the Parade Grounds.
During those events (and others such as the Fair and Beerfest), visitors have not been barred from camping on the property.
Gershon Cohen