Local groups will be asked to endorse rec plan

The Wrangell Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Action Plan outlines a dozen priority projects aimed at enhancing local recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.

Last week, a public meeting was held on the final drafted plan, and those who helped form the plan expressed hopes of how it will be used in the community.

Borough Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore, also a member of the Wrangell Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Core Team, said she hopes local organizations and groups will endorse the plan to help move it forward.

Ideal partners of the outdoor recreation plan would include the City and Borough of Wrangell, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Wrangell School District, Alaska Island Community Services, Wrangell Cooperative Association, the Stikine River Jet Boat Association and the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce.

“The idea was those were key partners within the community we were hoping would take this document and support it,” Rushmore said.

The ultimate goal is to have those partners work together to get the projects outlined in the plan completed, she said.

Rushmore said the community-wide support would also help when applying for funding to complete the projects.

Wrangell Mayor Jeremy Maxand said it was important to maintain momentum and begin fleshing out the details now that the recreation plan is created.

“So we don’t just put it on the shelf and forget about it,” he said.

Projects discussed in the plan include extending existing trails on the island, improving outdoor facilities and community recreation programs, as well as creating new outdoor activities such as kayak routes, a high-ropes course and ATV trails.

Wrangell had the opportunity to create the plan through the USFS Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Framework. The USFS recreation initiative redirects federal funds that would traditionally go toward timber-related activities in communities like Wrangell, to focus on sustainable outdoor recreation.

Rushmore and Maxand agreed once the partners have endorsed the recreation plan, the next step will be forming small interest groups who want to push a specific recreation project forward.

“It’s finding those folks who really want to work on some of these projects…,” Rushmore said. “It’s going to take those folks to push it from below to make it happen.”