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What needs have been identified
The City and Borough of Juneau has recently completed two different community outreach projects, one about parks and trails in general and another about Lemon Creek specifically. They learned that 89% of local residents use trails and that the Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School/Marriott Aquatic Education Trail would enhance neighborhood connectivity and walkability.
The Lemon Creek Plan adopted by the Assembly on January 8, 2018 specifically addressed the need to improve the Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School/Marriott Aquatic Education Trail that links the Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School and the adjacent ballfields, covered basketball court, and play area with the Lemon Creek neighborhood. Neighborhood children use the trail to access the school and the popular baseball/softball/ soccer fields and the basketball court. Educators at the middle school also use the trail as an outdoor classroom as it meanders through a muskeg meadow and offers opportunities to study different ages of a developing forest as well as several species of spawning salmon in Switzer Creek.
The Lemon Creek neighborhood has been identified as an underserved neighborhood. It is demographically a lower income area, and transportation to and from the area for children is difficult without negotiating busy streets. Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School provides a popular after school program for underserved students. By connecting the neighborhood to the school, children will have access to after school activities without being reliant on the bus schedule or be forced to walk home along busy streets.
Increasing recreational opportunities in Lemon Creek is a high priority for City and Borough of Juneau, neighborhood trails are in disrepair and there is a shortage of parks and public spaces. The recently completed Lemon Creek Area Plan identifies resurfacing the Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School/Marriott Aquatic Education Trail as a key step in meeting the goal to, "Pursue and foster projects that 'knit' the Lemon Creek area together such as greenways, pedestrian bridges over Lemon Creek, and the creation of public parks."
The trail was originally constructed over 15 years ago of pressure treated 2"x12" planking which has sunken into the meadow and is mostly under water. It has become very slippery and difficult to walk on and in many places the planking is coming apart. There are also three short bridges that are in disrepair or are in danger of washing out. The trail has become nearly impassable and is only useable by a limited portion of the population. We plan to make major improvements to the trail by replacing the 12" wide boardwalk with a 4' wide compacted, gravel pathway, and replacing narrow, rotting bridges. These simple upgrades will open up access to this scenic trail and important route to a school and community sports and play facility to nearly anyone living in the Lemon Creek community.
The four Rotary Clubs of Juneau and Rotaract Club propose to contribute to this effort together. Each club will take a leadership role in insuring the success of this project.
• The Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club will initiate project organization and will be a liaison between the Rotary Clubs and community leadership and writing of the grant.
• The Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club will structure the financial and report keeping as part of the grant stewardship.
• The Juneau "Downtown" Rotary Club and Juneau 58' Innovators will organize the volunteers and work efforts.
All club's will also donate funds towards the project.
How the project will meet those needs
By combining the resources of Juneau Rotary clubs we will be able to replace the old unsafe trail planking with landscaping material covered by gravel. There will be a minimum of two joint work parties where all four Rotary clubs and Roteract and Interact members will haul gravel, assist with the installation of bridges, signs and bench. A neighborhood picnic will be held to bring Rotarians and residents together and increase the understanding of Rotary. The City and Borough Parks and Recreation Department and Trailmix are the main coordinators of the project insuring proper permits are obtained and that the trail is built to their standards. They will be onsite working with Rotarians and providing the work needed to prepare for the work parties.
Timeline for your project
Given the weather and school schedule the plan is to complete the trail by the end of September. To meet this schedule, we have the following project timeline:
• April 30, 2018: Receive notice of Grant Funding
• May 1, 2108: Order gravel and contract with haulers
• May 1, 2018: Order bridge and landscaping material
• August 26, 2018 Rotarian Work Group to lay down fabric, haul gravel and install bridges
• September 1, 2018 Rotarian Work Group to haul gravel, install signs and bench and have a community celebration potluck with neighborhood
• Project Completion for the Rotary portion, September 30, 2018. CBJ and Trailmix will continue to work on trails that connect with the Dzantik'I Heeni Middle School/Marriott Aquatic Education Trail. Rotarians may continue working on those connector trails but it is not part of this grant request.
What the project funds will use for
• Purchase gravel and have it delivered to the trail
• Purchase landscaping fabric to be placed on trail before covered with gravel
• Purchase bridge material, wood, bolts etc
• Purchase a bench, trail signage and food for neighborhood lunch
How many club members will be involved
We propose 30% club membership from each club.
Budget:
Gravel/delivery onsite $22,000
Bridge Material $6,000
Landscape fabric $2,000
Bench and trail signage $5,000
Neighborhood lunch $ 200
SOURCE OF FUNDS
Participating Rotary Clubs:
58 Innovators Club $500
Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club $4,000
Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club $4,000
Juneau Rotary Club $4,000
Roteract Juneau $100
Subtotal $12,600
District grant match requested $12,600
The Juneau Community Foundation is pleased to be a funding partner with the Rotary Clubs of Juneau and commits $10,000 to the project.
Partner organizations- Trailmix and City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department staff will oversee the project, apply for the permits required to do the work, oversee the work completed at the work parties, complete the prework need before the Rotary work parties.
The Juneau Community Foundation's Parks, Trails, and Recreation Fund supports improved and accessible parks, trails, and recreation areas for all generations and backgrounds. This aligns well with CBJ's stated priorities for this project.
The four Rotary Clubs and Roteract Club will provide labor to haul and distribute the gravel on the trail. The estimated cost of the volunteer labor is $11,000.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
Because the grants were delayed our project was delayed. The trail work was completed before the snow fell. Signage and a bench will be installed when the ground thaws in the Spring. The community celebration will take place in the Spring of 2019. The Juneau Community Foundation provided funding directly to Trailmix for the trail project.
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