March 11, 2008
Volunteers Aim at $10 Million Kincaid Upgrade
By Dean Woodbeck
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The chalet at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. |
How, exactly, do cross country skiing, shooting at targets, and soccer go together?
This isn’t some elaborate joke set-up; unless you consider $10 million a punch line.
Volunteers plan to make Kincaid Park a world-class, year-round recreation area that includes a new biathlon range, snowmaking for cross country ski trails, and multiple soccer fields, including one with artificial turf.
The ingenious part of the plan is the use of the soccer field irrigation system to feed the snow guns in the winter.
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The proposed recreation plan for Kincaid Park
(click on the map for a larger version). |
One of the people at the center of this project is Rachel Steer, two-time U.S. Olympian in biathlon and native of Anchorage.
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Rachel Steer, U.S. Olympian and
Kincaid Project member. |
“Kincaid Park already has these great cross country ski trails,” Steer said. “But it lacks a suitable biathlon range and lacks snowmaking. At the same time, there is a serious shortage of soccer fields in Anchorage.
“Our growing season is so short for grass that kids who play soccer here play on dirt and gravel. This will provide more opportunities and, as we all know, you have healthier kids, you have healthier parents and you have a healthier community.”
The marriage of irrigation in summer and snowmaking in winter is the brainchild of Dwayne Adams, who made a presentation to the Nordic ski association about four years ago. The plan also includes a challenging roller ski loop and a brand new biathlon range. In fact, the new artificial turf soccer field will occupy the site of the old biathlon range.
Kincaid Park sits on 1400 acres at the tip of a peninsula next door to the Anchorage airport and only 15 minutes from the downtown. The venue includes a spacious chalet and plenty of parking – both of which will serve the new soccer fields.
The push to expand the use of the park started in 2004, when a group of volunteers formed a non-profit corporation – the Kincaid Project Group – to raise funds for the new facilities. The $10 million goal includes a biathlon range, disc golf course, irrigation/snowmaking, soccer fields, a 2.5km roller ski loop, and a $1 million endowment for maintenance.
To date, Steer says the group has raised $4 million and is confident of reaching the goal.
“When I came and saw the presentation that Dwayne made, I was very excited,” Steer said. “I wanted to be part of something and I want to give back. I learned how to ski in Anchorage and spent a lot of time on the Kincaid biathlon range. I want to make sure that the next group of Alaskan Olympians have good facilities.”
More details are available at www.kincaidproject.org.
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