Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Far North Bicentennial Park Sled Dog Trail Safety Signage

Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle)

Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association Mrs Frances Pekar [email protected] P.O Box 110569 O: 907-562-2235 3400 Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99511

Mrs Frances Pekar P.O Box 110569 [email protected] Anchorage, AK 99511 O: 907-433-9235

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 1 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Application Form

Community Challenge Grant Application Questions Project Idea Title*

Please title your project! We want to know where and what you propose to do. For Example: "Coastal Trail Community Murals" or "Williwaw Park General Improvements" Far North Bicentennial Park Sled Dog Trail Safety Signage

Applicant Group or Organization*

Please describe the group or organization that is submitting this application. The Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association, Inc. (ASDRA) was organized in 1949 exclusively for purposes within the meaning of Section 501C (3) of the Internal Revenue Code to include preserving cultural heritage of Alaskan dog mushing, preserving and maintaining recreational areas for the youth and public of Alaska, combating juvenile delinquency, providing cultural and historical education regarding dog mushing, and providing education for the prevention of abusive behavior or cruelty to dogs. ASDRA has a strong junior program providing leadership opportunities, outdoor recreation, and dog mushing education. Educational programs focus on care, conditioning, and humane treatment of dogs, and increasing the human animal bond. ASDRA volunteers have maintained the trails of Far North Bicentennial Park since the 1958 location of the current trailhead on Tudor Road. ASDRA provides grooming when snow cover is sufficient and holds events ranging from fun events, junior skill building, junior races, point race series, and championship races attended by mushers from all over the world. In cooperation with Greater Anchorage Inc., ASDRA organizes and puts on the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship Sled Dog race each February during this world- class winter festival. The 2019 Fur Rendezvous race had 186 volunteers supporting the event over the 3 days.

Project Lead*

Please indicate who you consider to be the lead on this project.

This person will be your project's main contact and overall champion. This may be different than the organization or group contact that you listed when your login credentials were created - that's okay! John Rasmussen, Trail Manager 907-230-6829

Proposed Project Location*

Where is your proposed park or trail improvement?

Please let us know the municipal park, trail or facility you propose to improve. You can use this tool to help confirm you're thinking of eligible parkland.

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 2 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Far North Bicentennial Park

Project Description*

Let us know about your park or trail improvement project idea! This project will place 4X4X8 pressure treated sign posts 10 feet in each direction visible from each major intersection with multi-use trails and heavily used side trails along the approximately 14 miles of trail on MOA property. A total of 25 points of entry have been identified on the attached map. Red dots added to the map approximate the post placements. When snow adequate to groom with a snow machine falls 14" x 10" .080 EG reflective signs will be screwed onto the posts for the winter season. The sign design will be consistent with the signage (see attached photo) on BLM land crossed by the Tozier Track trail system. The BLM logo would be replaced with a MOA logo. These signs will be removed in the spring. An attached map shows the following sign locations as red dots: 3 posts and signs outgoing and incoming trails near the local trail coming from the Campbell Creek paved trail 2 posts and signs, one at each end of the Albrect Ball Fields 1 post and sign at the Rondy cutoff and 3 mile turn 1 post and sign at the 4 mile turn south 2 post and signs at the Tour of Anchorage trail 2 posts and signs at the Armory Road crossing 2 posts and signs at the Shields Trail intersection 2 posts and signs at the 1st Campbell Airstrip Culvert 4 posts and signs at the 2 gates in the Botanical Garden fence 2 posts and signs at the intersection with the trail coming from Regal Mountain Drive 2 posts and signs at the trail turn at the gasline utility easement 2 posts and signs at the trail turn toward the Beaver Dam Bridge from the utility easement 2 posts and signs at the trail from the north ¼ mile before the Beaver Dam Bridge 2 posts and signs at local trail intersection from the Moose Ridge Loop 2 posts and signs at the local trail intersection close to the north access to Moose Ridge Loop 2 posts at the intersection with the Shields Trail past the second Campbell Airstrip Culvert 10 posts and signs at 5 intersections of the Blue Dot Trail and the Woodway Loop 2 posts and signs at local trail crossover TOA to Homecoming 2 posts and signs at Blue Dot trail intersection with Homecoming Trail 3 posts and signs at intersection 4 mile/Rondy trail Total posts and signs equal 50. Post placements will require 50 hours of volunteer time. Signage placement will require 20 hours of volunteer time. Signs design is on file at Warning Lite of Alaska/Action Sign and Graphic. They would change to the MOA logo and produce the signs for $21 each. Total cost is $1050. 50 posts at $12 each totals $600. $15 in addition is needed for screws to attach signage to the posts. ASDRA will seek donation of a mobile post hole auger and rely on volunteer labor to install posts and signs.

Demonstrated Public Need*

What demonstrated public need does your project address? Dog mushing is the only non-motorized activity that is excluded from the Municipal multi-use trail system. This was done by an agreement between the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) and ASDRA to ensure the mutual safety and enjoyment of experience of dog mushers and other users. The 20 miles of trails originating at the publicly available Tozier Track trailhead are designated for sled dog mushing only in winter. 6 miles of these trails cross Bureau of Land Management(BLM) property on the Campbell Tract.

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 3 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Increasing winter use of all trails by multiuse users has created conflicts with walkers, loose dogs, occasional skiers, and bikes. The recent winters with little to no snow has created confusion for users who are used to traveling the trails without snow and continue use on winter-groomed trails. These users may not understand the designation of single use and the safety issues that arise when the dog teams travel at speeds up to 20 miles per hour and can suddenly come on the unprepared. The turnover in the population of Anchorage contributes to this confusion on the historical single use designation. At the northern end of the park only a single kiosk with map shows the designation. This past winter during an ASDRA Championship race the leading musher had a bike collide with the dog team injuring a dog. A second team had a minor encounter with a bike. There were a number of reports to ASDRA of aggressive loose dogs and large groups of walkers and bicyclists with loose dogs encountered during training. At this time ASDRA places temporary laminated signage (see attached photo) out when grooming of the trails begins. This signage does not have the MOA logo and is subject to weather. Permanent signage that is consistent with the Bureau of Land Management signage on the trails crossing their lands will help educate the public. ASDRA plans to take these signs down each spring and put them back up when there is enough snow to groom the trails alerting users to the change in designation.

Project Beneficiaries*

Who will this project benefit?

To the best of your ability, please describe who will directly benefit from your completed project. This might mean neighborhoods, schools, recreational user groups, or other specific populations in Anchorage. This signage will benefit all trail users, adult and junior dog mushers, dogs, community groups and individuals who are beneficiaries of sled dog rides. Multi-use users will benefit in knowledge of appropriate times that the trails are available to them. Sled dog events including the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship event and the Iditarod Ceremonial Start benefit by having safe trails with minimal user conflicts both for the events and for regular training opportunities. The winter tourism economy and business owners of Anchorage are a direct beneficiary of these events.

Demonstrated Public Support*

Please describe the existing public support for this project.

This may include community councils, recreation user groups, etc. that have demonstrated their support for your project. Letters of Support can be uploaded and attached at the end of the application. If none, please state your intention and plans to build public support for the project idea. This grant application is a direct response to the Far North Bicentennial Park Trail User Group meeting held the first Monday of February 2019. At that meeting conflicts occurring on the sled dog trails were discussed. The consensus of the users present at the meeting was a need for permanent signage to educate users of the single use designation in winter months. ASDRA was encourage to also reach out via public media to other user groups. Both of these suggestions were taken. The grant proposal was announced at the April Far North Bicentennial Park Trail User Group meeting. Fur Rendezvous Greater Anchorage Inc. has submitted a letter of support for this project. Their winter festival depends on competitors coming with reasonable assurance of safety for their dogs.

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 4 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Have you met with a park planner or ASLA volunteer about your project idea?*

If not, ASLA will be hosting two workshops to help applicants budget and plan their projects.

First Workshop Tuesday 2.26.19 Fairview Recreation Center Multi-purpose Room 5:30 pm to 8 pm

Second Workshop Wednesday 3.6.19 Spenard Recreation Center West Conference Room 5:30 pm to 8 pm

Yes

ASLA Planner who helped with project idea

If yes, please provide their name here: T. Keegan, M. Fehribach, Bradley Muir.

Total Estimated Cost to Complete Project*

Please estimate the total costs required to complete your doable Community Challenge Grant project improvement idea.

Costs might include design, working project materials, equipment, labor, or other expenses to see your project idea into installation.

*You may download and use our budget worksheet to itemize and total these expenses $1,665.00

Matching Funds: Total Volunteer and In-Kind Capital Contributions*

Please share the total dollar value amount your group plans to directly organize and raise toward your project through volunteer labor, in-kind materials and/or services.

*To help value and total these types of contributions, download and use the accompanying budget worksheet. $2,221.50

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 5 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Matching Funds: Total Financial Capital Contributions*

Please share the total amount of direct financial (cash, check, credit card) donations you will organize and raise.

This might include private grants or corporate gifts, but cannot include federal, state or city project dollars. $0.00

Total Matching Grant Request*

Your total grant request should be equal to the total amount of contributions you plan to organize and raise. $3,886.50

Improvement Maintenance Plans*

Will the improvement require continued maintenance?

Please consider things like landscaping, wear and tear, etc. and describe your plans or ideas for how this project will be maintained as a community asset into the future. ASDRA will maintain the posts each season along with other trail maintenance. Posts that are leaning will be straightened. The signs will be placed each winter season and removed in the spring so that trail users can safely know when the dog teams can be expected and when the trails become multiuse. Any damaged signs will be replaced by ASDRA.

Project Volunteer Plans*

How will you engage or utilize volunteers with this project? ASDRA will recruit volunteers through our current volunteer and membership lists for fall workdays to place posts at the intersections. We will reach out to a Boy Scout group that has offered help in the past to see if they would like to be included in this community effort. The signs will be attached to the posts with screws when snowfall is sufficient to allow grooming equipment. Snow machines will be used for sign placement and removal in the spring. ASDRA had 156 individuals volunteer to help put on the 2019 Fur Rendezvous and will reach out to that volunteer list.

Are you willing to celebrate this project publicly with the support of Anchorage Park Foundation?* Yes

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 6 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Project Celebration Plans

Please share how you would most like to celebrate and promote a completed project. The Anchorage Park Foundation and volunteers will be celebrated on the website www.asdra.org for their funding of the trail signage. Anchorage Park Foundation will be included as a sponsor of the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship in a print handout of the musher biographies that is distributed during the event.

Upload Supporting Documents Letter of Support Letter of Support - ASDRA trails grant 2019.pdf

Letter of Support

Letter of Support If you have additional letters of support, please follow this link to share the document through Dropbox.

Project Plans Upload any design documents or drawings. This could be anything from detailed project blueprints to a creative napkin scribble.

For documents larger than 5 MiBs, please follow this link to share the item through Dropbox. FNBP_Map_red dogmushing signs.jpg

Project Plans Upload any design documents or drawings. This could be anything from detailed project blueprints to a creative napkin scribble.

For documents larger than 5 MiBs, please follow this link to share the item through Dropbox. Current signage on BLM - CCSC 14X10 DANGER DOG SLEDS.JPG

Project Budget If you do not have a more detailed budget proposal, you may attach the budget worksheet from the previous project budget questions. Budgeting-and-Funding-Worksheet-Challenge-Grants-2019-update.xlsx

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 7 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

Other documentation to further support proposal This might be "before" photos to help illustrate or articulate a need for your project. Current_signs_placed by ASDRA.png

Document Sharing Link

If you have additional documents to upload, please follow this link to share the document through Dropbox.

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 8 Frances Pekar Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association

File Attachment Summary

Applicant File Uploads • Letter of Support - ASDRA trails grant 2019.pdf • FNBP_Map_red dogmushing signs.jpg • Current signage on BLM - CCSC 14X10 DANGER DOG SLEDS.JPG • Budgeting-and-Funding-Worksheet-Challenge-Grants-2019-update.xlsx • Current_signs_placed by ASDRA.png

Printed On: 25 April 2019 Community Challenge Grant Application (2019 Cycle) 9

Anchorage Park Foundation Beth Nordlund Executive Director 3201 C St Suite 110 Anchorage, AK 99503

April 12,2019

Anchorage Park Foundation Challenge Grant Letter of Support

Greater Anchorage Inc. (GAI) dba Fur Rendezvous supports the efforts and the grant application as submitted by Alaskan Sled Dog and Racing Association for the Bicentennial Park Sled Dog Trail Signage. Trail use awareness has been an ongoing need as the use of trails have increased in the Park. This signage will increase awareness to the other trail users of the trail use and help decrease use conflicts. It would also help increase the safety of the dogs and competitors during the winter and the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship Sled Dog Race.

The Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship Sled Dog Race is a renowned world class event in the mushing organizations drawing competitors from not only Alaska but from Canada and Europe. To maintain this standard, competitors rely on a safe trail system for both competition and training.

Please help Anchorage to be considered a world class winter city and venue for winter sports by supporting this grant application by the Alaskan Sled Dog and Racing Association for the Bicentennial Park Sled Dog Trail Signage.

Respectfully,

John McCleary Executive Director GAI Past President GAI Retired Parks and Recreation Professional Personal Cell 907-242-1559

Greater Anchorage Inc. 400 D Street, Suite 110, Anchorage, AK 99501 907-274-1171  907-277-2199 (fax)  www.furrondy.net

ANCHORAGE PARK FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANTS January 2019

ESTIMATING YOUR PROJECT’S FUNDING NEEDS: BUDGETING WORKSHEET Use this worksheet to help you determine the value of capital improvement matching funds to request in your Community Challenge Grant application to Anchorage Park Foundation. Your matching fund request cannot exceed the value of what you raise in community investments in your capital project through cash, volunteer labor, or in-kind services and materials.

Section A. Estimate the costs to complete your doable Community Challenge Grant project idea. Design Working project materials and equipment 4 wheeler and post auger use $ 300.00 Captial Improvement materials and equipment Signs @$21each and posts $12 each and $15 hardware $ 1,665.00 Installation (labor) $ 1,921.50 Other (please specify) Total: $ 3,886.50

Section B. Unlocking the matching funds: Chart the in-kind capital contributions (volunteer labor, in kind services, in kind materials, etc.) you will organize and raise. Using volunteers to work to complete a capital improvement is a beautiful way to unlock matching funds AND create deeper stewards of your park or trail! The value of volunteer in-kind labor is split into two categories and valued by the federal government annually.

In Kind Materials value $ 300.00

In Kind Services value Volunteer labor value^ ($27.45/hour X the # of hours) $ 1,921.50 Skilled volunteer labor value^^ ($70.00/hour X the # of hours) Total: $ 2,221.50

Section C. Unlocking matching funds: Chart the private cash (financial) contributions for capital you will organize and raise. Cash Donations (given directly to APF project fund) $ - Cash Donations (managed through another organization)* Total: $ -

Section D. Your project's suggested matching fund request. What I'll Raise in Community Investment (B) What I'll Raise in Financial Donations (C ) $ 2,221.50 My Total Matching Funds Request: $ 3,886.50

Okay to proceed?: Yes, please apply now for a Community Challenge Grant!

Checking your math: You'll need enough funding to complete your total project costs. So, the total project cost (A) should equal the sum value of in-kind (B), cash (C ), and a matching grant (D). A = B + C + D

You can raise more in volunteer labor, in kind services or materials, and cash than you request in matching funds. You cannot request more matching funds than the total project costs. So, the sum of in-kind (B) and cash (C ) should be greater than or equal to the requested APF matching funds (D). B + C >or= D