The Alaska Legislature last week passed a capital budget that included nearly $18 million for local projects ranging from $5,000 for the Chugiak-Eagle River Historical Society to $6.2 million for the reconstruction of the Old Glenn Highway.
Early Friday, when news of the capital budget approval, which included $990,000 for the expansion of the Harry J. McDonald Memorial Recreation Center reached Reid McDonald, the center's director and son of the namesake, he couldn't contain his joy.
“Wow! I didn't even know it was in the budget. You can't even imagine how excited I am,” he said. “This has been a long time coming. We've been working on plans for the expansion for over 10 years.”
The money was not quite what is needed to complete the estimated $17 million addition of a second rink to the center, but that didn't stop McDonald from celebrating.
“We're on our way,” he said. “We got $1 million for the last two years and Parks and Rec is dedicating $500,000 of its capital budget to the project for the next five years. I like to think that we might be able to break ground next spring, if we can get the additional funds through a grant or sale of revenue bonds.”
Like McDonald, former Chugiak High School football coach Tom Huffer Sr. was excited as he bounded about town grinning like the Cheshire cat after he learned that Chugiak Rep. Bill Stoltze had managed to squeeze $1.5 million out of the budget for the installation of a Field Turf artificial surface for the Chugiak High School football stadium.
“That Stoltze,” Huffer said. “He really came through for us. He managed to wrestle up enough money for the field and the McDonald Center.”
Stoltze said he was happy to secure the funds for each of the projects around the Chugiak-Eagle River area, but the new turf at Chugiak and funding for the McDonald Center are the feather in his cap.
“I'm still really excited to get the money in the budget for both projects,” Stoltze said Monday, nearly a week after the legislative session came to an end. “The football and the Mac Center are a big part of this community.”
According to Stoltze, the installation of an artificial field surface on the football field will give the facility multiple uses, instead of just high school football.
“Soccer and other youth sports will be able to use the field once the turf is installed,” he said. “And it will be a lot safer than the muddy field it turns into during football season.”
As for the McDonald Center, Stoltze said he was happy to secure funding, but isn't sure what can be done as construction costs continue to escalate.
“The Mac is important to me because of who it represents,” he said. “Coach Mac was one of my teachers. He was one of those teachers you'll always remember. He was one of the good ones.”
While Stoltze was busy getting money in the budget for the sports facilities, the area's other legislators worked to secure funding for several other projects.
Rep. Anna Fairclough and Sen. Fred Dyson fought for, and secured, nearly $500,000 for the expansion of Anchorage Fire Department Station 11 in Eagle River. They teamed with Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom to get $500,000 to address road and drainage issues on Yosemite Drive.
Together, the local delegation also secured $375,000 to aid in the completion of the Mount Baldy trail access and land swap deal.
“We all worked together for the good of the community,” Stoltze said. “I believe we secured funding to the projects that are the best thing for the community as a whole, instead of focusing on our pet projects.”
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
