Construction season is in full swing at Anchorage parks and trails, with the city's Parks and Recreation Department planning more than 35 projects this summer.
According to Anchorage Park Superintendent Holly Spoth-Torres, $6 million will spent on improvements.
Places like the Cuddy Midtown Park will soon have a brand-new playground for jumping and climbing on. The Veterans Memorial Park, on the Delaney Park Strip in Downtown Anchorage, is also currently undergoing renovations. Spoth-Torres expects projects that started early to finish before the end of summer.
"This is probably the biggest parks construction year we've had in at least 10 years," Spoth-Torres said.
According to Spoth-Torres the reason so much work is being this year is because the funds are finally available.
"We have been doing a lot of community engagement and it's just all coming to a head right now," said Spoth-Torres, "The Anchorage Park Foundation (provided) private dollars, bond dollars and legislative dollars. We have a mix of a lot of different money that are going into the parks this year."
Parks and Recreation hopes that when the work is all done, it will be worth the wait.
"We've spent the last 10 years listening to what the people want and we hope that these improvements will help Anchorage residents use the parks and trails better," Spoth-Torres said. "(It) makes them safer and makes them more beautiful, and makes it a better place for us to live, work and play."
With all the construction, some parts of local trails and parks will be temporarily closed during the summer. A full list of projects has been posted on the city's website.
Contact Mallory Peebles