Kenai City Council authorizes federal grant bid for Old Town Park playground

The Kenai City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 7, authorized the city manager to seek up to $250,000 in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund money to replace the playground at Old Town Park, a 1.11-acre neighborhood park that needs accessibility and facility upgrades.

The city will match any award dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. The full project is estimated at $800,000, which the resolution says meets and exceeds the required match. Residents asked for new playground equipment during the 2026 parks master plan process, and the Kenai Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the grant application on Oct. 1.

"There's a lot of multifamily housing around there where children are, and I think it's important to the city," Mayor Henry Knackstedt said. No one from the public spoke. The council adopted Resolution No. 2026-64 by unanimous consent.

The council heard that a grant would permanently encumber the park land, making another use difficult, if not impossible, with a performance period of about three years after an award. The city will apply through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, which expects about $1.5 million available statewide this cycle.