Kodiak parks board to weigh which of three master plan projects should go first

The City of Kodiak Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets Tuesday, Nov. 17, to discuss which of three projects should come first under the city's new parks master plan: Gibson Cove, the bleachers at Wamwik Park or East Addition Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Heather Bolen picked the three options from the plan's recommendations. Her agenda item report says staff believe the city should set a focused starting point rather than try to advance several projects at once. The agenda does not call for a vote.

The board took up the same three options for an Oct. 13 meeting, which was canceled for lack of a quorum.

The city began work on the 20-year plan in 2023. Before it, the only planning guidance was a 1981 borough parks plan. The board recommended the plan to the City Council on April 15. The council asked for revisions, then adopted the revised plan, dated August 2026. The plan recommends using it each year to set park priorities.

At Gibson Cove, the city owns a 5.8-acre former industrial parcel that is still zoned industrial and still holds a large quantity of pipe. The plan proposes a waterfront park with a shelter, seating, picnic tables, barbecues, parking and an accessible trail, after planning, design and rezoning. The neighboring beach-access parcel belongs to the Bureau of Land Management, and the shoreline parcel beyond it belongs to Natives of Kodiak and lies outside city limits.

The plan rates Wamwik Park's bleachers in poor condition and recommends renovating or replacing them. At East Addition Park, it flags drainage problems at the ballfield and dog park and recommends accessible routes, a new playground, covered seating, bleachers, a scoreboard and resurfaced courts.

In an informal survey at Crab Fest in 2025, about 149 people each placed five tokens on the parks they wanted to see improved. Wamwik drew 17% of the tokens, Gibson Cove 16% and East Addition 14.1%. St. Paul Plaza, which is not among the three options, led with 19.6%.

The department's budget is $1.96 million a year, plus up to $500,000 a year from city sales tax for park projects.

The board will also review the final fee schedule the council adopted. The board had recommended higher fees in June, including $6 instead of $5 for an adult session at the pool or ice rink.

The meeting is at noon at the Teen Center.