TRAIL REPORT REVIEW  2007

• At the eastern end of Goose Lake Beach a flat large gauge wire is on the ground in the location of a missing flood light pole.  Not certain if it is related to the light and could not tell if western beach flood light was functional (was there during day light).  Additionally on the north side of Northern Lights at the old Goose Lake campground, observed a manhole with a missing cover. Forwarded to Park Maintenance & Facility Maintenance 12-17-07
• A blue tent that appeared occupied was observed on Chester Creek Trail north of light pole 92 and west of Seward Highway tunnel.  Additionally what appeared as a camp was observed just west of pole 115 & 116 on the same trail. Trail signs from Valley of the Moon to Spenard tunnel has graffiti on them with purple graffiti found in the Minnesota tunnel.  Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 12-17-07
• Easement clearing and tree removal has begun as part of the AWWU Phase Four Water Transmission Line between Boniface Parkway to Elmore Road and south of Tudor Road.  Additional trail clearing will be concurrently taking place for portions of the Alaskan Sled Dog Racing Association trails impacted by the E. 48th Avenue Project.  Campbell Creek paved trail and the Old Rondy Trail (Tour of Anchorage route) will remain open with some detours expected.  Please respect the construction site restrictions and be aware when in the construction area. Report posted 11-26-07
• Reported graffiti at A street overpass was removed by the efforts of our Trail Watch graffiti buster during a recent warm spring like day.  Graffiti buster paint can be applied when temperatures are above 35 degrees Fahrenheit.  Volunteers who would like to join the graffiti buster efforts on trails are encourage to call P&R Trail Watch Coordinator at 343-4296 or the P&R Volunteer Graffiti Buster Coordinator at 343-4288. Report posted 11-21-07
• Earthquake Park to Westchester Lagoon is ICY, but this is a good time to kick the twigs off the trail before they get frozen in! Another trail user suggested using the sandy beach as an alternative to the icy trail.  Please use caution when on the trails. Report posted 11-19-07
• Graffiti continues to be a problem in the underpass at C and A street.  The reported camp near light pole #92 and trash still onsite.  Note- Graffiti removal has been suspended until spring due to winter temperatures. 
• Fish Creek Bridge, east side on TK Coastal Trail. Cyclone fence on south side of trail is cut and allows dogs access to  estuary. Forwarded to Park Maintenance 11-14-07
• North of light pole #92 on Chester Creek, west of Gambell/Seward is an active homeless camp (single tent). Forwarded to Community Work Service 11-14-07
• Homeless camp, reported by others, on the banks of the Campbell Creek just off the bridge by Piper Street is still present. Another person was sleeping beneath a lean-to built directly on the trail just east of that location. Forwarded to Community Work Service & ARBRA 10-22-07
• Past couple of cold mornings with low temperatures in the 20s have caused a thin 1-2" layer of ice to develop along the shores of University Lake.  Some places the ice appears thick enough to temporarily support a small dog and extends from the shore out 20-40 feet in places. Placing thin ice signs back up may act as a warning to dog owners about the dangers of letting their pets venture out onto the thin ice. Forwarded to Park Maintenance 10-15-07
• Lights in the western tunnel under the Klatt - C street intersection are  not working.  The southern two lights in the tunnel from the Campbell Trail to Dimond Estates under Dimond Blvd are burned out.Forwarded to Facility Maintenance 10-15-07
• Two camp sites were observed 50 yards south of Chester Creek Trail, 150 yards east of A St and south of ball fields / AFS. One with red tarp, the other with a blue tarp. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 9-10-07
• Graffiti was painted on walls of A St. underpass at Chester Creek Bike Trail over the weekend. Forwarded to Facility Maintenance 9-10-07
• Jodhpur parking lot--small child being allowed to ride a motorized bike on trails around the parking lot. Family enjoying the view.  Chevy pickup, turquoise, AK license occurred about 7:10pm on Aug. 27 Forwarded to APD 8-28-07
• The North two boards on the bridge going to the old Hannah carwash have gone "missing". This is at the "Y" on the Campbell Cr Trail where one leg goes up to Northwood/Dimond High, the other to Victor/Dimond.  There are two tree branches as warning items currently.  Forwarded to Park Maintenance 8-28-07
• Two unauthorized camp sighted 100 yards West of Gambell on Chester Creek Trail, 50 yards North of trail.  Unauthorized camp sighted 50 yards East of the East end of Eastchester Park. 50 yards South of trail. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 8-24-07
• A refrigerator has been dumped illegally next to Chester Creek, 50 yards from the east end of Eastchester Park.  Forwarded to Park Maintenance 8-24-07
• There have been a number of bicycles chained together at the western end of the bridge crossing Campbell Creek just to the west of Road Runner restaurant.  May be a camp of some sort in the brush that is not visible.  The Bridge is very near a car dealership on Old Seward. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 8-24-07
• There is graffiti on the bench on the south side of the Northern Lights overpass at the junction of RJS trail and E. N. Lights Trail. Forwarded to N. Park Maintenance 8-20 -07
• There are several camps between Sullivan Arena and the Ford dealership that have been there all summer. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 8-20-07
• Water is pouring out of a hole on the underpass next to Chester Creek and onto trail. Forwarded to N. Park Maintenance 8-20-07
• Large homeless camp in wooded lot on West N. Lights Trail across from Carrs & in front of Dempsey Ice Arena.  Campfire smoke was coming from it. Forwarded to Community Work Service & S. Park Maintenance 8-15-07
• Two large trash plies are located on the Tour of Anchorage route on Old Rondy Trail between bridges and Tudor Road. Piles amount is approx. a pick up truck.  Forwarded to Community Work Service  8-7-07
• Man with baseball bat, metal rod, or similar potential weapon between Lake Otis and Goose Lake has been observed a number of times in the last month.  Poorly groomed, probably a homeless camper, late 20s to late 30s, dark beard, smoker, glasses, @ 5' 8". Camping along this stretch of trail, particularly behind senior center has increased this summer. Forwarded to APD 8-7-07
• AWUU well monitoring cap in the middle of the trail is rattling around in its hole and is a potential hazard for bikers.  Some paint would help.  It is located north of the 20th street bridge at AWWUU marker 413.0 Forwarded to AWWU 8-3-07
• Mud bogger trucks are gaining access through AWWU project area and ripping up mud trail along Far North swamp south of Tudor at Patterson.  Had slowed down but this summer all access controls / rocks, trees, brush ect. were removed for project. Forwarded to Heritage Land Bank & AWWU 8-3-07
• Friday afternoon a highly intoxicated man crawled up from the Tozier track tunnels and lay along side of trail.  Before I could call CPS, he crawled across the trail toward Muni Bus Barn/Tudor and was gone.  Went over Tozier bridge yesterday (7/23) and noticed case of empty beer bottles along south slope down to tunnels, several well worn trails back into the woods south of the trail between that area and Piper St. access. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 7-24-07
• Homeless camps visible from trail near Mulcahy Ball fields, north of lamp post 74 with another near Cal's, north of trail between lamp 84 and 85. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 7-24-07
• There is fallen tree obscuring the paved trail leading from Goose Lake to UAA. The tree is about 50 feet from the Goose Lake parking lot. Forwarded to N. Park Maintenance 7-10-07
• Tunnel under Dimond Blvd to Dimond Estates has a light fixture with the bulb burning out and the cover broken.  Damage to cover is likely not recent.  Fixture is second one in from the South entrance. Forwarded to Facility Maintenance 7-2-07
• Campbell Creek trail is in pretty good shape from New Seward to Dimond/Northwood.  Three bridges of the four at New Seward Highway on the north side of the creek have had the worst of the graffiti addressed by the volunteer graffiti buster.
• There is a tent on the south bank of Campbell Creek about 150 -200 feet east of Arctic Blvd.  It is visible from the trail on the north side of the Creek. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 6-14-07
• Chester Creek Trail tunnels and trail have graffiti that needs attention for upcoming big events. Forwarded to Graffiti Busters 6-14-07
• Caution - Black bear still present on Coastal Trail near the waste water treatment plant (Woronzof). Not afraid of humans, nor aggressive in my sighting (Tuesday evening)
• Coastal Trail appox. 150 ft North of Marston St exit towards W. Chester Lagoon is what looks like about 2 inches of a chunk of jagged pipe in the center of the trail.  Pretty nasty if hit by a tire.  Some of the cracking in the trail is pretty mean as well.  Graffiti pretty minimal, looks like a lot of effort is paying off. Forwarded to S. Park Maintenance 6-12-07
• West end of Campbell Creek Trail from New Seward Highway to the Car Wash at Dimond Blvd is in pretty good shape.  Some pavement cracking and pavement bulges South of C street.  the Arctic Blvd tunnel is presently dry and swept.  The Minnesota underpasses have some dust but are not muddy as of this date.
• Large spruce, small birch blocking the trail (blown over) about 1.5 miles along trail from Kincaid Chalet.  Forwarded to S. Park Maintenance 6-7-07
• Retaining wall brick has been removed and is next to the trail adjacent to the disc golf course between the two tunnels at Westchester Lagoon. Forwarded to N. Park Maintenance 6-1-07
• Baxter Bog - graffiti on one of the wooden bridges right near Cottonwood Village. Sent email to the street maintenance folk with a photo. Forwarded to Graffiti Busters 6-1-07
• Between Earthquake Park and Westchester, lots of shore birds come closer to trail as the tides come in. Great views.
• Gorillas in the park between A and C have been tagged in florescent orange. Graffiti in all tunnels and C street underpass, especially Valley of the Moon tunnel and west abutment. Forwarded to Graffiti Busters 6-1-07
• The Glenn Highway bike trail, Eagle River hill needs to be swept. It was swept early in the season, but then the road was swept and all the sand from the road went onto the bike trail. Forwarded to State DOT 5-28-07
• Extensive graffiti under the New Seward and frontage road bridges along Campbell Creek.Forwarded to Graffiti Busters 5-26-07
• Gravette in the lagoon tunnels, large mess in the tunnel and on the west end abutment of the Valley of the Moon tunnel ( ARCTIC BLVD). Forwarded to Community Work Service & Graffiti Busters 5-16-07
• Eastbound right side of Chester Creek trail at the Tikishla-Goose Lake Y just before the bridge, there is a USGS or similar marker frost-heaved up that has tripped up at least one jogger. There is another exiting Tikishla toward East 20th. Forwarded to N. Park Maintenance 5-14-07
• There are numerous places on the coastal trail with wide cracks in the pavement.  Riders be aware, My front wheel on my road bike was damaged last week and since then switched back to my mountain bike for safety reasons.  I enjoy these trails so much and would like to see appropriate care and maintenance done on them.  Thanks for supporting our trails! Forwarded to N.&S. Park Maintenance 5-10-07
• There appears to be someone (male) living under the bridge on the solar panel side on the Coastal Trail. He parks a blue two wheeled cart on Postmark Drive (about 75 yards south of Northern Lights) and perhaps catches a bus?
• From Lyn Ary Park heading west, continue down the hill about a quarter of a mile.  After the intersection of Marston St. and the coastal trail, on the right there is a large sink hole.  Forwarded to S. Park Maintenance 5-7-07
• Low-hanging branches on a tree on the creek side of the trail at Valley of the Moon Park -- need to be trimmed back. Forwarded to N.&S. Park Maintenance 5-7-07
• Graffiti in all 3 tunnels at Westchester on the Chester Creek Trail. Also north buttress on a street bridge and in the c street underpass. Camp  in woods between Cal Worthington and Chester Creek trail near light post 92. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 5-7-07
• Large cottonwood has fallen across Campbell Creek at Old Seward and Arctic Road Runner.  Tree is a matter of a foot or two above the water line.  With any major rains the tree will be dangerous to canoes and could impede flow. Forwarded to S. Park Maintenance 5-7-07
• Very large cracks in the trail that have been spray painted and coned by the city between Lake Otis and Seward Highway; snow finally totally off the trail but some ice still in the Seward Highway tunnel. Moose yearling along the same stretch of trail who has been standing his ground by the trail's edge. Lots of glass coming off the trail at Anchorage Football Stadium. Forwarded to N. Park Maintenance 5-4-07
• Camps on both sides of the trail behind access trail off Tudor. Camp closest to Tudor, people were cutting branches, I'm presuming for a fire ... at the other camp among other things was a pile of duck feathers from, I presume again, a meal. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 5-4-07
• Noticed a tent pitched south of Chester Creek trail, back in the brush, just east of the soccer field/bridge over the creek in the vicinity of 20th and Karluk.  Domed tent is clearly visible when westbound on Chester Creek trail. Forwarded to Community Work Service & APD 5-4-07
• C Street Bike Path is very cluttered with debris, glass, and heavy sand South of Tudor. New C Street Extension path has sand and large rocks on it, especially at intersections. Not very conducive to commuting by bicycle.  Forwarded to S. Park Maintenance 5-4-07
• Campbell Creek trail between Muni Bus Barn (Bragaw) and Lk. Otis Trail is free of snow and ice.  Moose have been out in fair numbers in the stretch between Bragaw and Folker, but they're been pretty mellow. 
• While walking our dogs a juvenile was observed operating an ATV in the greenbelt area behind some houses near the footbridge over Campbell Creek between Dimond and Northway.  When approached, this person drove through an opening in a fence into a yard. Forwarded to APD
• Loose dogs and owners who do not pickup afterwards continue to be a problem on trails.  Would like more signs at trail spurs of pet owners responsibilities. Forwarded to N.&S. Park Maintenance 3-28-07
• Straw bales used as safety barriers have been left by Iditarod Race on the University Lake trail at the Chester Creek inlet.  Bales have been relocated on the lake ice as benches and down the steep lake embankment. Reported to Iditarod Start Committee & N.Park Maintenance 3-20-07
• A number of planks on the arched bridge over North Fork Chester Creek at the west end of Sitka Street Park have been broken and ripped out, leaving at least 1 foot wide gaps in the bridge. It occurs on both entrances to the bridge. Please use caution.  Reported to N.Park Maintenance 3-12-07
• The C Street underpass has a long history of ground water/ over flow and ice build-up problems.  This year is not an exception. Street and Park Maintenance have been working on a daily basis in an attempt to slow the build-up of ice on the trail.  A temporary and/or permanent solution is being investigated.  Caution signs are posted on either end of the bridge.  We urge caution to trail users using the underpass. Posted February 20
• Over the past several weeks there have been anywhere from 2 to 6 Moose sighted around University Lake trail system.  There are at least 2 who have aggressive tendencies, charging out, unprovoked from the trees at people and dogs along the trail.  I just want to get the word out to people to not let their dogs wonder off trail and to be very cautious around the Moose. Posted February 10