WELLS FARGO DONATES $250,000 TO ABBOTT LOOP PARK
Anchorage Park Foundation Receives First Project-Specific Donation

Plans for a picnic pavilion and playground equipment in Abbott Loop Community Park will move forward with a donation of $250,000 from Wells Fargo Alaska. The donation is specifically targeted to build the pavilion, a playground, and a sledding hill, all critical pieces of the new park.

Mayor Mark Begich accepted the donation from Wells Fargo Regional President Richard Strutz during a ceremony at noon today at the park. Members of the park’s citizen’s advisory committee were also on hand for the event.

“This is an excellent example of the progress and purpose of the Park Foundation,” Mayor Begich said. “This generous gift from Wells Fargo will allow us to begin construction on more key pieces of the Abbott Loop Community Park.”

“Wells Fargo is proud to support Abbott Loop Community Park,” Strutz said. “We believe that projects such as this strengthen the community and provide much-needed opportunities for Alaskans to participate in outdoor recreation.”

The Abbott Loop Community Park is on a 20-acre parcel in the southwest corner of Far North Bicentennial Park. Four ball fields were built there last summer for the Simonian Little League, along with a soccer field, trail work, fencing, and some grading and seeding of the surrounding area. The pavilion, playground, bleachers, parking area, improved trail access and an equestrian drop-off site will be completed over the next few years.

As part of that effort, $500,000 has been requested from the Alaska State Legislature for the parking and lighting improvements. The work that has been completed so far has been done with local bond funds, private donations and state funds.

The Anchorage Assembly approved plans for the new community park in January of 2003 to give a new home to the Simonian Little League. Approximately 14 acres had to be cleared to make way for the park, while 27 acres of uplands and wetlands were added and designated to be preserved and incorporated into Bicentennial Park as mitigation for the redevelopment of natural open space.

In August of 2003, Mayor Begich appointed a seven-member citizen’s advisory committee to advise the city and work with the neighbors on development of the park.

“We appreciate Wells Fargo becoming our newest community partner in building better parks for Anchorage. We encourage all citizens and companies to look at the Park Foundation as a way to better our city,” Begich said.

The Anchorage Park Foundation was created last year to help bridge the gap between growing park and recreation needs and limited financial resources within the city. The Rasmuson Foundation made the first donation, of $400,000, to be used for capital improvements for trails and parks.

Donations of any size are tax deductible and can be targeted for specific projects. To establish partnerships with the Anchorage Park Foundation, or to contribute today, contact Beth Nordlund at 343-4492 or nordlundbl@muni.org. You can also check www.muni.org/parks/foundation.cfm for more information.

###