Anchorage Park Foundation $500K Town Square Park Challenge
Rasmuson Foundation will MATCH $1 for every $1 donated to the Town Square Park Fund, UP TO $500,000!
Make a Match
About Town Square Park
Town Square Park is an important park and civic space located in the heart of downtown Anchorage. More than a park, Town Square Park is a catalyst for the development of Downtown Anchorage’s commerce and cultural exchange.
Town Square Park was created in 1984 through a citizen-led initiative. At the time, the park was envisioned as an oasis from the urban environment of Alaska’s largest city. Over the years, use of the park has evolved, as have public preferences for what Town Square Park should be.
Today, Anchorage residents envision Town Square Park not only as a green oasis but also as an active and vibrant public space, a hub for activity downtown, and a place where friends meet, families gather, and the community celebrates.
Project Overview
In 2019, following two years of public involvement and plan development, the Town Square Park Master Plan was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The master plan provides a 20-year vision that seeks to address issues, prioritize improvements, and identify strategies to ensure that Town Square Park is a safe and thriving public space for all.
From 2023 to the present, the Parks and Recreation Department has been working to improve safety within the park through event activation, lighting upgrades, and improving sight lines into the park.
2025 Park Activation and 2026 Implementation
In 2025, the proposed bond of $2.9 million was passed for the implementation of the master plan. The efforts moving forward will incorporate the goals expressed in the master plan document alongside historical, current, and future context and budgetary considerations.
Summer 2025
Security Enhancements - Seven security cameras have been purchased and installed during the summer of 2025. Once online, they will be monitored by APD’s Real-Time Crime Center. APD and MOA IT are collaborating to ensure system readiness.
Sightline Improvements - For park safety and security, select tree clearing/limbing and invasive tree species removal have taken place to improve sightlines and visibility into the park.
Exciting programming took place during the summer of 2025 to energize the park. This included:
- Biker Buddies Tuesdays: A youth cycling program
- Live After Five Thursdays: Hosted by Anchorage Downtown Partnership
- Friday Night Market: After-work events with music, vendors, and food until 9 PM
2026 Park Reconstruction
Phase 1: Site Reconstruction - $3,577,000 (Bond Funded)
The 2026 Implementation concept is rooted in the 2019 Master Plan. The concept overlays current site conditions with design goals, focusing initial investments—supported by the $2.9 million 2025 Park bond and the $750,000 2026 Park Bond —on:
- Demolition
- Site Improvements
- Walkways and plazas
- Curbs & Structures
- Elevated walkway
- Lighting Improvements
- Pedestrian and Flood Luminaire Poles
- Electrical Amenities (Load Centers, Company Switch, and Enclosures)
- String (Catenary) Lights
- Landscape Improvements
- Trees, Horticulture Beds, & Lawn Areas
- Nature Play Area
- Irrigation Improvements
1% for Art: Iconic Lighted Sculpture(s) - $240,000 (2025 Weidner Center donation through Anchorage Park Foundation).
Phase 2: Future Upgrades - (Not yet funded)
- Swing Benches ($275k)
- New Site Amenities ($300k)
- Tables
- Benches
- Trash Receptacles
- Bike Racks
- Interpretive Signage ($100k)
- Donor Bricks
- Memorials (Avis Cupples & Shirley Brundage)
- Indigenous Place Names Pillar ($50k)
Project Timeline
Town Square Donor Bricks
Town Square Park’s commemorative donor bricks have been a meaningful part of downtown Anchorage since the early 1990s, when thousands were purchased and installed by community members. Placed throughout the park’s walkways and gathering areas, these bricks often feature personal inscriptions, names, memorials, and special messages, reflecting decades of local history and community connection.
As part of the major reconstruction and revitalization of Town Square Park, these bricks are now being removed. Many have reached the end of their lifecycle, and their removal is necessary to accommodate new construction and the park’s updated design.
The Municipality of Anchorage is returning the bricks to their original owners whenever possible. During scheduled pickup periods (times and location to be announced), owners will be invited to claim their bricks. Bricks will be carefully palletized and transferred from Town Square Park to a nearby Parks and Recreation facility for pickup and can be identified by their ID numbers, buyer name, or inscription. Brick owners have the option to keep their brick or forfeit it for repurposing, allowing the materials to be reused in future municipal projects.
For more information, visit: Town Square Park Commemorative Brick Return.
Upcoming Events
Downtown Summer Projects Fair
- Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 3:00 to 5:30 pm
- Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center
- 600 W 7th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
Summer 2026 Construction Begins!
Downtown Projects Expo
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Urban Design Commission - Public Hearing 65% Design
Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6:30 PM
Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Community Open House Preliminary Design Review
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Downtown Community Council Meeting #2
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday Night Market - Tabling Event
Friday, August 1, 2025, 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Town Square Park
Live After Five - Project Tabling Event
Thursday, July 24, 2025, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Town Square Park
Biker Buddies - Project Tabling Event
Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Town Square Park
Stakeholder Advisory Group Meetings #1 & #2 & #3
Monday, April 21, 2025 & Tuesday, July 14, 2025 & Thursday, October 20, 2025
Master Plan Working Group Meetings #1 & #2 & #3
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 & Tuesday, July 22, 2025 & Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Downtown Community Council Meeting #1
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
City Hall, Room 155, Anchorage, AK 99501