Rabbit Creek Valley in Chugach State Park

As communities grow and lands adjacent to our nation’s parks become sought-after as destination properties, traditional points of access to public lands are more frequently blocked by new development. The Conservation Fund is working with its partners to secure the legal and practical access that is vital to keeping our public lands open and available to all Americans.

Chugach State Park is Anchorage’s backyard, and the Rabbit Creek Valley is one the most family-friendly spots in the park. Resolving this conflict is good for everybody.

- Representative Mike Hawker

Summary

In Alaska, the Fund is working with a variety of partners to maintain public access to Chugach State Park, the third largest state park in America. In June 2007 The Conservation Fund and The Great Land Trust, in partnership with the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, announced the completion of a multi-year effort to secure public access to Rabbit Creek Valley within the park.

Challenge

While Alaska is blessed by an abundance of public land, access to that land is not guaranteed. Chugach State Park, located at the edge of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, has been impacted by the city’s rapid expansion - right up to the park's boundaries. Conflict between public users and private landowners in Rabbit Creek stretching back to the 1980’s had blocked access to one of the park's most inviting alpine valleys for 20 years.

Solution

To secure access to the Rabbit Creek Valley, the Fund worked quietly with the various landowners involved over the course of five years. In partnership with the Great Land Trust, Alaska State Parks, the Alaska Legislature, the Rasmuson Foundation, ConocoPhillips, the Fund raised the funds needed to purchase the three properties totaling 320 acres that had prevented park visitors from enjoying the Rabbit Creek Valley for over 20 years.

Results

The partnership completed the purchase of three properties totaling 320 acres that long formed an impediment to legal public access into the Rabbit Creek Valley of Chugach State Park. The properties were turned over to Alaska State Parks, which is establishing a permanent trailhead entrance to Rabbit Creek.

Read the News Release.