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Goals of the Chena Flats Greenbelt Project
• Establish a corridor for recreational use and travel along the base of Chena Ridge. The corridor will provide a connecting link of open space from the intersection of Chena Pump and Chena Ridge Roads to the Tanana River, which is itself a major travel corridor in Interior Alaska.
• Conserve a portion of the remaining high-quality wetlands in the Fairbanks area to enhance wildlife use and to protect surface and groundwater quality.
• Protect a portion of the historic town site of Chena.
• Form a partnership with Alaska State Parks to improve recreational opportunities associated with the Tanana Wayside. |
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Mission Statement
The Chena Flats Greenbelt Project is a group of concerned area residents that have joined forces with the non-profit Interior Alaska Land Trust to protect a portion of the remaining open space along the base of Chena Ridge near Fairbanks, Alaska, before the area is fragmented by encroaching development. Through conservation easements and land acquisitions from willing sellers, the Project seeks to establish a greenbelt that will provide easily accessible recreation for the Fairbanks community, conserve a portion of the remaining high-quality wetlands in the Fairbanks area for wildlife, promote surface- and ground-water quality, and protect a portion of the historic Chena town site.
Click here to listen to former project coordinator, Marie Beaver, talk about our citizens' effort to protect greenspace during an interview with KUAC Radio on May 11, 2007 (mp3).
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Project History
In May of 2005, a coalition of residents, property owners and non-government organizations formed to seek establishment of a multi-purpose corridor of open space in our Fairbanks neighborhood. This area is privately owned, but is used by snowmachiners, dog mushers, skiers and walkers. These lowlands encompass some of the last natural lakes and wet-meadow wetlands remaining in the immediate Fairbanks area and are frequented by moose, swans, cranes, owls, lynx and the occasional coyote. |
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Old Chena Village on the Tanana River.
58-1026-221, Charles Bunnell Collection, Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives. |
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In addition, the southern portion of the area includes a portion of the original town site of Chena, which could be managed as a historic site and/or a small campground. As our community grows, this area of open space, habitat and recreation will become increasingly valuable. At the same time, land available for development will become increasingly limited and valuable as well. The goal is to work collaboratively with property owners to conserve a portion of this area for the long-term benefit of the community. Clearly, we need the willing participation of property owners to succeed. |
Relationship with the Interior Alaska Land Trust and the Conservation Fund
The Chena Flats Greenbelt Project has joined forces with the Interior Alaska Land Trust to acquire contributions for the purchase of land and conservation easements, which will be necessary to make this idea a reality. The Conservation Fund is another non-government organization that is working with the Project to secure funds. In order to secure outside contributions, we need to show sincere community and local interest. The more fundraising that can be done within the community, the better our chances are of being awarded larger grant monies that we can use to realize our objective.
A Brief History of the Interior Alaska Land Trust 
The Interior Alaska Land Trust (IALT) was incorporated in August 1995, to work with Interior Alaska landowners to safeguard the character of the land and natural resources of our community. IALT is a private, tax-exempt charitable, 501(c)(3) organization that works with private landowners to acquire, protect or manage natural, scenic, recreational, agricultural, historic, or cultural aspects of property. An all-volunteer association, IALT operates under the guidance of the Land Trust Alliance, a national organization that ensures that land trusts are stable, well-run organizations. IALT is a member of the Land Trust Alliance, and has adopted and followed their standards and guidelines since its inception. IALT board members participate in national and regional conferences to receive training and work with the other five Alaska-based land trusts to back up each other’s conservation work. |
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