Bethel Multi-use Recreation Facility

Recreation Facility Plan

Project Date: August-October, 2005
Project Manager:Thea Agnew and Chris Beck
Client:City of Bethel
Location: Bethel

Project Description

Bethel is the growing hub of the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta, a thriving region that is home to over 20,000 people. Foremost in the goals listed in Bethel’s 1997 Comprehensive Plan are desires to continue to expand and stabilize the City’s economy, and to expand opportunities for healthy recreation where community members can mix with one another, strengthening the already strong bonds that tie the community together. The proposed Multi-Use Recreation Center is intended to become a vital center that enhances Bethel’s social and economic well-being.

The goal of this project is to prepare a multiuse recreation facility plan for the community of Bethel, Alaska. Input on the use and design of the facility will be gathered from a broad, diverse group of residents and visitors to develop a facility plan. Two community-wide workshops and two planning team meetings will be conducted to gather public ideas and opinions over the course of three months. At the project’s conclusion, the report will be presented to the Bethel City Council. The facility plan will incorporate ideas from the public for the multi-use facility to improve the Bethel economy in a significant and long lasting way (e.g., by making portions of the facility available for lease to businesses).

The plan will be sufficient to lead to the design of the building and then to its construction.

Public Participation Notices

Planning Team Meeting #2

• Monday, October 3, 2205 – 12:00 – 2:00 PM, City Council Chambers, Bethel City Hall
  Planning Team Flyer (71 KB)

Second Community Workshop

• Monday, October 17, 2005 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Location to be announced

Facility Plan Presentation

• Tuesday, October 25, 2205 – City Council Chambers, Bethel City Hall

Products

• Community Workshop Notes (48 KB)
• Planning Team Notes (48 KB)
• The following two spreadsheets provide very initial concepts for the facility. These need to be thoroughly reviewed and refined in terms of operations and construction costs. The first spread sheet outlines costs of a facility with the most popular and desired functions, the second is the same but without a theater and air rifle range included.
  Space Needs Spreadsheet-1(44 KB)
  Space Needs Spreadsheet-2(44 KB)
• Schedule (426 KB)
  

Public Comment

If you would like to comment on the Bethel Multi-Use Recreation Facility Plan, download our Comment Form.

Donlin Creek Mine Development

View August 2005 Slide show from Geologist Travis Hudson
as presented at the AVCP regional forum in Bethel, Alaska

Eco- Tourism Company

by Terry Don

NIMA Corporation, Mekoryuk’s Village Corporation made their foray into eco-tourism and the education industry last summer 2004 with the creation of Nunivak Island Cultural Education and Adventures, LLC. (NICEA, LLC).

Although the corporation had explored the idea for a number of years, they were searching for the right opportunity to introduce the concept. The opportunity came knocking on their door in January 2003 when Cruise West, a Bering Sea eco tourism carrier called and asked that NIMA support their plans to land at Nash Harbor, a historic settlement located 25-30 miles west of Mekoryuk. Although Cruise West has been operating in the Bering Sea for a number of years, Nunivak was never considered an option on the route; that is until a storm forced them to divert and take refuge near Nash Harbor. During this time as they were waiting for the weather to break they decided to take passengers ashore to do a limited tour. The impromptu tour was so popular with the first group that they decided to make Nash Harbor a formal stop on the ten day Bering Sea Cruise which includes the Aleutian and Pribolof islands, Saint Lawrence, Providenia, Yanrakynnot and Nome.

View video of 2006 tourists visit!

Capitalizing on this tremendous opportunity, NIMA created NICEA and made plans to build a camp, which would support the eco tourism operation at Nash Harbor.

In addition, NICEA also created a science curriculum in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim campus. The course was developed primarily by Martin Leonard and Dr. Corky Corkern, it is called Biology 104 Natural History of Alaska. The course is taught in residence at the Nash Harbor camp and combines western science and indigenous knowledge of the area to create a unique learning environment and also serves as a forum to encourage rural student participation in math, and science. Elders in residence are employed in the camp and provide a unique perspective for the students to interact and leverage their learning from both a western and cultural approach. Participation in the program requires an application, letters of recommendation, demonstration of academic achievement, potential and an above average level of fitness.

View slideshow from Kuskokwim Campus 2005 Summer Science Field Camp

In addition to the academic rigors, students are also taught sea kayaking and are required to complete a strenuous sea kayaking and hiking trip as part of the final portion of the science course. Students who successfully meet all the academic and programmatic goals receive 4 accredited science credits through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. For more on the science course you log on to http://fc.bethel.uaf.edu/~summer_science/

With one year under their belt, NICEA is poised to begin operations for this summer. Cruise West has committed to making four stops at Nash Harbor which are scheduled for June 12 and 22, July 28, and August 7th. NICEA will also host another science camp session, which will run from 14-28 June. An added bonus this year is the participation of the Rose Urban Rural Exchange Program http://www.roseurbanruralexchange.org

Rose has committed two teachers who require recency credit to participating in this summer’s science program with plans for next summer of incorporating interested Rose participants into the science curriculum.

For more information on Eco-tours or summer science camp you can log on to http://www.nimacorporation.com.

The Project manager for NICEA is Wayne Don wdon@nimacorporation.com