Point Woronzof Park
Encyclopedia
Point Woronzof Park is a municipal park in Anchorage, Alaska
. The park is excellent for backcountry skiing or snowshoe
ing in the winter, and biking or running in the summer.
The park is almost wholly undeveloped and has no current plans for any development. (In 2008, the airport introduced plans which would have obliterated the park, but these plans were publicly derided and the airport director "retired" shortly thereafter.) A Phillips gasline right-of-way crosses the park near its southern end.
The park is home to flora and fauna similar to its larger neighbor, Kincaid Park
(accessible several kilometers down the Coastal Trail.) Fox, lynx
, and many moose
are known to inhabit the park. Trees are mostly Birch
(especially on the hills), Spruce
, cottonwood, and Alder
. Devil's Club
and Elderberry
are endemic.
This 191.7 acre (0.775783062 km²) park is located next to the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet
, between Pt. Woronzof and Pt. Campbell (Kincaid Park
). The park is bounded on the West by the ocean (which the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
runs along), the North by municipal lands associated with the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), the east by a still wild swath of airport property (a STP powerline easement marks the boundary), the south by Heritage Land Bank lands and airport lands (an overhead powerline marks the boundary).
One should access the park from the Coastal Trail (perhaps just after mile 5.5), as the airport road past the STP is quasi-public only.
Although airport noise is intermittent, the park offers residents of West Anchorage semi-wilderness experiences equal or exceeding those of Kincaid. Although there are no specific plans for airport development to encroach near the boundaries of the park, were it to do so the park's unique wilderness-feel would be significantly compromised.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. The park is excellent for backcountry skiing or snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing in the winter, and biking or running in the summer.
The park is almost wholly undeveloped and has no current plans for any development. (In 2008, the airport introduced plans which would have obliterated the park, but these plans were publicly derided and the airport director "retired" shortly thereafter.) A Phillips gasline right-of-way crosses the park near its southern end.
The park is home to flora and fauna similar to its larger neighbor, Kincaid Park
Kincaid Park
Kincaid Park is a municipal park in Anchorage, Alaska, located at 9401 W. Raspberry Road. The park is bounded on the South by Turnagain Arm, on the West by Knik Arm. Noted for Nordic skiing trails, in snowless months the park is frequented by runners, bikers, hikers, archers, dog-trainers,...
(accessible several kilometers down the Coastal Trail.) Fox, lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
, and many moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
are known to inhabit the park. Trees are mostly Birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
(especially on the hills), Spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
, cottonwood, and Alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
. Devil's Club
Devil's Club
Devil's Club is a large shrub primarily native to the cool moist forests of western North America, but also disjunct on islands in Lake Superior. It is noted for its large palmate leaves and erect, woody stems covered in brittle spines...
and Elderberry
Elderberry
Sambucus is a genus of between 5 and 30 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. It was formerly placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, but was reclassified due to genetic evidence...
are endemic.
This 191.7 acre (0.775783062 km²) park is located next to the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
, between Pt. Woronzof and Pt. Campbell (Kincaid Park
Kincaid Park
Kincaid Park is a municipal park in Anchorage, Alaska, located at 9401 W. Raspberry Road. The park is bounded on the South by Turnagain Arm, on the West by Knik Arm. Noted for Nordic skiing trails, in snowless months the park is frequented by runners, bikers, hikers, archers, dog-trainers,...
). The park is bounded on the West by the ocean (which the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is an long trail along the coast of Anchorage, Alaska designated for non-motorized use. The trail runs from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage and finishes in Kincaid Park. The trail is entirely paved and supports two-way traffic. Point Woronzof Park borders the...
runs along), the North by municipal lands associated with the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), the east by a still wild swath of airport property (a STP powerline easement marks the boundary), the south by Heritage Land Bank lands and airport lands (an overhead powerline marks the boundary).
One should access the park from the Coastal Trail (perhaps just after mile 5.5), as the airport road past the STP is quasi-public only.
Although airport noise is intermittent, the park offers residents of West Anchorage semi-wilderness experiences equal or exceeding those of Kincaid. Although there are no specific plans for airport development to encroach near the boundaries of the park, were it to do so the park's unique wilderness-feel would be significantly compromised.