Anchorage Parks and Recreation

Jewel Lake Park Improvements


​W. 88th Avenue and West Dimond Blvd​

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Anchorage Parks and Recreation is upgrading the playground at Jewel Lake Park (W. 88th Avenue and West Dimond Boulevard).​. 

Since 2016, the Anchorage Parks and Recreation has worked with the Sand Lake community to identify and prioritize new improvements at Jewel Lake Park. This community use park is one of west Anchorage's most popular parks offering a variety of recreational opportunities for all ages. 

This summer 2020, the Parks Department will begin construction to replace the aging playground and improve circulation and ADA accessibility.

 

2020 IMPROVEMENTS
  • Purchase and install new play equipment
  • Add ADA-accessible surfacing to the play area
  • Provide a central gathering area  to connect the renovated picnic and playground areas
  • Create soft-surface trail through the forested area to activate other areas of the park and provide work to our Youth Employment in Parks crew 
OTHER UPGRADES
2018 Updates:

In Fall 2017- Winter 2018 a community advisory group was formed to help with the design development of the playground and 2018 improvements. This included two community advisory group meetings, and a community wide survey. Ultimately, it was decided to replace the existing ship with a new ship, incorporate an area for 2-5 age children as well as a 5-12 age area. It was requested that the playground be surrounded by a fence, and unitary surfacing will be installed in conjunction with our inclusive play initiative. Click to enlarge the posters used in the community advisory group sessions and also for a resolution of support from the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Sand Lake Community Council.

2017 Updates:

In 2016 pubic outreach was done with the Arc of Anchorage, Sand Lake Elementary School, and Sand Lake Community Council. Some drainage improvements were made on site and a zip line was constructed on the northern side of the park. In 2017, a zip line was installed in the park, and drainage improvements were made with the help of a volunteer fix it event that involved plantings and seeding.

2015 Updates:

In 2015, a ping pong table and BBQ were added and flowering plants and shrubs were planted around the signs and pavilion. area. A drainage area was installed near the playground to help divert water away from the west side of the parking lot.

2011 Updates:

In 2011, a bioswale was installed on site. As of 2016, this area needed some attention and a redesign to effectively treat stormwater runoff.

2006 Updates:

In 2006, signage installation and dumpster relocation to the rear of the parking lot were two placemaking upgrades to the park. Additionally, the rebuilding and relocation of the worn lifeguard stand along with underground electric and phone for this station improved the view of the beach and the lake. The beach will be re-defined in this project to increase square footage while taking up less lake frontage. 

A portable toilet enclosure was created as part of this project to screen the toilets from view and were located outside of the entrance view-shed. A paved walkway was constructed to bring pedestrians into the park on an accessible surface; prior to this there was no paved pathway into the park at this entrance. Most notably, the picnic shelter expanded its paved plaza extent to beyond the roof-line of the shelter.  This allowed for use of the facility by more park visitors while keeping them out of the muddy over-used area currently existing adjacent to the shelter.


PROJECT CONTACT

Taylor Keegan, MOA P​arks and Recreation

E: taylor.keegan@anchorageak.gov

P: (907) 343-4355

Click to view the full graphic.
ABOUT JEWEL LAKE PARK

Jewel Lake is a 40.26 acre community-use park with a swimming beach, fishing dock, picnic shelter, playground, parking and picnic areas, and other recreational amenities, and is located north of Dimond Boulevard and several blocks west of Jewel Lake Road.  The most heavily used and developed area in the park includes a beach and picnic area and is located at the end of 88th Avenue.  The beach area is the heaviest used by the public with over 30,000 bathers each summer.  Amenities at this location include a large paved parking lot, picnic shelter, beach, playground, and lifeguard stations.