2026 Revilla Road Recreational Master Plan

Ketchikan Gateway Borough is seeking the services of a professional Landscape Architectural Firm or Planning Design Team to assess the recreation potential for the Borough-owned Parcel # 37490034000 located along a 1.36-mile stretch of Revilla Road and terminating at the U.S. National Forest Boundary just beyond the intersection with Ward Lake Road. The land is densely forested with a system of creeks, ponds and views of snowcapped mountains accessed by roads, trails, bridges, and tunnels. Existing recreation assets include the Dog Park and trailhead for the Dog Park and Ward Creek Trail, as well as the terminal point of the privately-owned pipeline trail to Ward Cove.

This plan will evaluate existing recreational activities on the parcel and in adjacent State, Private, and Federal lands; and make recommendations to support and expand seasonal and year round recreational opportunities. Work will include public opinion surveys to identify activities supported by the site, and identify opportunities to support cruise industry visitor engagement while still encourage the broad public use the are currently enjoys.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough acquired Parcel # 37490034000 ("the Revilla Road Parcel") by Patent NO. 20270 (ADL No. 105867 / KRD No. 2006-03139) bearing the legal description of Township 74 South, Range 90 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska Tracts A, B, and C totaling 300.39 acres on July 26, 2006. Encumbrances on the property include but are not limited to:

• A 50-foot easement along the section line dedicated to the State of Alaska for public highways in accordance with AS 19.10.010.
• A 50-foot public access easement upland of and along the ordinary high water line along both sides of Ward Creek.
• A 50-foot fish and wildlife habitat protection easement upland and along the ordinary high water line along both sides of two unnamed anadromous streams (#101-47-10145 and #101-47-10145-2005) and along Ward Creek (#101-47-10150).
• Revilla Road right-of-way, the centerline of which is depicted on the face of Ward Lake Road Centerline, filed as KRD Plat No. 93-24RS.
• Power Project 2911: traverses Tract B.
• Salvage Trail (portions).
• Ward Lake Trail (portions).
• Ward Lake Road right-of-way.

The property is also bisected by the privately-owned Pipeline Trail (USS 3400), on which guided sightseeing mountain bike tours are conducted by the property owner in support of the cruise industry.

The area has well established recreational benefit for local and tourists users alike, containing or adjacent to public and private lands containing trails, bridges, benches, picnic shelters, campgrounds, restrooms, and platforms for fishing and bear viewing. Wildlife observation is a common activity throughout, with bears, eagles, deer, wolves, ducks, swans, beavers, and other local wildlife common in the area.

Borough efforts undertaken from 2022-2025 through the Parks and Trails Master Planning processes indicate that the community desire to see more picnic areas, parks, outdoor gathering spaces (e.g. amphitheater), dog parks, mountain biking trails, and ATV trails. Winter activities desired by the community include sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobile trails, and warming huts.