Anchorage Parks and Recreation is moving forward with plans to upgrade Peratrovich Park, at 4th and E Street in front of the Old City Hall building, aiming to turn it into a vibrant downtown destination. With taxpayer dollars, city officials are crafting a design to improve user experience, address “existing problems,” and make the small park a focal point for the community.
But the vision of a revitalized park contrasts sharply with the reality on the ground. On Monday morning, Aug. 25, Peratrovich Park is the site of a sprawling urban encampment. Several individuals, some asleep on benches or sprawled across the grass, others gathered in groups with shopping carts and piles of belongings, occupy the space, even though the sign says the park is closed from 11 pm to 6 am.
While planners draft blueprints for a more welcoming civic hub, the downtown core continues to struggle with vagrancy, drug abuse, public intoxication, and safety concerns that deter visitors and local businesses alike…