By Melinda Munson

Public comment is being sought on the National Park Service’s (NPS) plan for improvements in Dyea to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

The proposal includes a parking area at the trailhead of Chilkoot Trail, updating an adjoining day-use site, bringing a trail connection between Dyea Campground and the trailhead/day-use area up to accessibility standards and building a road segment at the north end of the campground.

The NPS said the goal of the improvements is to “enhance visitor services in Dyea including: visitor orientation, public safety and recreational opportunities. The project would also develop a setting to provide for a sense of arrival at a National Park Service destination…”

Due to COVID-19, public comments cannot be made in person. Interested parties can submit feedback at the web address below or mail correspondence to Superintendent, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, P.O. Box 517, Skagway, Alaska, 99840. 

Proposed plans can be found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=77815. Currently, there is a curved design and a linear design option for the parking area.

Michael Yee, a Dyea resident and board member of the Dyea Community Advisory Board, sees no problems with the proposal.

“It was all really good ideas,” he said, noting that the parking area would take parked cars off narrow roads, helping with traffic flow.