Little Susitna Rotary Park Blossoms with New Playground and Community Spirit
Contributed by Christian M. Hartley
Tucked along the peaceful banks of the Little Susitna River in Houston, Alaska, something amazing happened on August 9th. What started as a quiet Saturday morning turned into a day filled with hammers, helping hands, laughter, and teamwork as thirty volunteers came together to make Little Susitna Rotary Park even better. For the artists and community members who live in this area, it was a great example of what happens when different people work together for something good.
The star of the day’s transformation was undoubtedly the new playground equipment. Jack Timm started planning in April, and by August, kids were laughing and playing on the new equipment. The process was in steps. First, getting money from a Rotary grant; then, fixing up the equipment in June; and finally, putting it all together in August. Each step brought the community closer to having a wonderful new place for children to play.
But the playground wasn’t the only thing that happened that day. Volunteers also built four Little Free Libraries, and one of them now sits at the park’s pavilion. These small book boxes are really special for a community full of artists, musicians, and creative people. They’re like doors to new ideas. Someone might find an old book they’ve never seen before and write a new song about it or read a book of poems and get ideas for an art project. Kids will have lots of books to read, too, when taking a break from playing.
The timing was perfect because volunteers also got to walk on the brand-new paved pathways and parking lot. Northern Asphalt & Paving built these, funded with help from an AARP grant that tripled the funds that Susitna Rotary matched. These smooth walkways now connect the Parks Highway’s walking path to every part of the park. This means people of all ages and abilities can easily get around this special place by the river.
What makes Little Susitna Rotary Park really special isn’t just the cool things it has. The park has great features like a riverside trail, a beautiful pavilion, a boat launch, and a rock terrace that looks like an outdoor theater. It’s a perfect place for people to play music together or just sit quietly and think. It’s the spirit behind its creation that resonates most deeply with the area’s creative community.
The park embodies Rotary International’s core principle of “Service Above Self,” but with a distinctly Alaskan twist. Here, service doesn’t feel like an obligation—it feels like a collaboration. The Kids Don’t Float loaner board ensures young river adventurers stay safe, while a planned forest trail boardwalk and community garden boxes promise future spaces for artistic inspiration and sustainable living.
This year’s Rotary theme is “Unite for Good,” and this park project that started in 2016 shows exactly what that means. Just like a piece of art, the park has grown and changed over time. Each new phase has added more meaning and useful features. The teamwork between Rotary members, city workers, and community volunteers is like musicians playing together in a jam session. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has their own skills, but they all work together because they share the same dream of making something beautiful.
The park represents something more than recreational infrastructure. It’s a canvas where community creativity meets practical service, where the Rotary ideals of fellowship and service blend seamlessly with the independent spirit that draws creative people to Alaska.
No matter who you are, this park has something for you. If you like to spend weekends relaxing by the river, if you’re a family who needs safe places for kids to play, if you enjoy fishing, or if you’re an artist who loves being inspired by nature, Little Susitna Rotary Park now has something special waiting for you.
As future improvements like additional signage, community garden boxes, and expanded activities take shape, one thing is certain: this park shows what amazing things can happen when community members and service groups work together and use their special skills to help everyone.