Growth of Little Susitna Rotary Park
Contributed by Christian M Hartley
A few dozen neighbors and businesses, and a lot of borrowed tools, is what it took to turn a soggy stretch of riverfront into Little Susitna Rotary Park. What started as a simple loop trail has blossomed into a comprehensive park transformation.
Thanks to ongoing collaboration between the Susitna Rotary Club, Wasilla Noon Rotary Club, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, AARP, City of Houston and its fire department, local residents and businesses, and elected officials volunteering their time, tools, and talents, the park now features expanded trails, a pavilion, a safe boat landing area, resting benches, a children’s play area, a book exchange, paved parking, and this accessible boardwalk.
Over the past five years, more than 50 people and businesses united behind a shared goal: making our Little Susitna River and its trails more accessible to everyone, including those with mobility restrictions. The boardwalk strategically spans a section of trail that becomes waterlogged during rainfall and remains impassable long after snowmelt because of poor drainage issues.
The boardwalk showcases Grizzly Wood, an innovative Alaska-made product that perfectly embodies Rotary International’s commitment to environmental stewardship. This remarkable material created by Alaska Plastic Recovery transforms recycled plastics (industrial resins, post-consumer waste, and ocean debris) into durable, construction-grade lumber.
Every step you take on this boardwalk represents plastics diverted from landfills and oceans, transformed into something that will serve our community for years to come.
A new children’s play area was installed this year, repurposing a playset that was slated for disposal in Anchorage. Instead of going to waste, it now provides a safe, dedicated space for kids to play while families enjoy the park’s other amenities. For safety, the play area was intentionally placed away from the river.
During these improvements, the City of Houston received an AARP grant to make the park more accessible for senior residents and visitors with mobility needs. The City paved the parking lot and added dedicated ADA parking spaces, giving people stable, flat ground and closer access. The lot now connects directly to the existing pedestrian pathway along the Parks Highway, creating an uninterrupted paved route into the park. Bicyclists, scooter riders, and wheelchair users can all reach the park easily and take a break from their adventures.
Installed three years ago, a pavilion offers a sheltered spot to rest, eat at a heavy-duty picnic table, and browse the on-site lending library while keeping an eye on loved ones exploring the park or spending time by the river. It also serves as the central hub for the Rotary Club’s annual Little Su Classic, a National Trails Day River float and cleanup powered by volunteers. Around 60 participants typically join each year, and more are always welcome.
All of this is on top of the Kids Don’t Float board that was installed by the club a decade ago and recently refreshed with a grant from Lotto Alaska. These boards store life jackets for free use by anybody who needs to borrow one. The board at this Park in particular has been used to save three lives for sure including two children and one adult with the throw ring. It is one of the most heavily used boards that Susitna Rotary has installed throughout the region.
This project exemplifies Houston at its finest: public-private partnerships that deliver lasting value without adding to taxpayers’ burden. Two years ago, the city officially designated the area Little Susitna Rotary Park to recognize the Rotary Club’s work in transforming a barely used day parking area with limited parking. The property is owned by the City of Houston, with the Susitna Rotary Club managing park improvements in coordination with approval from the City.
Next year’s plan is to install a storybook along the trail that will educate kids about water safety, so that they can be reminded before they get to the river itself. There will also be a small community garden placed at the edges of the grassy area.
Thanks to these combined efforts, Little Susitna Rotary Park has grown in use and popularity throughout the summer of 2025, and it’s become a destination the entire community can enjoy and be proud of. The Little Susitna Rotary Park is what happens when good people with good plans move forward with good will toward a good goal.