The Spruce Center

Our first major project that we have started planning and budgeting for is “The Spruce Center” a combination of a Fitness/Recreation Area, a Cinema & Multipurpose Theater with Art Gallery and Meeting Rooms, a Community Maker Space, and a Youth Program to Encompass all ages that would (1) expand and improve the Local Preschool & Daycare, (2) develop an After-School Program similar to the Boys & Girls Club focusing on elementary through middle school students, and (3) create a separate Teen Maker Space solely for teens aged 13-19. Future additions to the center that we will work into the overall plan to be completed in phases include a Community Pool, an Indoor Hockey Rink, a Bowling Alley, and a Community Garden.

This is a multi-million dollar project and its development has a long history within the Denali Borough. Various residents in the past have researched and collected their ideas, and in some cases presented detailed plans for funding. What all of those plans lacked was a dedicated and organized group to make the venture sustainable, now we have created such a group. During 2018 and 2019 we have been systematically meeting with Non-Profits in the Healy and Denali area. The “Spruce Center” summarized above incorporates the needs and wishes of these groups that we have spoken to: The Lions Club, Denali Preschool and Learning Center, Kids in Motion, Healy Hockey Association, Neighbor to Neighbor, Tri-Valley Volunteer Fire Department, The Denali Education Center. We have also met with the Mayor and Clerks at the Denali Borough Office, and talked with the Denali Borough School District.

Our next step is to submit some proposals or resolutions to officially acquire support. We are continuing to meet with non-profits in the Denali Borough and already have some sponsors interested in contributing to this project. We plan to post a more formalized budget and strategic plan soon.

In 2020 we have met with some tax advisors and have been working on many of the administrative legal forms involved with becoming a legitimate tax-exempt organization in order to accept donations and fundraise for this project.

The Spruce Network