OASIS Committee

Skagway hosts a number of natural areas and trails that showcase the beauty of Southeast Alaska. The mission of the Open Area Spaces in Skagway (OASIS) Committee is to enhance the quality of life of community residents, and the experience of seasonal visitors by developing green areas - starting with the Welcome Garden and Shoreline Park - and to link them in a cohesive green belt system, which is accessible and inclusive to all. We recognize that green spaces and trails benefit the overall, long-term health of this community, and will strive to achieve the following criteria:

The planning design should:

• offer areas of rest as well as recreation for diverse groups of people;
• promote mental well-being and reduce stress;
• create natural buffers to help filter noise;
• provide visual and physical links to assist in way-finding;
• provide increased ADA accessibility;
• create opportunities for the arts and gatherings;
• improve the general aesthetics of an area;
• offer ecological services (serve as carbon sinks, filter air pollution, provide erosion control, help mitigate climate change, provide and link habitat to local and migrating species).

Current members of the OASIS Committee are:

• Kim Burnham
• Beau Dennis
• Annemarie Hasskamp
• Stephanie Ryan (advisory)
• Assemblymember Orion Hanson (liaison)