Standish Park

A Bit of History

Tucked away at the corner of Standish Street and East 5th Avenue in Northeast Anchorage, Alaska, Standish Park is a neighborhood playground enjoyed by the surrounding community. This cozy neighborhood green space might be small, but it plays a big role in local life.

The park's story began in 1972 when the land was generously donated. A decade later, in 1982, the first play equipment was installed thanks to a legislative grant. Keeping up with the times, the playground equipment got a complete refresh in 1995.

Community Coming Together

By 2008, Standish Park was showing its age and received a poor grade on its Report Card. But that's when the community spirit kicked in. During "Standish Park Week" in May 2009, something special happened - volunteers from Caribbean cruise lines rolled up their sleeves for a neighborhood "Clean and Green" event.

These dedicated volunteers tackled graffiti, pulled weeds, improved sightlines, added a new trash can, and enhanced safety features throughout the park. The Parks and Recreation Department staff and local volunteers joined the effort too, removing broken fences and installing new park signs and a dog station.

The improvements didn't stop there. A worn-out spring toy in the play area was replaced, and fresh pea gravel was added to the playground. All this hard work paid off - by 2011, the park's Report Card grade had climbed to a respectable C.

Looking Ahead

As of 2015, Standish Park was set for even more TLC with plans to upgrade the playground and its safety surfacing, say goodbye to graffiti once and for all, enhance the landscaping, and introduce new play equipment and amenities. These improvements aim to make this modest neighborhood park an even more valuable space for the Northeast Anchorage community.