The state of Alaska is almost finished with a deal swapping a portion of Point Bridget State Park with property owned by Echo Ranch Bible Camp.
On Wednesday evening, the state published a public notice allowing anyone opposed to the swap to appeal the deal. No one protested the exchange during a public comment period last year.
Under the terms of the arrangement, the state will exchange 38 acres of the park for 60 acres owned by Echo Ranch adjacent to the park. That Echo Ranch land contains the only land access to the park from Glacier Highway; hikers currently enter the park on a trail that crosses Echo Ranch land.
The transfer had been held up by statutory hurdles for more than 15 years.
The passage of House Bill 274, proposed by former Rep. Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau, allowed those hurdles to be cleared and the exchange to take place.
If no one appeals the deal to the Commissioner of Natural Resources, the swap will be confirmed Aug. 19.
Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.
