The Alaska Arts Confluence in partnership with the Haines Borough has been awarded an $86,000 grant for supporting a community design of an interconnected Portage Cove waterfront.

The money comes from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Our Town design program. It will go toward planning, not construction.

“A diverse cross-section of the stakeholders will be engaged in planning a comprehensive design of the unique, 1.6-mile waterfront between Picture Point and Portage Cove campground,” according to an NEA press release.

Confluence president Carol Tuynman said the purpose of the funding is to help resolve land ownership issues and keep Portage Cove a cohesive business and recreational area in a way that involves residents, landowners and others in the planning process.

“There’s a lot of activity on our waterfront, and there will be a lot more. This will help us plan for that growth in a way that engages the community,” Tuynman said. The money must be spent before the end of 2019 and the borough has agreed to donate in-kind staff time to the planning process, she said.

Tuynman said increased attention to work by the borough’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee reflects a high level of community interest in issues like public trails and access.

In addition to local government, Tuynman said she expects businesses, private landowners and others will be engaged in discussions that will be the first step in a Portage Cove Master Plan.

The Our Town program supports projects that help communities address development challenges using local arts resources, according to the press release.

NEA program spokesman Jeremy Todd said 274 applications were received for grants, 89 of which were awarded. The Haines money was the only Our Town grant made in Alaska this year.

Todd said his agency is excited to help the local effort. “We look at areas where $86,000 can make a big difference,” he said.