To: City of Whittier
Preserve Recreational Access to Smitty's Cove
The recreational users of Smitty's Cove are respectfully requesting that the City of Whittier preserve their right of way access to Smitty's Cove to allow recreational users continued use of this site.
Why is this important?
The Alaska Railroad has been attempting to close Depot Road and remove Whittier Manor, to build more railroad tracks in the area of Smitty's Cove. If successful, the existing road access to Smitty's Cove would become Alaska Railroad Property, who has repeatedly stated they intend to fence off this area and prevent access by recreational users.
If access to Smitty's Cove is lost or restricted, the recreational users and citizens of Whittier will lose one of the two remaining access points into Prince William Sound (the other being at the head of the bay). Smitty's Cove is used by a variety of users not otherwise well-served by existing facilities, especially kayakers and scuba divers. Smitty's Cove is home to one of the only boat ramps in Whittier suitable for launching a kayak, and is the primary training dive site used by scuba instructors and dive shops in the Anchorage area.
If access to Smitty's Cove is lost or restricted, the recreational users and citizens of Whittier will lose one of the two remaining access points into Prince William Sound (the other being at the head of the bay). Smitty's Cove is used by a variety of users not otherwise well-served by existing facilities, especially kayakers and scuba divers. Smitty's Cove is home to one of the only boat ramps in Whittier suitable for launching a kayak, and is the primary training dive site used by scuba instructors and dive shops in the Anchorage area.