Rich in history, the Greenbelt and the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center (MEFEC) have persevered through a great deal since the late 1800’s. We cannot give it all up now.

The MEFEC
Matanuska was the site of one of seven original, state-wide agricultural experiment stations established by the federal government between 1898 and 1917, along with Sitka, Kodiak, Kenai, Rampart, Copper Center, and Fairbanks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved experimentation for the Matanuska area in 1915 on the then 240-acre parcel. Work on the station began in April of 1917. 

Alaska’s state-wide agricultural experiment station program suffered a major setback during the Great Depression, and the federal government dropped its support. The University of Alaska—then the Alaska Agricultural College—absorbed the Fairbanks and Matanuska stations in 1931 and 1932, and those are the only two still in operation today. Territorial funds were strained already, and work at the two remaining stations suffered for years afterward. It was not until 1947 that the federal government, in partnership with the University of Alaska, resumed research activities at the experiment farms.

Over the years the farm has expanded. It now includes 260 acres of cultivated land and 800 acres of forest land which is used for research and education. The photo at the bottom of this page is of that land.

MATANUSKA GREENBELT
The Matanuska Greenbelt, once called “Central Park”,  is not a formal park but an area of contiguous forest and open space owned by a variety of government agencies.  It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that the idea to legitimize the area came into favor, starting with the Matanuska Susitna Borough setting aside land in the center of the area and replacing lands lost to the landfill by creating the France Road property. Then the Matanuska Greenbelt working group (which is mostly comprised of representatives of the landowners and user groups) started signing the trails and making people aware of the different regulations and rules on each property. Now people know where they are and what rules to follow.

LAND OWNERSHIP
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) manages Crevasse-Moraine, which includes the addition of France Road public recreation land and Greenbelt Central parcel. Portions of the Crevasse Moraine may be lost to the MSB Landfill operations, but the Borough is committed to providing recreation opportunities on other lands in the greenbelt.

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) manages the Matanuska-Susitna College land which has trails and overlooks near their main campus, as well as lands along the Long Lake Connector trail – the main north-south corridor in the Matanuska Greenbelt.

University of Alaska Fairbanks manages the Matanuska Experiment Farm, which was established in 1917 and now operates as part of the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station of UAF. This past year several trails near Johnson Lake were closed to the public, but public access remains open from the Kin-Win Trailhead along the College Connector Trail.

The State of Alaska manages the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area (formerly Kepler-Bradley State Recreation Area) under the jurisdiction of State Parks was established in the mid-1980s for the quality fishing in the lakes. It has become an equally popular area with a diversity of groups including hikers, bird watchers, mountain bikers, runners, and equestrians.