The city of Cordova announced it started demolition on the beloved Eyak Lake Skaters’ Cabin on Wednesday.
The city – which has long owned and maintained Skaters’ Cabin – announced earlier this year that it would demolish the cabin by year’s end. That’s due to myriad structural failures – including the cabin’s foundation, roof, and exterior walls. In addition, officials reported issues with the location’s limited drainage, and pointed out that it also doesn’t meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements.
“The cabin holds deep sentimental value – not just for the community, but also for the Parks and Recreation Department,” Parks and Recreation Director Samantha Hagerthy-Schneider told The Cordova Times previously. “We seriously considered the option of repairing it, but due to ADA accessibility requirements and other city code compliance issues, it simply wasn’t a realistic path forward.”
While many community members have expressed sadness at the loss of Skaters’, the Parks and Recreation Department has committed to rebuilding a new cabin on the site – although the department hasn’t drafted plans for a new structure yet.
As of Sept. 10, the city had raised almost $9,000 toward its $450,000 crowdfunding campaign to replace the cabin.
The city on Wednesday said Skaters’ Beach and Swimmers Beach will also be closed “until the (demolition) site has been fully cleaned and cleared.”
“We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time,” the city said in its announcement.
