Mayor-elect Mark Begich told voters he would be a problem solver who can bring people together and end long-standing disputes that impede community progress. Among the situations where Mr. Begich has begun to apply those skills is the battle over the south Coastal Trail extension. We hope he can find a way to bridge the differences that have unnecessarily stymied this landmark civic improvement.
The current Coastal Trail, winding through the woods and along the bluffs of the city's northwest shores, is one of Anchorage's most beloved features. Extending the trail along the south half of the city's coastline would double the delight for residents and visitors.
The extended trail would also give the city a distinction few other cities can match. Instead of filling the coast with freeways or industry or "Private property: Keep out" signs, as many cities do, Anchorage would have shores graced by a 25-mile swath of green and one of the world's most scenic trails.
Anchorage already has an impressive combination of cosmopolitan comforts and world-famous wilderness right out the city's front door. Completing the south Coastal Trail would cement the city's standing as a place that offers the best of the urban and wilderness worlds.
Thanks to abundant federal road and trail money, Anchorage can extend the Coastal Trail without having to dig deep into local coffers. Some of the more expensive elements of the current design are driven by political considerations more than engineering necessity. Supporters have offered alternatives that can trim the cost by millions of dollars.
For more than 20 years, community activists and city planners have envisioned the day a trail would run along almost the entire coast of the city. Everybody in town -- even the NIMBYs and naysayers -- would benefit by a well-designed Coastal Trail extension. Anchorage is halfway there, but in recent times, further progress has been stalled by political obstacles.
Legitimate concerns about how the trail will affect nearby residents and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge can be handled by modest route modifications and intelligent design features. But much of the organized opposition simply uses those concerns as weapons to thwart any trail that opens a lightly used area for more people to enjoy.
The vision is worth fighting for. Mr. Begich pledged during the campaign to find a way to break the gridlock, and he is preparing to make good on his promise. It could be a tough test of his leadership skills, but the cause is well worth his time and attention.