My main concern with moving the visitor centre downtown and specifically to the civic centre is that it’s not inviting to RVs (which seem like a not insignificant amount of Alaska highway traffic). You need easy parking and it needs to be easy to find. I don’t necessarily think visitors are seeking out a visitors centre. Off a major highway does probably make sense for it, though it does lack charm.
Fair points. There's definitely more than just this newsletter points out to be considered - RV access being one of them.
Anecdotally, I live in the Hart and drive down 1st Ave. almost every day to get into town, and I can say I've never seen more than a couple RVs parked at the current VIC at a time. I do know that the average conference at the Civic Center can draw upwards of hundreds of visitors per conference.
If I'm weighing those two, I think I'm still voting for the VIC being in front of all those visitors, walkable to downtown hotels/restaurants/businesses vs just easier parking for RVs. I do agree that RV traffic should be considered and hopefully accommodated as best possible.
My main concern with moving the visitor centre downtown and specifically to the civic centre is that it’s not inviting to RVs (which seem like a not insignificant amount of Alaska highway traffic). You need easy parking and it needs to be easy to find. I don’t necessarily think visitors are seeking out a visitors centre. Off a major highway does probably make sense for it, though it does lack charm.
Fair points. There's definitely more than just this newsletter points out to be considered - RV access being one of them.
Anecdotally, I live in the Hart and drive down 1st Ave. almost every day to get into town, and I can say I've never seen more than a couple RVs parked at the current VIC at a time. I do know that the average conference at the Civic Center can draw upwards of hundreds of visitors per conference.
If I'm weighing those two, I think I'm still voting for the VIC being in front of all those visitors, walkable to downtown hotels/restaurants/businesses vs just easier parking for RVs. I do agree that RV traffic should be considered and hopefully accommodated as best possible.