{
  "story": {
    "slug": "the-missing-mile",
    "headline": "the missing mile",
    "deck": "Anchorage is finally closing the most annoying gap in its trail system.",
    "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/story/the-missing-mile",
    "section": "Life",
    "area": "Anchorage",
    "published_at": "2026-06-09T20:00:00+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:15:34.529718+00:00",
    "body_md": "Anchorage is building a new mile of paved trail downtown that will connect the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail, closing a longstanding gap near Elderberry Park in downtown Anchorage. The project is estimated at about 15.6 million dollars for the single mile, funded with a mix of local, state, and federal money, and is expected to be complete in 2027.\n\nWhen finished, the connector will create one continuous 14-mile multiuse path along Cook Inlet and extend the local Moose Loop to about 32 miles, letting runners, cyclists, and families travel from downtown Anchorage to the water without stopping. It is also meant to eventually tie into the proposed Alaska Long Trail, which aims to run from Seward all the way to Fairbanks.\n\nThe project includes a new plaza at the small boat launch on Ship Creek. The plaza will carry the name Dgheyaytnu, the Dena'ina Athabascan name for the creek.\n\nFor now, the site remains an active construction zone rather than a finished trail, with work expected to continue through 2027.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/",
        "label": "adn.com"
      }
    ]
  },
  "envelope": {
    "story_id": "296b9dd0-2ca1-492b-85ee-387a50a37929",
    "slug": "the-missing-mile",
    "summary": "Anchorage is building a roughly one mile downtown trail connector linking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Ship Creek Trail near Elderberry Park, costing about 15.6 million dollars and finishing in 2027, creating a continuous 14-mile Cook Inlet path and extending the 32-mile Moose Loop.",
    "key_facts": [
      "The connector is about one mile long and links the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail near Elderberry Park in downtown Anchorage.",
      "The project costs about 15.6 million dollars, funded with local, state, and federal money.",
      "Completion is expected in 2027.",
      "Once finished, the path will create a continuous 14-mile multiuse trail along Cook Inlet and extend the local Moose Loop to about 32 miles.",
      "A new plaza will be built at the small boat launch on Ship Creek, named Dgheyaytnu, the Dena'ina Athabascan name for the creek."
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "In downtown Anchorage near Elderberry Park, linking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail.",
        "q": "Where is the new downtown trail connector being built?"
      },
      {
        "a": "About 15.6 million dollars, funded with local, state, and federal money.",
        "q": "How much does the one-mile trail project cost?"
      },
      {
        "a": "The project is expected to be complete in 2027. This summer the area is an active construction zone.",
        "q": "When will the trail connector be finished?"
      },
      {
        "a": "A new plaza at the small boat launch on Ship Creek, which will carry the name Dgheyaytnu, the Dena'ina Athabascan name for the creek.",
        "q": "What else is included in the project?"
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "claim": "The new downtown connector will link the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the Ship Creek Trail near Elderberry Park.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/",
        "source_label": "adn.com"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The project is estimated to cost about 15.6 million dollars and is funded with local, state, and federal money.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/",
        "source_label": "adn.com"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The completed trail will create a continuous 14-mile path along Cook Inlet and extend the Moose Loop to about 32 miles.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/",
        "source_label": "adn.com"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The project is expected to be complete in 2027.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/",
        "source_label": "adn.com"
      }
    ],
    "locations": [
      {
        "area": "Anchorage",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Tony Knowles Coastal Trail"
      },
      {
        "area": "Anchorage",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Ship Creek Trail"
      },
      {
        "area": "Anchorage",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Elderberry Park"
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      {
        "area": "Anchorage",
        "kind": "site",
        "name": "Ship Creek"
      },
      {
        "area": "Anchorage",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Moose Loop"
      }
    ],
    "people": [],
    "organizations": [],
    "event_dates": [
      {
        "date": "2027",
        "label": "Projected completion of the trail connector"
      }
    ],
    "story_status": "ongoing",
    "what_changed": null,
    "keywords": [
      "anchorage trail connector",
      "tony knowles coastal trail",
      "ship creek trail",
      "elderberry park",
      "moose loop",
      "alaska long trail",
      "dgheyaytnu"
    ],
    "disclosure": "Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing.",
    "generated_at": "2026-10-01T05:21:17.114+00:00",
    "reviewed_at": null,
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:15:34.529718+00:00"
  },
  "entities": [
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      "slug": "tony-knowles-coastal-trail",
      "name": "Tony Knowles Coastal Trail",
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      "role": "subject",
      "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/codex/tony-knowles-coastal-trail"
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    {
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      "name": "Ship Creek Trail",
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    {
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      "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/codex/alaska-long-trail"
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  "corrections": [],
  "underwriting": null,
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    "description": "Anchorage is building a roughly one mile downtown trail connector linking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Ship Creek Trail near Elderberry Park, costing about 15.6 million dollars and finishing in 2027, creating a continuous 14-mile Cook Inlet path and extending the 32-mile Moose Loop.",
    "abstract": "Anchorage is building a roughly one mile downtown trail connector linking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Ship Creek Trail near Elderberry Park, costing about 15.6 million dollars and finishing in 2027, creating a continuous 14-mile Cook Inlet path and extending the 32-mile Moose Loop.",
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