Aspen Hotels – SoldotnaThis beautiful 13.5-acre park is located along the Kenai River’s turquoise banks, and it is indeed the city’s community backyard or “Soldotna’s Living Room,” as locals call it. Locals and visitors alike enjoy Soldotna Creek Park’s beautiful scenery, with benches overlooking the magnificent Kenai River, boardwalks, and gravel paths. The massive Fred Meyer Pavilion accommodates live music events and city events all year round. The park’s community-built playground brings out the kid in all of us. Formerly a DOT maintenance yard, Soldotna Creek Park has transformed into the vibrant green space with community gatherings and lively activities we know today.
Soldotna Creek Park hosts events all year round, so it would be impossible to list them all! Some highlights include Alaska’s only family-friendly, outdoor, and award-winning fest: Frozen RiverFest, attended by breweries from all over the state. Soldotna Progress Day, Kenai River Festival, and the well-known Wednesday Market include craft and food vendors with Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series and a wide variety of food trucks.
Fishermen flock at Soldotna Creek Park during summer, but when it’s calmer in fall or spring, this place is an ideal spot for a nice walk (and for some is also true in winter when the trees are covered in frost and the river’s edges are frozen). Take a seat on the benches overlooking the sea and be inspired by the beautiful snow-capped Kenai Mountains views. The city locals totally adore this view as well, and you may encounter them enjoying a snack, playing with their pets, or hanging with their loved ones.
Soldotna Creek Park is an excellent spot for families enjoying fun-filled activities with hand-painted features and a playground. Remember to check out StoryWalk, a local library installed in the summer of 2021. Throughout the summer months, a new picture book is posted along the walking path every Friday! So families can enjoy a walk and read a book at the same time.
This place is excellent for enjoying a picnic, pavilions, and barbecues. You can also bring a basketball and play on the basketball court, the most recent addition. Besides all the fun features this park has during summer, it doesn’t mean that the fun slows down when the temperature drops. There’s an ice loop for skating (with free ice skates during winter festivals) and twinkle light animal cutouts. There’s also a free Movie in the Park series that features family-friendly movies on the big screen, where you can also enjoy warming fires and refreshments and free rental skates for kids.
251 States Ave, Soldotna, AK 99669