Parks & Playgrounds

The Matanuska Valley features a wide variety of public parks and outdoor recreation areas. Facilities range from standard community playgrounds and sports complexes to riverfront campgrounds and glacier viewing sites. Whether you need a simple picnic spot, a boat launch, or a place to camp for the weekend, these local parks provide accessible outdoor spaces across the region.

Matanuska River Park

Address: 925 E Arctic Ave, Palmer, AK 99645

Amenities: Campground (tent/RV), flush toilets, hot showers, RV dump station, picnic tables, grills, pavilions, playground, sand volleyball court, trails, river access, observation deck

A-Moosement Park

Address: 420 W Fern Ave, Palmer, AK 99645

Amenities: Fenced playground (swings, slides, tire swing, monkey bars), bike rack, pavilion with picnic area

Meier Park

Address: 325 S Silver Tip Dr, Palmer, AK 99645

Amenities: Playground area with swings, teeter-totter, picnic table

McKechnie Park

Address: 643 E Daron Dr, Palmer, AK 99645

Amenities: Playground area with a slide, picnic table

Meadow Lakes Community Park

Address: 1205 N Kim Dr, Wasilla, AK 99623

Amenities: Trails, pavilion with BBQs, fenced playground, full-size soccer field, two baseball diamonds, basketball court, pickleball/tennis court, vault toilets, community orchard

Volunteer Park

Address: 680 N Seward Meridian Pkwy, Wasilla, AK 99654

Amenities: Pavilion, picnic tables, grills, horseshoe courts (no restrooms available)

Nunley Park

Address: 250 E Swanson Ave, Wasilla, AK 99654

Amenities: Play areas for children, walking trails, picnic spots, sports fields (soccer, baseball)

Carter Park

Address: 600 S Lake St, Wasilla, AK 99654

Amenities: Benches, picnic tables, playground

Menard Center Playground

Address: 1001 S Clapp St, Wasilla, AK 99654

Amenities: Paved trails, fenced play ground, restrooms, picnic tables, covered pavilion

Fish Creek Park

Address: 4132 S Casey Dr, Big Lake, AK 99652

Amenities: Pavilion rentals, picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball court, playground, horseshoe pits, salmon observation deck

Big Lake North State Rec Area

Address: 16905 W Northshore Dr, Big Lake, AK 99654

Amenities: Campsites (tent/RV), picnic sites, boat launch, swimming beach, toilets, water pump

Alpine Historical Park

Address: 11266 Chickaloon Way, Sutton, AK 99674

Amenities: Open-air historical park, playground, museum, community gardens, lush walking paths

Matanuska Glacier State Rec Site

Address: Mile 101 Glenn Hwy, Sutton, AK 99674

Amenities: 12 campsites, log cabin, drinking water pump, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, Edge Nature Trail, accessible viewing platforms for the glacier

Wild Woods Park

Address: 23151 S Talkeetna Spur, Talkeetna, AK 99676

Amenities: Playground (swings, slides, climbing equipment, sandbox), pirate bridge over creek, rock labyrinth, log playhouse, wooded paths

Christiansen Lake Park

Address: 15215 Botner Dr, Talkeetna, AK 99676

Amenities: Picnic sites, swimming beach, three pavilions, boat launch (for car-top boats and canoes)

Susitna Landing Public Use Facility

Address: 14400 E Susitna Landing Rd, Willow, AK 99688

Amenities: 69 campsites (RV/tent, some electric), boat launch, picnic shelter, fish cleaning tables, day-use parking, vault latrines, fire rings

Little Susitna Campground (City Park)

Address: Mile 57 Parks Hwy, Houston, AK 99694

Amenities: Drive-in campsites, drinking water, restrooms, picnic tables, Little Susitna river access