Delaney Park, Anchorage

Delaney Park, affectionately known as the Delaney Park Strip, is Anchorage’s oldest park, established in 1917 and spanning an impressive 11 blocks. Originally cleared as a firebreak for the developing downtown area, the park would go on to serve as Anchorage’s first airfield and even a makeshift golf course in the early 1920s. Named after James Delaney, one of Anchorage’s first mayors, the park saw historic moments like Noel Wien’s passenger flights in 1924 and Anchorage’s 50-ton bonfire celebration for Alaska’s statehood in 1959.

Over the decades, Delaney Park has evolved into a vibrant community hub, hosting popular events such as the Summer Solstice Festival, Pridefest, and many other seasonal gatherings. The park’s extensive facilities include two soccer fields, six softball fields, eight tennis courts, sand volleyball pits, and ice skating rinks. Along with athletic offerings, Delaney Park features numerous memorials—honoring figures like Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King Jr., and veterans—as well as a Centennial Rose Garden, a bandstand, and ample green space for relaxation or an impromptu game of Frisbee.