This is a letter of thanks to Bob Frates, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Kenai, for the effort he puts forth on behalf of the City in making the Kenai River Marathon a success. Bob was somewhat reluctant in the winter of 2004-5 when asked by a few of us on the KEDS committee wanting to make use of the Unity Trail ... but we needed a Director to have a marathon. With some nudging and support of the City’s Mayor and administration he took the challenge on.
This annual Marathon has become a growing success since, and we had 192 registrants on Sunday Sepember 25, 2011 from Alaska, other states and China.
Thanks also to the Chamber of Commerce, the Kenai Visitors Center, our sponsors, our sister City Soldotna, and our many volunteers — it takes all of these with teamwork to make such an event happen succesfully. So often City employees do not receive the thanks and gratitude they deserve for things they do. Bob, thanks.
I also thank Bob and his coworkers for keeping our Kenai City parks so beautiful this past summer. It gives all of us pride in showing visitors around Kenai, one of Alaska’s “best kept secrets.”
