Like <a href="https://www.adn.com/opinions/letters/2026/05/24/letter-the-eye-raising-cost-of-a-bicycle-trail/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.adn.com/opinions/letters/2026/05/24/letter-the-eye-raising-cost-of-a-bicycle-trail/">Teresa Zimmer</a>, I’m incredulous that the highly touted “trail connector” linking the<a href="https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/05/13/anchorage-will-build-long-sought-link-between-coastal-and-ship-creek-trails/"> Coastal and Ship Creek trails</a> is reported to cost $15.6 million. And like her, I agree that, on the face of it, this funding appears “completely fiscally irresponsible.” Sure, the project will also include a cultural “plaza” dedicated to the Dena’ina people who lived here long before Anchorage existed. But really: $15.6 million?