January 2, 2026
The board of directors of the Ester Community Association is thrilled to announce that it has made the final payment to purchase the land housing the Ester Community Park.
The Ester Community Association (ECA) entered into a Deed of Trust to purchase the park property from the registered land owner, Carolyn Bell Trust, in December 2016. As of January 2, 2026, the final payment has been transmitted.
“I want to thank the hundreds of donors and supporters who have made this purchase possible,” said ECA president Monique Musick. “There is no greater testament to the spirit of community we have here in Ester than the generosity of the residents whose commitment made this purchase, and the park itself, a reality.”
The Ester Community Park is a communal gathering place in the Ester community. The park is not just a fun place for children to play, it is also host to music festivals, private parties, and a variety of community events. For example the annual Fourth of July parade and potluck, Fairbanks Folk Fest, AYP, Fungi Fest and more. Each year ECA volunteers give their time and resources to keep the park beautiful. All improvements to the park have been accomplished through the hard work of the people of Ester, donations, fundraising and lots of volunteer effort. It is operated independently from the borough.
Former board member Ritchie Musick led an annual fundraising campaign – the Mortgage Meeters – and over the years encouraged hundreds of residents to support the purchase of the park through annual donations of $120 or more. Many others provided direct donations, or participated in fundraisers in support of the land purchase. Thanks to those and other generous donors, we were able to pay off the park ahead of schedule.
For more than thirty years the ECA has developed and maintained the park for the benefit of the community. With the purchase of the land now complete, the board remains committed to investing in the infrastructure and operation of the community park, and has its eyes on future expansion and improvements, while also maintaining annual community events and activities.
“This is a huge milestone for our community, and all of us who have been involved over the years are celebrating this incredible achievement,” said Musick.