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Disc golf course coming to McClatchy park ahead of $2.8 million in improvements
by Brandon Darnell, published on September 26, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Storyline: Local Government
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Spearheading $2.8 million in improvements to McClatchy Park is something that might seem benign, but which residents and city officials say will be a harbinger of change: A disc golf course, where players toss Frisbee-like discs into baskets.
“I’m looking forward to being able to help change the park,” said said Aimee Phelps, a founder of the course and the Oak Park Disc Golfers club. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes on out there like drugs, and the disc golf course will help change that.”
The disc golf course will break ground at 3500 Fifth Ave. Oct. 13, when city crews are scheduled to bring an auger to the park to dig holes for the course’s baskets, said Phelps, who lives about a block away.
It’s geared for beginners and families, and when completed, it will be a nine-hole course with the longest hole being about 300 feet.
“I’m really excited about it,” said City Councilman Jay Schenirer. “I think it’s going to bring a lot more people into the park.”
A $2.8 million grant to rebuild the park from the state of California will bring a new skate park, new basketball and tennis courts and a jogging track around the perimeter, according to Schenirer.
City officials are looking for more funding to rebuild the bathrooms by the baseball field, and shade structures over the farmers market area could see it become a permanent fixture.
A barbecue and temporary course will be set up at 1 p.m. on Saturday to introduce the neighbors and other park users to the activity.
“I think disc golf will bring a lot of young people out, and young families who are in the neighborhood,” Schenirer said. “The more people who are using the park for positive purposes, the more people will feel safe.”
There will be no charge to use the course.
Phelps said the Oak Park Disc Golfers will host tournaments and bring in professionals to teach kids and families how to play.
“We hope to get involved with the schools and really make this an all-inclusive family thing,” she added. “Theres a lot of good things that are involved – it’s independent, yet at the same time it’s a group thing as well.”
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Ryan Schauland (f.k.a. ryuns)
September 27, 2012 | 10:11 AM
That's a great idea, in my opinion. Great way to make the park unique, increase traffic, and make it a bit more of an attraction.
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Ed Murrieta
September 27, 2012 | 10:54 AM
Where in the park? The former tennis courts were turned into some kind of post-apocalyptic skate park that never gets used. That's a good place for park redevelopment. McClatchy Park, by the way, is a really nice park. Walk into the heart of the park; it feels like McKinley Park.
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Julian Slee
September 28, 2012 | 1:52 PM
Ed, go visit. You won't be able to miss the disk golf. The skate park, as it currently stands, is a temporary measure that made use of free skate ramps. It could look better now. It will look better soon.
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Rhys02
September 27, 2012 | 8:15 PM
It was less than 20 years ago the city poured over $5,000,000 into McClatchy (half of it from McClatchy) . Why can't they find a couple of thousand to fence in the children's play area in 4th Avenue Park, just down the street.
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Sallen
September 28, 2012 | 10:47 AM
This will be a great addition to a beautiful park! This will bring more positive users to the park and really help create a more inviting atmosphere at McClatchy. I can't wait to play some disc!
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FriendlyDogs
October 2, 2012 | 12:34 PM
I take my elderly Mom to Carmichael Park's dog park once a week for an outing that is relaxing and therapeutic for us both, even though we don't have a dog of our own. Watching dogs romp and play freely and safely within the confines of the dog park is a hoot, and it gives us a chance to have an outdoor conversation in a relaxed setting as well. We noticed in the past year or so that a disc golf course was added to each side of the dog park, with each of the two courses on either side of the dog park. While it's not heavily used (at least not when we're there), we have noticed something consistent and upbeat: noticeably friendly people, who often say Hi or smile at us as they walk past the dog park while walking between the two disc golf courses. Hopefully that will be true for McClatchy park's course as well!
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