Maple Valley City Council gives nod to Disc Golf course

By Kathleen Kear

Packing out the Maple Valley City Council meeting on Monday, April 11, were Disc Golf enthusiasts from all over the area including those living in Maple Valley.

The idea of bringing Disc Golf to the City began in summer of 2013 when the Parks Department purchased two free-standing disc golf cages for Camp Wild participants to enjoy. The cages were also used at the Kid’s Festival where kids not only enjoyed the activity, but adults showed an enthusiastic interest as well.

Shortly thereafter, a curious Parks Department staff decided to make a query through a survey to find out if the interest in Disc Golf was high enough to pursue further. A total of 363 people responded to the survey that was posted on the City’s website as well as a public website.

A community meeting was held in January 2016 in order to evaluate the willingness of those who had responded to the survey to be involved in the project and what their involvement would be, should the project go forward. Parks administrators expected only a few people to show up at the meeting however, much to their surprise 60 interested enthusiasts attended. Many expressed an interest to help design the course and/or volunteer for labor when it comes time to help build it.

Taking a look at City owned undeveloped park property revealed an 8.7 acre piece of property within Lake Wilderness Park in the Peninsula between the Skate Park/Community Center and the Lake Wilderness Arboretum. Prior to settling on the site as the best place for a full 18-hole course, disc golfers were asked for their input and approved the location.

The idea and placement of the course was also vetted through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Along with vetting the idea, the RCO was questioned about the possibility of applying for matching funds through an RCO grant and were encouraged to apply.

On March 23rd, the disc golf planning committee presented their proposal to the Parks & Recreation Commission, who unanimously voted to make a recommendation to City Council in support of the idea. Then during a presentation at the Council’s April 11th meeting, Councilmembers were given a variety of information such as the discs used in the game were specifically made for the game.

They also learned that the course would, as much as possibly anyway, utilize informal trails that were already established by walkers and bikers on the property. Justin Gilmor, Maple Valley resident and disc golf enthusiast, went on to inform the Council regarding development of the course as follows:

Clearing brush to make room for tee pads, fairways, and “greens.”

Removing 50-75 trees from the site and trim branches of others. This count is exclusive of “significant” (i.e. 24” diameter) trees as those will be retained.

Remove, and/or habitat a number of standing and fallen dead trees.

Pour concrete tee pads.

Install steel baskets anchored with concrete.

Install signage denoting hole numbers, distance, par, and flight path.

Install informational kiosk containing a course map and bulletin board.

Install accessories like trash cans, benches, and bike racks where appropriate.

Budgeting figures for the potential project were posted at $16,000. This includes targets, tee pads, signage, info kiosk, accessories, and brush clearing. According to Parks Director, Greg Brown, the total would be met through donations, volunteer labor, and a 50% matching grant from the RCO.

Due to a due date of May 1st for the RCO grant proposal to be turned in, Brown, and along with the support of the disc golf enthusiasts asked that Council approve the resolution before them on April 11th. Once approved, work would begin immediately on putting together the information necessary in order to apply for a grant before the due date was lost.

Council unanimously voted in favor of the resolution - authorizing application for funding assistance for a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) project for the development of a disc golf course project to the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) as provided in Chapter 79a.15 RCW, acquisition of habitat conservation and outdoor recreation lands.

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Cut line: Councilmembers for the City of Maple Valley just gave a thumbs up for the Parks Department to pursue putting together a Disc Golf course between the Community Center and the Arboretum.