A proposed 18-hole disc golf course at Hockinson Meadows Community Park took a step closer to becoming a reality after the Clark County council unanimously voted to approve the project at its Tuesday morning meeting.
Currently, about 70 acres of the 240-acre park are developed in ballfields, trails and an off-leash dog area. There’s another 40-acre parcel of undeveloped land at the park that the county currently leases for grazing that will be the future home for the course.
At the council meeting, Clark County Public Works Director Heath Henderson said that the grazing permit will expire in the spring to allow the plans for the course to move forward.
“The popularity of (disc golf) is definitely increasing,” Henderson said. “It’s something that’s desired throughout the county.”
The game of disc golf is similar to traditional golf. Players tee off and attempt to throw Frisbee-like discs into metal baskets.
There are four disc golf courses in Clark County, none of which have 18 holes. Henderson noted that an 18-hole course could draw tournaments and tourism to Clark County. The county had planned to build an 18-hole course at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park but scaled its plans down to nine holes after concerns were raised that it would negatively affect the wildlife habitat.
Temple Lentz, executive director of the Parks Foundation of Clark County, said that the sport is growing in popularity and pointed out that residents expressed support for disc golf when the county updated it Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan last year. The Clark County Parks Advisory Board unanimously voted earlier this year to support the new course.
The project is estimated to cost about $70,500 and is expected to open in mid-2018. The county plans to use $65,000 in park impact fees, which are assessed on construction to support park infrastructure, for the project. The county is anticipating the remainder to come from private donations. The county reports that donations have already been made to the Parks Foundation of Clark County for the project.
Lentz said she applauds the county for moving forward with the project.
“One of the things we like at the parks foundation is the people who play disc golf care about the places where they play,” she said. “So they’re interested in well-maintained parks and are generally good stewards.”
But she noted that the council’s approval is just the first step before beginning the lengthy process of siting and permitting the course.
