TAMRMS#: B06
7.3
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Disc Golf Feasibility
Presented by: Manda Wilde, Senior Project Manager - Parks Development
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
1. That the Disc Golf Feasibility report be received for information.
2. That Administration be directed to submit a project charter for design and implementation of an 18-hole permanent disc golf course at Kingswood Park for consideration in the 2023 budget process.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To provide Council with an update on the results of the Disc Golf Feasibility project, and receive direction on the establishment of a permanent disc golf course in St. Albert.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A.
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On February 16, 2021 Council passed the following motion:
(CM-21-001)
That Administration be directed to install a temporary disc golf course at Langholm Park for 2021, to be implemented as soon as practicable and that funding in the amount of$5500 to purchase equipment required to implement the temporary course be approved, to be funded from the Stabilization Reserve.
That Administration complete a feasibility study and public engagement to identify a potential permanent disc golf site and bring forward a report and recommendations to Council on the potential permanent site by end of Q3 2021. And that funding of $15,000 be approved to support the feasibility study, to be funded from the Capital Recreation Reserve.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Based on the Council motion, Administration began the research and criteria development to assess the potential location of a permanent 9 or 18-hole disc golf course. To assist in the design and site selection process, IBI Group was retained and a cross-departmental staff project team assembled to provide feedback. Research and background information formed the first phase of the project which included design criteria from the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), input from the local user group and review of existing disc golf sites within Alberta and British Columbia.
The next phase of the project applied the design criteria to the existing City park system. From there, sites were assessed and ranked by the consultants and staff, with the three most feasible sites, Kingswood, Rotary and Grenadier Parks, were shared with the public for feedback. These sites have several advantages including mature trees, large open spaces, some terrain variation and limited other programmed use.
Based on the consultant’s report “Attachment 1” and public feedback, which is shared below and included in “Attachment 2”, Administration is recommending moving forward with a seasonal 18-hole course at Kingswood Park. Kingswood Park is recommended because it received the strongest public support, provides a variety of terrain and extensive mature vegetation, has onsite parking and washrooms and provides more diversity for four season use of the park. Rotary Park, while generally supported by the public and having both onsite parking and washroom facilities, is a less desirable course. The Park is relatively flat and wide open, giving little challenge for disc golf players.
Public concerns that were shared in regard to Kingswood Park during this process including placement of holes, reducing the impacts from disc golf to the open green space and other competing uses would be addressed through course design. Most disc golf courses in the region are retrofitted into existing parks and there is always the potential for conflict with existing park users. Professional consultants, the St. Albert Disc Golf group and St. Albert Nordic Ski Club would be engaged during course design to best fit the space, providing an enjoyable course and minimizing conflicts. Baskets would be removed and stored in winter to avoid interference with the operations of St. Albert Nordic Ski Club.
Upon establishment of the permanent course, the existing temporary course at Langholm Park would be removed and the baskets from that site re-used at the proposed new course.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
To better understand the potential impacts of the course to the three selected sites, several methods were used to connect with residents. A mail out was delivered to the properties within 100 meters of the three parks. The survey was advertised on City social media and a Gazette article further informed residents of the engagement opportunity.
An online survey was delivered through the Cultivate the Conversation website from August 6th to 20th, 2021 to collect feedback. A total of 235 respondents completed the survey, with just over 30% of respondents from the Grandin neighborhood and the remaining from neighborhoods across the City.
In order to gauge interest in the sport, residents were asked if they had played disc golf. 63.8% of 235 respondents answered yes. Asked whether they would be interested in trying out disc golf, 83% of 235 respondents answered yes. This small sampling, along with use of the existing temporary course, suggest that there is some demand for this activity in St. Albert.
The survey asked respondents to rank each site from 1 to 3 overall. The rankings of the preferred sites, with the lowest score being the most preferred, were:
• Kingswood Park 1.72
• Rotary Park 1.88
• Grenadier Park 2.40
Specific comments and concerns that were received for each proposed course are as follows:
1. Kingswood Park: 86.4% of 235 respondents supported Kingswood Park as a permanent disc golf facility. When asked why they would not support Kingswood Park, 42 respondents answered with the following themes:
o Concerns about winter use in the park
o Placement of targets
o Potential to impact the natural areas and/or wildlife
2. Grenadier Park: 54.5% of 235 respondents supported Grenadier Park as a permanent disc golf facility. When asked why they would not support Grenadier Park, 110 respondents answered with the following comment themes:
o Conflict with the existing off-leash dog use
o Increased noise
o Not enough space for this use with limited parking
3. Rotary Park: 81.7% of 235 respondents supported Rotary Park as a permanent disc golf facility. When asked why they would not support Rotary Park, 55 respondents answered with the following comment themes:
o Terrain lacks key features such as hills and trees and has limited variation
o Concerns with layout adjacent to playground
o Not supportive of disc golf holes with shared starting and end points.
Residents were asked for any additional feedback and 95 responses were received. There were several common themes:
• Enthusiasm about the addition of disc golf to the City
• Support for Kingswood and Rotary as viable sites for a number of reasons
• Preferences for 9 or 18 holes
• Suggestions for programming needs (ensuring adequate garbage's etc.) and opportunities (e.g. lending of discs from the library).
• A small number shared desire not to see any change to Kingswood Park
• Concern about spending any funding on this activity
Administration has also engaged with a representative of the St. Albert Disc Golf group. This informal group has been working to promote disc golf in St. Albert and has supported the development of the temporary course located in Langholm Park. The group has shared that they support Kingswood Park as an 18 hole course suitable for more skilled players, recreational league play and or tournament play. They have shared some concerns with the conceptual layout shared during public engagement, but feel the issues are manageable with a revised course design.
This group also continues to support Langholm Park as a beginner level, family friendly course. The group recognizes there are challenges with the park size, course layout and potential conflict with other park users. These challenges are difficult to address, especially as the sport grows, and Administration is not recommending keeping the Langholm course once a permanent site is developed.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial: The expected cost for construction of a disc golf course at Kingswood Park would be between $50,000 to $100,000. Financial information would be submitted through the charter process.
Legal / Risk: None at this time.
Program or Service: This will result in a new service level offered in St. Albert and will have minor impacts to existing maintenance operations related to seasonal installation of baskets and maintenance of tee boxes and baskets.
Organizational: None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1: That an 18-hole permanent disc golf course be developed at Kingswood Park in 2022, at a cost of no more than $100,000 to be funded through the capital reserve. This option would enable faster action but does not align to the City’s capital prioritization process.
Alternative 2: That no permanent course be developed, and disc golf is not offered as a recreation amenity within St. Albert. As disc golf is not a current service level, there would be no impact to existing park users.
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Report Date: September 13, 2021
Author(s): Manda Wilde
Department: Recreation & Parks
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble