TAMRMS#: B06
5.6
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Langholm Disc Golf Assessment Update
Presented by: Craig Cameron, Manager, Parks & Community Partnerships, Recreation & Parks
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
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That Standing Committee of the Whole recommend that Council approve $94,000, to be funded from the Capital Reserve, to convert the temporary disc golf course at Langholm Park into a permanent disc golf course.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
This report brings forward information and recommendations related to the provision of a beginner-focused disc golf course, including review of the current Langholm disc golf course.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Disc golf continues to grow in popularity across the world, in part because of limited barriers to participation.
The City of St. Albert has two disc golf courses, a temporary beginner-friendly, 9-hole course at Langholm Park and a permanent, seasonal, 18-hole community course in Kingswood Park. UDisc, a round/score tracking application, has recorded over 13,700 rounds of disc golf at City courses since 2020.
Langholm Disc Golf History
The Langholm Park disc golf course has been in place since 2020. The course was designed and built by an area resident using plastic buckets as targets. In 2021, CM-21-001 directed Administration to work with residents to formalize a temporary disc golf course, which included replacing the buckets with a more typical basket.
Tee pad areas have been marked in the grass and have subsequently been eroded to dirt and caused minor damage to tree trunks and branches. The temporary course conditions are not sustainable and will ultimately lead to loss of play value.
While a soccer field and a baseball diamond are part of Langholm Park, no conflicts were reported to the City prior to this engagement.
The course is scheduled, as per existing council motion under AR-23-194 (approved May 2, 2023), for removal at the end of 2024.
Disc Golf Location Review
At the direction of Council, Administration conducted a complete assessment of the City’s parks and open space inventory to identify viable options for a permanent beginner-level disc golf course. The assessment process included a review of best practices, review of all City parks and open spaces and refinement of site selection.
Of a possible 21 sites, three sites were identified for further public engagement: Napoleon Park, Deerbourne Park and Langholm Park. Public engagement helped to inform the recommendation to convert the existing temporary course at Langholm Park into a permanent course. Conversion of the site would include adjustment of course design to improve safety and sightlines (based on public feedback) and installation of permanent signage and permanent tee pads. The project would also consider minor landscaping improvements and remediation of existing damage.
Should Council not support the recommendation, Administration would remove the temporary course at Langholm before Q2 2025 and look to include disc golf in future growth areas in alignment to service levels and park planning guidelines.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Residents were asked to provide feedback on three potential permanent sites for a beginner-focused, ≤ 9-hole disc golf course, including Langholm, Deerbourne and Napoleon Parks. Public engagement was conducted from March 12, 2024, to April 4, 2024, through the City’s Cultivate the Conversation webpage.
Engagement was communicated through direct mailouts to landowners within 100 metres of each of the three sites, site signage at identified parks and social media. A total of 1,700 unique visitors viewed the project webpage and over 35,000 individuals were reached through social media promotion. From there, 175 respondents completed the survey and 29 respondents engaged through the site mapping feature, providing 43 location-specific pins and comments.
Langholm Park was the most publicly acceptable site for a beginner-level disc golf course (see Attachment 1). Respondents expressed mainly positive comments about the current temporary course, and it was noted that 76.7% of respondents identified disc golf as an appropriate activity for Langholm Park, 54.6% of respondents indicated they had played at the temporary course at Langholm Park and 66% indicated they felt making the course permanent would not impact their existing activities. Those who identified a potential negative impact to retaining disc golf at Langholm referenced safety concerns (i.e., struck by a disc while walking in the site), potential impacts on other activities (i.e., disc or player entering a field or diamond) and concerns with litter. These concerns reflect park experience but were not unique to the location.
Partnership Opportunities
Administration spoke with the Edmonton Disc Golf Association (EDGA) and residents highly involved in organized disc golf about opportunities for course partnership. EDGA has designed, constructed, and operates disc golf courses within the Capital region through municipal improvement agreements. EDGA has expressed support for a course at this location but no opportunities for partnership were identified.
As with other recreation facilities and amenities, Administration will remain open to partnerships, sponsorships or other revenue-generating opportunities to support provision of disc golf.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
The estimated capital costs for a beginner-level, ≤ 9-hole disc golf course at Langholm Park is $94,000, including contingency appropriate to a conceptual level project, and would be funded from the Capital Reserve. The reserve has sufficient funds to cover the project.
In addition to the capital cost and associated lifecycle related long-term costs, permanent operation of this course will require approximately $1000 annually that will be built into the 2025 budget through a base budget adjustment.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
Permanent installation of a second disc golf course would support year-round access to disc golf and would likely be supported by the general public at Langholm Park.
It is intended that this course, like the Kingswood disc golf course, will be available for spontaneous, non-booked use.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks:
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
A.1.5 Recreation and Sport Amenities: Ensure the provision of scheduled and spontaneous use of recreation amenities for community users in a safe and comfortable environment.
A.1.5.g Specialty Sport Amenities: A purpose-built recreational environment dedicated to recreation and sports activities.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On June 6, 2023, Council passed the following motion:
CM-23-22
That Administration complete an assessment, including costs, partnerships, impacts, and pros and cons, for potential locations for a smaller or beginner level permanent disc golf course, including retaining the Langholm Disc Golf course, by Q1 2024.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Standing Committee of the Whole does not wish to support the recommendations, the following alternatives could be considered:
Alternative 1: Accept this report, AR-24-038, as information. Based on previous Council direction, this would mean that Administration would decommission the temporary disc golf course at Langholm Park and continue to seek opportunities to locate disc golf amenities within future park development planning aligned to the service level inventory.
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
This alternative may be perceived as a reduction in service by some community members. Other community members may perceive this as an increase in site safety.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks:
No other sites in the park and open spaces inventory have been identified for a disc golf course, leaving a timeline for future development uncertain.
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Report Date: June 11, 2024
Author(s): Benjamin Jonah & Manda Wilde
Department: Recreation & Parks
Department Director: Daniele Podlubny
Managing Director: Diane Enger
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher