The City's Parks and Recreation Department along with representatives of a disc golf organization will tour the pristine acreage adjacent to Simmons Road Park Tuesday at 3 p.m. to assess the impact of installing a disc golf course on the property.
"Overview Of Disc Golf And Potential Impacts To The Property" was the only information provided on the City's website as an agenda item for a special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC).
The disc golf proposal will then be discussed at the regular 5 p.m. Tuesday meeting of PRAC. Little other information was provided.
Parks and Recreation Director Katherine Vorrasi did not respond to Fernandina Observer emails asking if Parks and Recreation had invited an environmental impact expert, local conservation organizations, or land management experts to provide trained environmental assessments during the tour.
At the May 10 PRAC meeting, officials of 8 Flags Disc Golf Association and NSB Disc Golf Club Inc., were seeking a public/private partnership with the city to build and run the disc course.
Tom Goad, president of 8FDGA, said the disc course would require an acre per hole. He said the current park trail and areas would be unaffected by the disc golf course.
The tract of five parcels is 24 acres of totally natural forest and wildlife habitat owned by the city's municipal golf course.
The Parks and Recreation Department has also looked at the property as a site of new soccer fields.
Goad’s group would pay the $9,000 required for the 18 disc catch baskets. He asked if the city would pay for the concrete or paver tee boxes. 8FDGA would be responsible for maintenance of the disc golf course, Goad said.
Disc golf is similar to golf, but instead of hitting a ball into a hole, players throw a Frisbee into a basket or target. The objective of the game is to complete each hole in as few throws as possible. The course is typically laid out in a park or other outdoor setting. Each hole consists of a tee area and a basket that is used to catch the disc.