The City of Red Deer believes a former elementary school site in a southside neighbourhood would now be a great green space for playing disc golf.
The Recreation, Parks and Culture Department has joined with Primary Care Network, a partnership between 66 local family doctors and Alberta Health Services, in proposing a 10-hole disc golf course at the Victoria Park central park site. It’s found along the east end of Allan Street.
An open house is being held on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the park site.
The city built a similar course last year at a Kentwood park site.
Disc golf is said to be gaining popularity among all age groups. It’s similar to golf in that a player must cross a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of a disc.
The Victoria Park course has been designed for beginner to intermediate play. It’s expected this course will attract casual users and will not result in a significant increase to the number of park users at one time, according to city administration.
The city reports minimal impact is felt on homeowners who live next to the park because the course forces game play away from housing.
The Kentwood course has been successful and is regularly used, according to parks planning co-ordinator David Girardin.
“Since its implementation, the city has not received a single complaint from adjacent land owners,” said Girardin in a letter to nearby residents.
Red Deer Public School District board decided in 1999 to delete the Victoria Park site for a possible future elementary school. The site was to have been deleted from the East Hill Major Area Structure Plan but wasn’t.
Earlier this year, the site was considered for a francophone school, then rejected.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com