Warner Park - Manhattan - PLANNING TOPICS

[PETRIE]

I have a Warner Park Project Update for you.

As you might or might not know, Mark Kewley and I have been working with the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department to build a disc golf course in the south east corner of Warner Park in Manhattan, KS.

After our last disc golf presentation at the November Manhattan Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, a motion was passed to build the 9 hole disc golf course we proposed. Yes, the board will consider expanding it to an 18 hole course at a later date, if the first 9 proves to be a positive use of the park. The next step in the approval process was to run it by the City Commission.

Following a presentation by the Parks and Recreation Director at a City Commission Briefing, we were given the green light to build the course.

The Parks & Recreation Dept. decided that they wanted to fund this project by using a matching funds process that they use in projects like this one. So, later that month we began our fund raising efforts to pay for our part. We plan on installing the equipment as soon as the needed funds have been raised/equipment has been purchased, which will probably be as the weather permits this spring.

We are excited about this project because Warner Park has characteristics that will allow for some holes that are not typical for this area of the state. The change in elevation and wooded fairways are hard to capture in photos, but there will be some fun shots at this course.

At this time we still have some spots available for hole sponsorship. So, if you know of a business, or a group of individuals that are willing make a tax deductible donation to The City of Manhattan for this project, please contact us. Donors will be recognized by getting their names and or logos on course signage.

If you are interested in getting involved with the project or have sponsorship questions/sponsorship leads, please let us know by sending an e-mail to [email protected]


Sincerely,
Rick Petrie

[PETRIE]

As you'll see in the course map below, we were able to work with the Parks & Rec. Dept. to put some fairways in the thick wooded areas.

The "open" looking fairways will be difficult too because of the constant grade/slope challenges at Warner Park, not to mention the scrub brush sort of tufts that you'll want to avoid.

[PETRIE]

Here's a couple photos from the fairways.

This is fairway #1 looking from near the basket location back towards the tee box on top of the hill.
The trees with orange ribbons on them will be removed by Parks & Rec. Forestry staff.
Don't worry, we're gonna leave plenty of trees in the way to really mess with y'all.



This photo is looking at where the basket will be for #2. If you're a good player and are really good at avoiding trees, this might be your view for you birdie putt... an up hill to the right putt. Don't miss because it's gonna roll down the hill to the right!



Here's your tee box view for #4. After a little trimming around the tee box, this will be a great spot to make a run at a tight little cove placed on the other side of the meadow. The faint of heart will want to lay up because this one starts out tight and ends up tight on the other side.



And finally the BIG BOMB on #9! Finishing up with a 500' toss off a big bluff... and I aint bluffin! You're up in the air a ways when you launch #9!

[jtkustomizer]

That looks like fun.

[kewley]

It is fun. There are two holes that would make you think of Rosedale Down Under. The shots off the bluff I have nothing to compare to. They are not as breathtaking as hole 1 at Water Works KC but the elevation change is notable for courses around here. If we can expand the course into the park in the future, there are opportunities for ridiculous elevation changes with the ravine that runs through it.

You can find a full resolution map and donation form here: http://www.warnerparkdiscgolf.info/

[smitty]

Did you guys work out the mowing details with them, or are you still going to try and tackle it by yourselves?

[kewley]

Park staff are in charge of that. They seem to indicate that it will work out to accommodate the activity, although there is nothing official.

[smitty]

That sounds like good news. It is near impossible to keep it mowed yourself.

[kewley]

No doubt. If you are up here in the spring you will have to check it out.

[PETRIE]

If you want to stay up to date on this project, I have set-up an account of my own on Twitter and will try to post daily updates. We're still in the fund raising stage right now, but I will keep posting updates to Twitter through out the entire process until we're playing out there.

To see my updates go to http://twitter.com/warnerparkdg You don't even have to have a Twitter account to read them.

[rlangton]

Played the course last weekend, awesome layout. If you guys need any help with trimming or cleanup let me know, I'll see if I can help out on a weekend.

[scarpfish]

Glad to see the Little Apple is getting more DG. I'm gonna have to head up there and check it out when you have it up, and the new course at Fairmont too.

[kewley]

It's nice to have the choices. Fort Riley is a short drive too.

Hope to knock out the fund raising and get some baskets at Warner soon. There are markers at the future tee and basket placements now so people can do a walk through or throw at the signs.

If anyone went to http://warnerparkdiscgolf.info/ using Firefox and it blew up, try again. It should work now.

[disclizard]

when it warms up I am going to have to make my way out there for a weekend. Maybe I can get a local discer to Offer up a couch for a night in exchange for some manual laber when they have a work weekend. I would be willing to work a day for a chance to play the course for a day after.

[Sandman]

Maybe I can get a local discer to Offer up a couch for a night in exchange for some manual laber

Huh???