gordonmk
Jul 18 2013, 05:51 PM
Waterloo DGC had a big meeting at Bartholomew earlier this week with a number of folks from the city. Marc Lopez and I met out there from 11 am � 1 pm with a few PARD people from Bart (including the district supervisor) and some from both Watershed Protection and from Planning. It turns out that the lack of mowing/clearing near the creek is not because the Bart maintenance people aren�t doing it, but because it is part of Watershed�s new program of not cutting/clearing anything in the creek bed and up to about 20� from the creek bed. They are doing this for a number of reasons (including water quality and erosion) with a long term goal that includes the re-growth of good things along the creek like hard wood trees. In the long run, that type growth will shade out and cut down on a lot of the low, bushy, pain in the *** stuff that is there now.
In the short run though, that stuff is causing a lot of problems for us, the disc golfers. So we spent a lot of time looking at a number of the problem areas and talking about how to address them that works both for their long term plans and our needs of being able to play there now and in the future. Having folks from Planning there was an added bonus because we were also able to talk with them about our frustrations regarding the lack of progress in implementing the Master Plan that was approved a few years ago. A plan which calls for disc golf to remain in the park, and for the course to be brought back to 18 holes with good amenities. The Windsor Park Neighborhood Association is frustrated with the pace of improvements also and we will be working closely with them to push the city to move forward on these. Part of the improvements include trails through the park and the connection of those trails to the ones in the Mueller subdivision. The design of these trails and the disc golf course have to go hand-in-hand.
In the immediate term, the Bart maintenance crews will be cutting back the growth around some of our creek crossings so it is less like forging your way through a jungle.
In the short-to-medium term, Watershed will be looking at those crossing areas as well as some of the more common landing areas we need/use to see where we can find common ground about cutting/clearing as well as making the actual creek crossings better. The Waterloo Club and Watershed will also be working with some of the other park groups about clearing out some of the invasive species (think workdays). This will help open up some of our areas as well (like over on #2 with all the bamboo/cane).
In the long term, we (the club, neighborhood assoc., PARD, Watershed, and Planning) will all be trying to get a permanent plan in place for the park that expands and improves the disc golf course, the creek, and the trails.
We�ll keep you informed as we move forward.
Thanks!
Waterloo Disc Golf Club
In the short run though, that stuff is causing a lot of problems for us, the disc golfers. So we spent a lot of time looking at a number of the problem areas and talking about how to address them that works both for their long term plans and our needs of being able to play there now and in the future. Having folks from Planning there was an added bonus because we were also able to talk with them about our frustrations regarding the lack of progress in implementing the Master Plan that was approved a few years ago. A plan which calls for disc golf to remain in the park, and for the course to be brought back to 18 holes with good amenities. The Windsor Park Neighborhood Association is frustrated with the pace of improvements also and we will be working closely with them to push the city to move forward on these. Part of the improvements include trails through the park and the connection of those trails to the ones in the Mueller subdivision. The design of these trails and the disc golf course have to go hand-in-hand.
In the immediate term, the Bart maintenance crews will be cutting back the growth around some of our creek crossings so it is less like forging your way through a jungle.
In the short-to-medium term, Watershed will be looking at those crossing areas as well as some of the more common landing areas we need/use to see where we can find common ground about cutting/clearing as well as making the actual creek crossings better. The Waterloo Club and Watershed will also be working with some of the other park groups about clearing out some of the invasive species (think workdays). This will help open up some of our areas as well (like over on #2 with all the bamboo/cane).
In the long term, we (the club, neighborhood assoc., PARD, Watershed, and Planning) will all be trying to get a permanent plan in place for the park that expands and improves the disc golf course, the creek, and the trails.
We�ll keep you informed as we move forward.
Thanks!
Waterloo Disc Golf Club