McKinleyville Community Services District

Department of Parks & Recreation

Creating Community through People, Parks & Programs

Parks & Recreation News

Disc Golf May be Coming to McKinleyville!

The following is a review of the last couple months regarding the feasibility of installing a disc golf course at Hiller Park:

Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting, Tuesday, November 28, 2006:

Staff placed an item on the Recreation Advisory Committee Agenda to consider installing disc golf baskets at Hiller Park.  Staff’s original proposal was to place (2) baskets in the area between the parking lot and the split-rail fence, an area that currently requires dogs to be on-leash. 

After discussion, the Committee felt that if proper signage was posted, Hiller Park could accommodate a wide variety of recreational users.  In addition, the Committee asked staff to look into the feasibility of installing a nine (9) hole course at Hiller.

After discussing the best way to proceed with the feasibility of installing a disc golf course at Hiller Park, we felt it best to host a series of Public Scoping Meetings where members of the community could provide their input.  The first Public Scoping Meeting was held Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 6:00 pm at the Azalea Hall Senior Room.

Public Scoping Meeting, Tuesday, December 19, 2006:

The Parks & Recreation Department held a Public Scoping meeting on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 regarding the feasibility of installing a disc golf course at Hiller Park.  More than fifty (50) individuals attended the meeting held at Azalea Hall.  It appeared as though approximately half the individuals present were park users who brought their dogs to Hiller, and the other half were disc golf players looking for a place to install a course in McKinleyville.

Staff presented an overview of the November Recreation Advisory Committee meeting, where Committee members asked staff to look into the feasibility of installing a disc golf course at Hiller Park.  Staff also provided a large map of Hiller Park to outline potential areas for a disc golf course that may not conflict with other park users.

Some park users argued that MCSD continued to “push the dog owners back” further and further away from the parking lot, stating that dogs were required to be on-leash until the split rail fence, approximately 150 yards from the parking lot.  Other park users felt that dogs and discs would not mix well.

Some disc golf players said that it is common to see dogs off-leash at some of the local disc golf courses, and that they didn’t feel that there would be a problem.  Representatives from Par Infinity Disc Golf Club said the club would not be in favor of installing a course at Hiller if there would be a potential conflict among other park users.

Staff then presented a more detailed history of Hiller Park, including the fact that the property is owned by the MCSD Sewer Department.  Therefore, any necessary expansion of the treatment plant would supersede any other current park uses.  Staff also added that MCSD staff and Board of Directors were committed to keep Hiller Park as a multi-use recreational area.

Staff’s recommendation for a course location was between the parking lot and the split rail fence, and a second portion of the course in the area southwest of the first large meadow.  Staff felt this would be the least likely area to create conflict between disc golf players and other park users.  Staff also suggested that there may not be sufficient space for a nine (9) hole course, and to consider installing a (2) or (3) hole “practice course.”

Staff also gave an overview of the Hewitt Ranch Property, which was donated to the District in April 1999.  Staff mentioned that there is potential for a disc golf course; however, the issue of parking and accessibility would need to be addressed.

At the conclusion of the meeting, staff offered to mark a potential course location at Hiller Park so that park users could visit the area and see first hand where a course might be installed.  Staff also agreed to set up a tour of the Hewitt Ranch Property with representatives from Par Infinity Disc Golf Club to see if it might be a good location for a disc golf course.  Staff then stated a second Public Scoping Meeting would be held in February.

Hiller Park & Hewitt Ranch Property Tour, Wednesday, January 10, 2007:

At 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 10, 2007, staff met with approximately twelve (12) individuals at Hiller Park to view the potential course location.  Staff had placed stakes and flags marking tee off areas and target areas for four (4) potential holes.  The group walked through the area between the parking lot and the split-rail fence and then headed to an area southwest of the first large meadow.  This area has not been marked with stakes and flags.

At 11:00 am, the meeting was re-located to the Hewitt Ranch Property.  Seven (7) members of the public were present for the tour.  The homeowners nearest the MCSD easement were generous enough to allow the group to trespass on their property in order to access the Hewitt Ranch Property.  The entire group was impressed with the potential of the property.  The disc golf players in attendance were very excited and felt it would be a prime location for a disc golf course.  Staff discussed potential issues with installing a course at Hewitt Ranch Property, such as parking, access, and concerns homeowners in the area might have. 

Next Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting, Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Staff will place the item back on the Recreation advisory Committee agenda and discuss the feasibility of installing a course at the Hewitt Ranch Property.  Items to discuss will be parking, access, funding, maintenance, and concerns homeowners might have.

Next Public Scoping Meeting, Tuesday, February 20, 2007:

As the next step, staff will host a second Public Scoping Meeting at Azalea Hall on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.  The main focus of this meeting will be to consider the feasibility of installing a disc golf course at the Hewitt Ranch Property.  Staff will also generate feedback from the community on installing a small (1) or (2) hole course at Hiller Park, in case the Hewitt Ranch Property will not work out.

Round Up for Recreation – Every Penny Counts!

The “Round Up for Recreation” Program gives MCSD customers the opportunity to round up their water and sewer payment to the nearest dollar for the purpose of donating that extra amount to the McKinleyville Parks & Recreation Department.

The way it works is simple.  If a customer voluntarily checks the “Round Up for Recreation” box on their water & sewer bill and provides a payment that is more than the amount due, the additional amount will be donated to the Parks & Recreation Department.  For example, if the amount due for a customers water and sewer bill is $31.25 and they submit a payment of $32.00, and check the “Round Up for Recreation” box on the payment stub, then $0.75 will be donated to the Parks & Recreation Department.  If a customer rounds up their payment but doesn’t check the box, the remaining amount will be credited back to their water & sewer account. 

This new program will also enable customers to round up their payment in amounts greater than to the nearest dollar.  Individuals with a water & sewer bill in the amount of $31.25 could potentially round their payment up to $35.00, check the box on the payment stub, and $3.75 would be donated to parks & recreation. While it is difficult to determine how much funding might be raised with this new program, our parks & recreation department staff feels that “every little bit counts”. 

We sincerely appreciate the continued support we receive from local businesses, organizations, and residents; McKinleyville is a very generous community.  We wouldn’t be able to offer the parks, facilities, and programs we do without their support.  We hope that our water & sewer customers realize that giving a few cents here and there can add up over the course of a year. 

All proceeds from the “Round Up for Recreation” Program will be placed into the Parks and Recreation General Fund.  The funds will then be used to help pay for park maintenance and facility improvements, to help support the Youth Fee Reduction Fund, and to help pay for program equipment and improvements.  Remember, every penny counts!  Please call the Parks & Recreation Office at 839-9003 for more information on how you can help support this program.