Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017 Ilwaco spins differing visions for Black Lake “in good faith” recommend it in their evaluation. They con- cluded the hilly area along the northern shore is “not per- fect” but it suits an intermedi- ate course. City Councilman Mat- thew Lessnau, 29, said he’d like to see both sites devel- oped, one for warmup or prac- tice rounds and the other for advanced play, leagues and tournaments. “The city of Ilwaco has untapped potential in the Black Lake area,” Lessnau, a former parks commissioner, said. “It’s fairly pristine so things are being done very consciously and have been well thought out.” Frisbee golf competes with nature in forest By AMY NILE EO Media Group ILWACO, Wash. — City leaders are moving forward with plans for a disc golf course north of Black Lake. But concerns about clearing roughly 50-foot-wide fair- ways in the forest could stymie progress. Ilwaco’s volunteer Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Nick Haldeman is ready to spearhead efforts to raise at least $12,000 for the city to build a 12-hole course along a 1-mile route that winds through the woods. The 32-year-old has suc- cessfully led cash-collection drives and found grant money to cover past parks projects. However, financial costs aren’t the only handicap to consider for this course. “There’s so little land in the city to give it up for Frisbee golf,” City Councilman David Jensen said. Players of disc or Frisbee golf, sometimes called “folf,” compete to get discs into ele- vated baskets with the fewest throws. Unlike regular golfers, they don’t have to worry about paying greens fees, buying expensive equipment or wear- ing certain outfits. Details to come Damian Mulinix/For EO Media Group Ilwaco City Councilman David Jensen, who walks the Black Lake trail with his dog daily, opposes the proposed con- struction of a Frisbee golf course in the dense forested areas above the lake. Activity for almost anyone The sport is growing with players of all ages and skill levels, Haldeman said. It’s popular among young people, particularly older millennials. The now 30-something crowd or so-called Oregon Trail generation, a reference to the classic computer game, of course, is also becoming more affluent. Bringing disc golfers to town would benefit busi- nesses, Haldeman said. A new outdoor offering at Black Lake could also draw people who live elsewhere on the peninsula to the city. The Ilwaco Merchants The City Council approved the course design and has asked for more information before moving forward with construction. Haldeman is working on a plan for oper- ations and upkeep, includ- ing a budget. He’s research- ing possible environmental effects and permit require- ments while the city looks into potential insurance and law enforcement issues. City Councilman Fred Marshall said he’s “perfectly neutral” on the controver- sial proposal. The 77-year- old isn’t opposed to building a course but he’s not exactly excited about it either. “The people who have the energy and the interest need to make it work,” he said. Damian Mulinix/For EO Media Group Thick forest covers the areas proposed for a Frisbee golf course in the upper portions of the Black Lake Trail in Il- waco. Association and Saturday Market have backed the pro- posal. In 2016, the nonprofits donated $1,200 for the Port- land-based Firefly Disc Golf to evaluate a potential course and design it. Altering the forest Jensen, 69, doesn’t want to lose the city’s quiet getaway and disrupt wildlife in the woods for disc golf. He takes his Spanish mastiff, “Train- wreck,” on morning walks along the Sitka spruce, west- ern hemlock and red-cedar tree-lined trails. “I like the forest experi- ence of Black Lake,” Halde- man said. “I want to maintain it as much as possible.” Building the course, how- ever, would include a “mini- mal removal” of underbrush to clear the fairways and make room for baskets, tees and signs. Players would use existing trails to get to tees but they would throw away from them to reach baskets. Jensen is reluctant to take on extra costs with city resources already stretched thin. “We really don’t have the manpower to maintain the Black Lake trails very well,” he said. At least, the city would W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 need to provide garbage cans, trash pick-up and a por- ta-potty if the course is built. More expensive upgrades, such as expanding the small parking lot, might be needed too. Jensen would prefer to put in a smaller course south of the lake near Ilwaco High School. Designers considered the site but said they couldn’t M em orial D ay IN HO N O R O F OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017 Please note the following deadline changes: Display Advertising Tues., May 30, 2017 Deadline Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 5pm A paper will be delivered as usual. If you experience home delivery problems, call 325-3211, ext. 228 for assistance. T HE D AILY A STORIAN I got screened. Now it’s your turn. Gretchen Darnell Seaside, Oregon Colorectal cancer is the #2 cancer killer. But screening can prevent it or catch it early when it’s highly treatable. Talk to your doctor today about getting screened. COLORECTAL CANCER The cancer you can prevent. www.TheCancerYouCanPrevent.org A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded campaign
