Disc Golf Course Closed at Westchester Park This Summer

“User conflicts” cause shutdown

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Apr 24, 2012 at 8:23 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 24, 2012 at 8:23 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Disc golfers arrived at Westchester Lagoon over the weekend to find all the baskets had been taken down and the course closed.

“I'm disappointed. It's awesome to just be able to walk down here and play a couple holes and kill some time outside,” said Andrew Essex, who uses the course regularly.

Nick Wiederholt, who lives near the course, was also upset the course was closed. “I come out here and play the course after work, it's just a great spot. I call it Anchorage's frolf course because it's just right here.”

Many left disappointed, but a few weren’t bothered by the lack of baskets and decided to play through.

The Parks and Recreation Commission removed the baskets last week. In November it voted to make the course “winter-only.”

"It really comes down to the user group conflicts. The large amount of people that were appreciating the sport – a sport we do encourage in our parks – we just think that here because of the proximity with the trail and the large amount of people utilizing the course, it didn't function well,” said park planner Josh Durand.

Players are using posts and trees for the time being until the baskets are back up this fall. But many wonder: Who will be using the course when the snow comes?

“Especially with a winter like we just had, who wants to come trekking out in five or six feet of snow?” asked Wiederholt.

“To me it's definitely a summertime sport. It's like playing volleyball in the snow,” said Essex.

The Parks and Rec Commission also cited problems with alcohol and drug use at the park as a reason for the closure.

“It's not going to go away, it's going to gravitate elsewhere. The problems we've had in the past here at Westchester are know going to gravitate toward Kincaid,” said William Harrison, a member with the Alaska Disc Golf Association.

Disc golfers say a select few have ruined it for the rest of them, and baskets or not, people who want to play aren’t planning on leaving any time soon.

Crews will work on trail restoration throughout the summer. The baskets will be put back up in October or November. The course will be available for permitted events, like tournaments, next summer.
 

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So Sad... said on Monday, Apr 30 at 11:29 AM

It's so very very sad that we are losing something so popular. So popular that maybe a second course should be added to ease the use of this course. So in short it's the over success of the park that killed

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Your Kidding said on Wednesday, Apr 25 at 7:54 PM

Someone on the coastal trail must have got thunked by a disc and he/she workes for the parks and rec LOL

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Digs said on Wednesday, Apr 25 at 10:14 AM

Taking the course away is horrible, blaming this on drugs and drinking is such a cop-out. people are going to drink/drug regardless taking a park away is not solving anything.

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ENdub said on Wednesday, Apr 25 at 9:58 AM

Yesterday they reported that the park would be off limits for the summer but today they are reporting it's okay for people to play in the park now without the baskets, so why take the baskets away in the first place???????

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Lower48 said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 8:28 PM

Too bad, I was up there this summer and it looked like a fun course. Hopefully the Parks and Rec Board will change their mind.

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Anchorage PnR Contact said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 2:56 PM

Call and let them muni know we want our park!!! Contact: Joshua Parks and Rec Planning Section 343‐4427 DurandJA@muni.org

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roger said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 2:06 PM

agreed, we need more of these parks, so somebody has a beer while throwing a disc, at least there not passed out drunk in the woods or using them as a restroom. i cant wait to put my arctic gear on and go throw my discs in the dark after work in january, i hope there isnt a line to start a round.

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Frustrated said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 1:49 PM

Now my kids will have even less to in the summer. There are so few fun things to do in Anchorage. They need more of these parks not fewer....

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FYI... said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 11:29 AM

"The Parks and Rec Commission also cited problems with alcohol and drug use at the park as a reason for the closure." FYI.... There where drug and alcohol problems long before the course was there and there will be long after it is gone.

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Save the folf course!!! said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 11:24 AM

Have a voice, call Park and Rec and voice your opinion! 907-343-4355

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 9:00 AM

shows who runs the city parks a few well off around the lagoon!!! sickening

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david said on Tuesday, Apr 24 at 8:53 AM

Anchorage is such a disgusting place that it cant even keep a frissbee golf park open. LMAO

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