The Walking Trail

[drdisc]

After 5 years of waiting, it has started. Try not to be too upset when you play 5 and 6.

[i2rt]

After 5 years of waiting, it has started. Try not to be too upset when you play 5 and 6.

That includes not kicking over the stakes. I saw at least 20 stakes already pulled up and it is obvious that it isn't being done by accident. If we have any hope of getting any cooperation on this issue we sure don't want to piss off the people that are working on this.

I am going to start talking to the neighborhood association and see if we can find some common ground.:D

["Tiger"]

you may want to also post flyers on the bulletin board because there are a very large number of golfers that go through the course who don't know about the website or visit it.

[i2rt]

you may want to also post flyers on the bulletin board because there are a very large number of golfers that go through the course who don't know about the website or visit it.


I will print up a flyer today.

[Jebb]

I just got accepted to the Glen Iris yahoo group and I asked for more info. Hopefully someone knows something.

I havent yet seen it....anyone with a few mins care to draw on a google map? (or MS virtual earth)

[MAJ DG]

I've played courses with much more intrusive dual use areas and they can coexist. Courtesy and respect for all park users are always in disc golfers' best interest

[Jebb]

So far I've been told its an ADA-standard walking/jogging path

http://www.enviroseal.com/ada.htm

[Justin L]

As long as it's layout does not go over the top of any of the pin placements I don't really see how this will effect the course. We already get a TON of foot traffic around that area and we always seem to "play nice". I can't see this increasing the traffic that much, especially during summer when it's to darn hot for anyone besides us addicted disc golfers to be in the park.

Hopefully we can get some kind of dialog going with them. It can be done, Athens is a great example.

[Cotton Pickin' Bill]

The Sportsplex disc golf course is older than the walking track that runs along side holes 2,3 & 7. I was upset when I first saw the track, but I was so wrong. The track has exposed many, many walkers to our sport. Plus it gave us a great OB line that turn a couple of otherwise boring holes into a couple of the more interesting holes on the course.

I hope you have as much luck with this track as we had with ours in Athens.

[i2rt]

So far I've been told its an ADA-standard walking/jogging path

http://www.enviroseal.com/ada.htm

From the web site:

Our Successes Are Now Going Worldwide As Well As Expanding Throughout The USA

Our first success was done in July of 1997 with the ADA running path at Central Park, New York City. This is approximately a two mile running path that draws an average of 5,000 runners per day. It is arguably the most used trail in the USA. After 10 years of use that adds up to over 17,000,000 runners.:eek::eek:
Hopefully not in Birmingham.:D:D

["Tiger"]

little stat for you... we're the fattest and arguably laziest state in the country... you don't have to worry about that many people coming out and running on a daily basis ;)

[Justin L]

Hey! I thought we finally passed Mississippi?

["Tiger"]

there's a small chance... ya never know ;)

[Jebb]

I posted this today to the Glen Iris yahoo group in follow-up to my initial inquiry:

The primary reason I asked is because I'm a disc golfer. VP of the local club http://www.discgolfbirmingham.com

The secondary reason is because I live in Glen Iris, which I know has ample sidewalks with walkers and joggers on them daily.

There's been virtually no contact with the George Ward sports community from anyone about this project and with the KOC possibility of apartments or whatnot we're seeing the real possibility of one of the best and older disc golf courses in the Southeastern US being slowly whittled away. The George Ward disc golf course has been a fixture in this park since 1981 and has hosted countless professional tournaments in its 27-year history to date, the most recent two weeks ago when DGB hosted a charity benefit and transparently shared the park with a 26-team softball tourney AND the Southside Reunion! (while we raised nearly $2700 for the charity)

Birmingham is sorely lacking on disc golf courses - we have an extremely overcrowded George Ward Park and an alternate course in Trussville Civitan (which is 25 miles away). In comparison to most major cities Birmingham is WAY behind the curve for one of the fastest growing sports in the US. i.e. just within our state: Huntsville has 5 courses with 2 more on the way, Mobile has 8, while dozens of much smaller cities have one or two:
http://www.pdga.com/course/index.php

We have hope for Red Mountain Park, but as it stands our continually growing local disc golf community is all packed into George Ward Park and there's no idea how long RMP will take or if we'll end up with any courses there.

This walking track is carving into one of the busier casual sections of the park and the longest disc golf hole on the course, and if there was a truly thorough planning commission they certainly made no effort to interview sporting groups currently using the park that I'm aware of or make any provisions for additional parking. I can only see track within heavy use areas of the park causing frustration between multiple social and sporting groups if it becomes popular. To use an analogy, how would any other professional sport active within the park take it if a walking track went through their field of play? Mind you, us disc golfers DO realize we're in a public park and we're generally courteous of non-golfers while playing, but there are much better and less intrusive ways to lay out this thing than where it is currently so that it doesn't add to the crowding and anger factor. There's already a sidewalk going around the majority of the lower park areas which could easily be connected using track sections on the border areas of the park. This could also save money.

As a disc golfer and park area resident, I certainly hope that an amicable solution can be reached and that yet another cause to overcrowd this beautiful park and add to parking issues gets much-needed further consideration.

- Jebb Long, Vice President, Disc Golf Birmingham

[Jebb]

I wouldn't mind sending a version of this to the city council, parks and rec, and the newspapers as well. Just need a little assistance with all that.

[MAJ DG]

From the web site:

Our Successes Are Now Going Worldwide As Well As Expanding Throughout The USA

Our first success was done in July of 1997 with the ADA running path at Central Park, New York City. This is approximately a two mile running path that draws an average of 5,000 runners per day. It is arguably the most used trail in the USA. After 10 years of use that adds up to over 17,000,000 runners.:eek::eek:
Hopefully not in Birmingham.:D:D

Watch out Bill, once you start making comparisons of Birmingham with cities such as New York, you'll start to believe that the ham can host the 2020 Olympics. :D

[i2rt]

Watch out Bill, once you start making comparisons of Birmingham with cities such as New York, you'll start to believe that the ham can host the 2020 Olympics. :D

Aw come on.

Birmingham has 3% of the population of New York. Does that mean that we have about 3% of New Yorks chance of getting the 2020 olympics?:confused:

However if the walking trail gets equal activity then that means that we would have roughly 150 walkers a day and in 10 years we would have had 240240 walkers in the park. Not a good situation when flying disc are involved.:eek:

We just need to be realistic about our expectations of interference between the various groups using the park.

[Jebb]

Richard was alluding to the fact that Langford stated recently Birmingham should apply to become an Olympic host city. Nevermind the rather steep fee to be summarily and obviously denied.

[i2rt]

Richard was alluding to the fact that Langford stated recently Birmingham should apply to become an Olympic host city. Nevermind the rather steep fee to be summarily and obviously denied.

Uhh I got it.:rolleyes:
That was my point.:)

[drdisc]

Actually, Joe and I met with them years ago. We did what we could to hold down any intrusion on the course. Since then, hundreds of new players have started playing that had no idea this was going to happen one day. That day is now. The supervisor told me they could start pouring the cement next week.

[bazkitcase5]

I'm not from Birmingham, but how many people would actually dare go "walking" in that neighborhood?

if it wasn't for disc golf, I wouldn't come near that area haha

["Tiger"]

we actually get pretty decent foot traffic through the area, but personally I don't see a walking trail adding that much more traffic. Hole 5 and the back 9 around holes 13-16 get fairly good non-disc golf use

[Glen Iris Southpaw]

I'm not from Birmingham, but how many people would actually dare go "walking" in that neighborhood?

if it wasn't for disc golf, I wouldn't come near that area haha

As a resident of the Glen Iris neighborhood who lives 5 blocks from the course its obvious you dont live here. Many of us walk the neighborhood everyday.:eek:

[drdisc]

Unless we have hundreds of walkers everyday, it probably won't be very bad. It will be concrete and have no more than a 5% grade. Skateboards?

[Jebb]

I do love the outside perception of this neighborhood, which is one thing that makes it cool to live here and play night golf as well.

[Hilltopper]

As a resident of the Glen Iris neighborhood who lives 5 blocks from the course its obvious you dont live here. Many of us walk the neighborhood everyday.:eek:

Must resist urge to make snide remark...Must resist...:D

[james blanchard]

Yeah im going to resist not making a snide remark also, beause it is sad to be scared of any area you live in. But that is why they make tv's for scared folks.
Anyways those trails are some of the greatest things cities have done. It will probably be lighted, great for skateboarding, and things like that. If the city was smart (and we know that answer) they would combine the parks with a trail and continue that trail, as i have seen many cities do with great success. And think by the time it gets to dark, all the scared people will be in there homes, huddled around the news, to worry more about life. yeah

["Tiger"]

truth be told no ones afraid to walk in that area during the day but as brave as you want to be southside and birmingham in general are in the top 10 most dangerous areas in the US. I'm sure many of you heard about the girl who was killed just last spring in the parking lot of Glen Iris elementary, UAB student, random murder. We all see the... remnants... of previous nights activities (fun and dangerous) as we walk through the park, but again thats nighttime activity.

[Jebb]

night golfers are who everyone is scared of ;)

[drdisc]

I have just done a little rainy day detective work and have spoken with two of the main people involved. They are going to try to do something about the proximity of the trail on 3 and 4. Lets' hope!

[drdisc]

Just spoke with one of the main men. He had seen the Emails generated and told me they will be glad to make adjustments based on the disc golf course and the old trees, as Bill pointed out, so as not to interfere or damage anything.

[IndyJonez]

Just spoke with one of the main men. He had seen the Emails generated and told me they will be glad to make adjustments based on the disc golf course and the old trees, as Bill pointed out, so as not to interfere or damage anything.

Good to hear ;)

[Joe Thacker]

Hey Tom, Have you talked to anyone at Parks and Rec, or the city, about this path? If you have not spoken with Melvin already, I will call him

Joe

[Justin L]

Joe, I'm planning on attending the parks and rec meeting next Wednesday if that helps.

[Jebb]

see what you fellas can figure out on our chances of pouring the back 6 pads if you can

[IndyJonez]

see what you fellas can figure out on our chances of pouring the back 6 pads if you can

Yea, no kiddin'! They can pour a walking trail through 3 of our fairway's surely they wouldn't have a problem with more pads being poured in an area that is visited by disc golfer's more than anybody.:rolleyes:

Good Luck!:D

[Glen Iris Southpaw]

Must resist urge to make snide remark...Must resist...:D
I live less than 3 blocks from where that girl was killed in the parking lot. Random act. So less likely than someone you know killing you. Thats how most murders happen. Its those that loves ya that kills ya not strangers most of the time. Hell that apt complex out in Hooville that had 5 killed last week was down in hallowed Shelby Co. Funny thing is that is the 3rd killing Im aware of that has happened out at that one complex in Inverness. Does that mean living in that complex is less dangerous than where I live. A classmate of mine at Samford was slashed up there in 91. We even got Bill ORielley and the Hard Addition out there at dear old Samford for that one.:rolleyes:

Yeah im going to resist not making a snide remark also, beause it is sad to be scared of any area you live in. But that is why they make tv's for scared folks.
Anyways those trails are some of the greatest things cities have done. It will probably be lighted, great for skateboarding, and things like that. If the city was smart (and we know that answer) they would combine the parks with a trail and continue that trail, as i have seen many cities do with great success. And think by the time it gets to dark, all the scared people will be in there homes, huddled around the news, to worry more about life. yeah
Word up James thats the truth....the govt wants everyone afraid in their houses not getting to know each other and spending all our money at Walmart. Thats one of the beautiful things about disc golf is you meet so many different people from different walks of life and most of the time get along. Detroit ice that finger:D Folks can only get along if we get to know each other and find the commonality in us despite our differences and stop living in this post 9-11 sense of fear.

truth be told no ones afraid to walk in that area during the day but as brave as you want to be southside and birmingham in general are in the top 10 most dangerous areas in the US. I'm sure many of you heard about the girl who was killed just last spring in the parking lot of Glen Iris elementary, UAB student, random murder. We all see the... remnants... of previous nights activities (fun and dangerous) as we walk through the park, but again thats nighttime activity.
Southside isnt Norwood. It was 10 years ago, but there arent burnt out shotgun crack houses in glen iris anymore. Sheet man those little houses right there by that elementary school where that girl died sell for 150,000 not fixed up. Southside is doing fine. If we had a mayor who was not an idiot and perhaps a sociopath we might be doing better, but the idiots on the county comisiion do not seem to be much better stewards of our general well being, which is part of the reason im a libertarian. I walk my dogs at all times of the day or night though the back alleys of the area. Perhaps Ruby is a deterent but if someone was gonna kill me dont ya think they would shoot my dog as well. The reason Bham is so high in those ratings is bc of the gross socioeconomic realities of the metro area. Poverty leads desperate people to do desperate things. Sorry to rant but I refuse to let anyone diss Southside in general or Glen Iris specifically. Its my neighborhood, its my home.

[drdisc]

Joe, I don't think Melvin want's to get involved. The city engineer was there today. It is going to happen. It is not as bad as we thought. The 10 foot wide asphalt trail has changed to a 6 foot cement trail with cubs and gutters. The curbs are for blind walkers and the 5% grade is for wheelchairs. Lots of twists and turns around 3, 4 ,7 and 8. Benches will be here and there. They didn't seem to keen on putting them next to tees. They also, did not want to hear about the situation during a big softball weekend. The trail will cross the street from 3' tee pad to the playground and run up that side of the road to the pavillion. I'll still play. Fore!!!

[Glen Iris Southpaw]

The Sportsplex disc golf course is older than the walking track that runs along side holes 2,3 & 7. I was upset when I first saw the track, but I was so wrong. The track has exposed many, many walkers to our sport. Plus it gave us a great OB line that turn a couple of otherwise boring holes into a couple of the more interesting holes on the course.

I hope you have as much luck with this track as we had with ours in Athens.

Tom do you see any good opportunities to make these holes more interesting by using them as obs? Will the trail follow the road once it crosses the parking lot, or will it effect 17s fairway at all?
Bill did yall do any sort of outreach with the walkers to get them playing.

[Joe Thacker]

Thanks Tom, I don't doubt that it is going to happen, I just would like to see that the course was considered during the design of the path. When I was out there last week, it appeared to wend very close to holes and tees.

It is obvious that disc golfers are the single largest park user of the majority of the park (and possibly of the entire park, on an annual basis), and IMO, it is irresponsible of the City to propose the path without (recent) input from the largest park user. I know that we talked about this issue years ago when we met the CIty at GW. It sounds like you are on top of it now: Thanks!

As we discussed years ago when we met with the city about the path, Hole 16 might need to be changed or removed entirely. At that time we also discussed the possibility of removing Hole 16 and adding another hole (or more) to the area northeast of the tennis courts :D. Any word on this?

Joe

[Jebb]

that area will be the new dog park.

[drdisc]

It seems as though they are going to do the front 9 before the back.
The way that it is going we and the walkers will just have to keep an eyeout for each other.
Originally it was going to go to the pavillion and loop back. It also seems that it is going to go down or close to the service road. The city engineer said that they have to keep the road and the contractor said the road is the trail! Who's on First?

[drdisc]

There will be a meeting at 9:00 tomorrow. If anyone can go, do it. Meet at # 3.
I will be at Samford. Jebb may be there. They need to know to keep away from our tees and pin positions. Just look at # 7 and 3.!
Just tell them you are with DGB.

[Justin L]

I'm still on the road, hopefully someone will be around. :/