Untitled Document

The Outsiders Recreation Newsletter

Issue 20

June 2009

In This Issue

Outsider Insider

Upcoming Events

The Big Kahuna

Short Short Course Approved

Quick Links

The Outsiders web page

Commission Impossible blog

Facebook Group

People Power

The Outsiders are currently discussing a contract for managing the highway 32 site with the city. There are three components of this process that will help make it a success. Please get engaged in the support of this valuable recreation.

1. We need people to support disc golf by supporting and joining the Outsiders. The Outsiders will have to meet a number of costly requirements for disc golf to continue being played in Bidwell Park. These costs include insurance and annual studies.

2. Be patient. The Outsiders put up a vigorous defense to keep disc golf in Bidwell Park. We're working hard to put the pieces together to get our courses built and under our management. But this will take time, and there will be obstacles.

3. We need to develop a responsive and cooperative relationship with the city's Park Department. We're providing the Park Director, Dennis Beardsley, with the opportunity to address disc golfers directly through this newsletter, and he has made some comments below.

Lon Glazner
President, Chico Outsiders
lon@chico-outsiders.com

Outsider Insider

We're looking for 100 new members to join the Outsiders before the end of summer. Annual membership is $50. Membership entitles you to the following things...

1) a custom Outsiders T-shirt
2) invites to "member only" events like the Summer Solstice Slam and the Kid's Safari Golf backpacking trip
3) reduced fees for Outsiders events such as the upcoming Lava Creek disc golf tournament

4) the inside scoop on things from our mid-month newsletter/update
5) much more...

Do you need to be a disc golfer to be a member? Absolutely not. The Outsiders are also working with CARD and others to identify a multiuse trail system for a proposed regional park.

To learn more about becoming a member send us an email (info@chico-outsiders.com), or call our VP Gregg (228-3399).

Upcoming Events

CARD Community Campout - June 13th 4PM
The Outsiders will be leading a night hike to the Kiwanis Chico Community Observatory during this CARD event. We will also provide instruction and loaner discs to campers that want to play the Sherwood Forest disc golf course.

This is a great family event where you camp at Hooker Oak Recreation Area for the night. Learn more about the community campout here.

Summer Solstice Slam 2009 - June 27-28th
Outsiders member event. This is a traveling 3 round tournament and camping trip open to members of the non-profit.

The Big Kahuna

As reported in the last newsletter, the City has removed benches in three locations and will be removing more in the future. The reason is to start actually managing the site as I believe we have all wanted to do for years. We would not allow the installation of any improvements in the rest of Bidwell Park without review and consideration of the consequences. Bench placement in Upper Bidwell Park has been of point of conflicting views. As a result, I am asking for the disc golf community to help and have patience until we can install permanent benches and other improvements with the new course alignment.

I am sure others will report on how they feel the process of finalizing the agreement/MOU and improvement plans are proceeding. This is a high priority for the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission and the General Services Department. We would like to get started on the courses as soon as possible. At this point, what role the Chico Area Recreation and Park District will have in the course development and management is not known; however, we are going to proceed on all fronts which include the agreements, coordination with Caltrans regarding access, funding opportunities and clearer communication. A key issue will be how the courses are to be used during the wet winter months. The Commission will be discussing this and other interim management issues at the monthly meetings which are held on the last Monday of each month.

Two temporary kiosks have been installed and are available for information relevant to disc golf and/or related to Bidwell Park. The Park Division will routinely remove dated material and periodically post updates and information you might find of interest.

Finally, your assistance in keeping the site clean and debris is very much appreciated and has not gone unnoticed. The pack it in - pack it out approach works for everyone.

I would urge you to contact me if you have any questions, comments or suggestions - 896-7801; dbeardsl@ci.chico.ca.us

More Later and Thanks
Dennis Beardsley

[note: Dennis also mentioned in a subsequent email that the disc golf site will have a porta-potti installed soon]

Short Short Course Approved

Last month the Chico City Council decided to allow disc golfers to improve 12 holes of the begineer course in addition to the 18 hole long course. This will allow use at the beginner course to continue for up to 5 years, or until a replacement site is found.

This is a good decision that protects recreation. We hope this will reduce attempts to move disc golf to sites that don't adequately replace what's being removed.

We'll try to get a map of the 12 hole course up quickly at the Outsiders web site. In the mean time a somewhat legible map can be seen at this blog post. You might notice that the 12 hole course hole numbers are not sequential. They were taken from an 18 hole course where 6 holes were removed.