2013 ce volunteer day - disc golf proposal

7/30/2019 2013 CE Volunteer Day - Disc Golf Proposal

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CITY OF JACKSON161 W. MICHIGAN, JACKSON, MI

Contact: Derek Dobies, City Councilman

Phone: 517-618-1452

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web: www.cityofjackson.org

CONSUMERS ENERGY RFP: DISCGOLFCOURSE


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DISCGOLFCOURSEConsumers Energy RFP Page 2

Mission

The City of Jacksons twenty-seven beautiful city parks and numerous programs are managed by the Parks and

Recreation Department. It is responsible for the oversight and maintenance of all outdoor activities, facilities

and land areas located within our community. With more than 50,000 people annually partaking in recreational

offerings of our City, the departments role is increasingly vital to the prosperity of the Jackson community.

Ella Sharp Park is located on 562 acres along the banks of the Southwest Branch of the Grand River. The various

topographies of the park range from relatively flat to heavily rolling and hilly. This geology provides a great

location for a park full of fun and activities for everyone. The park borders hold a challenging golf course,

beautiful flower gardens, miles of hiking trails, basketball courts, soccer fields, a golf learning center, softball

fields, and many other facilities for athletics and casual enjoyment of the outdoors.

The Parks Department and the Ella Sharp Park Board of Trustees aim to promote an active, healthy lifestyle inour community and supports that mission through appropriate infrastructure and programming. To further

achieve this goal, the agencies work to advocate and partner with other organizations that share in that vision.

Scope of service

Ella Sharp Park is located within the City of Jackson and borders Summit Township. The park is open, and

accessible to anyone interested in enjoying many of its attractions. Some of those attractions include: a

beautiful eighteen hole golf course, a golf driving range, a RC car racing course, nine soccer fields, two

baseball fields, a network of miles of secluded hiking trails, four tennis courts, and an eighteen hole miniature(putt-putt) golf course. The park also houses Hurst Planetarium, operated by Jackson Public Schools, and the

Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History. Ella Sharp Park also provides golf lessons and is a host to many attractive

events like the Hot Air Jubilee.

With all of these attractions, its easy to understand why Ella Sharp Park is a draw for not only the City of

Jackson and Summit Township, but also for greater Jackson County and the rest of the Michigan.

Community Population

City of Jackson 33,534

Summit Township 21,534

Jackson County 160,248


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Project description

The proposed Volunteer Service Day project will be to design and construct an eighteen-hole disc golf course atElla Sharp Park within the City of Jackson. There will largely be three phases to the successful completion ofthis project: (1) design and planning, (2) site clearing and preparation, (3) course installation.

The design and planning phase will largely be the responsibility of the City of Jackson Parks and RecreationDepartment, working in conjunction with the Ella Sharp Park Board of Trustees. The course will be designed tobest fit the standards of the Disc Golf Association, and each nine-hole course will aim to have three left curves,three right curves, and three straight throws. A professional consultant may be utilized to assist in designingthe course, and the Nonprofit Network will help incorporate the design and planning phase into later volunteerefforts.

The second and third phases will be the main focus of the Volunteer Service Day. Consumers Energy volunteers

will be broken up into teams, with one team per each of the 18 holes. Each team will be responsible forhelping to clear and prepare the course for the hole and install the baskets, tee pads and signs.

Below is a map laying out the boundaries of Ella Sharp Park within the City of Jackson.


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MAP #1 outlines the boundaries of the proposed project within Ella Sharp Park. Point A on MAP #1 identifies

the Ella Sharp Golf Course Clubhouse. Currently under remodeling, the clubhouse will include updatedrestroom facilities, rental rooms for parties, a concession area and a liquor license. This will be an appealing

draw to disc golfers on the nearby course.

MAP #2 (as outlined in the magenta box on the above map) identifies some of the key features in the proposedboundaries that make this area well suited for a disc golf course. These amenities could be incorporated into

this project on at a future date with further community support, or incorporated into the Ella Sharp Park

Master Plan. Some of the highlighted points on the map include:

Point A. Ample parking. Currently a dirt lot, this area could be paved in future development to providefor better parking for disc golf enthusiasts.

Point B. Public bathrooms. Currently, there are a few portable restrooms on the premises. Anopportunity exists to restore a decommissioned bathroom building (pictured in appendix) at this

location to use.

Point C. Large pavilion with picnic tables. There is a large pavilion filled with over 20 portable picnictables (pictured in appendix) that can be used for large family gatherings. This location can serve

as a good base for the start of the disc golf course.

Point D. Decommissioned baseball diamond. There is a large decommissioned baseball diamond(pictured in appendix) that could be used a putting green for practice near the start of the disc

golf course.


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Photos of the area proposed for the project are included in the appendix following this RFP.

Project value

This project is important to our community for a variety of reasons. For our park system, the sport provides a

quality recreational opportunity and has the ability to attract new enthusiasts to the area. Jackson is known for

our great parks system, and a disc golf course only adds to that important legacy.

Disc golf is continuing to increase in popularity year after year (about 4-12% per year 1), and appeals to a

predominately younger, more educated audience. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association1,

Michigan ranked third in nation in terms of active members, sixth in the nation in terms of number of courses,

and sixth in the nation in terms of associated disc golf events. Michigan is clearly leading the way in terms of

this emerging sport, and the Jackson community can continue to share in that success with this project.

For players, the sport can be played at any age, provides a healthy outdoor activity, and is inexpensive.

Increasing recreational opportunities in our community, and getting individuals active, is particularly important

given recent studies showing poor performance in healthy living standards in our area:

Jackson County is the 48th healthiest county out of 82 in the state2 Jackson County ranks 73 out of 82 counties in health behavior standards 2 Michigan is the 37th healthiest state in the country3 Michigan is ranked 46th in obesity rates4

1 http://www.pdga.com/files/documents/2012_Disc_Golf_and_PDGA_Demographics.pdf2 http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/michigan/2013/jackson/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot/by-rank3 http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/database_see_the_healthiest_an.html


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Michigan was named 5th fattest state in the county5 In 20 years, Michigan could have an obesity rate of 60 percent

6

The project also has significant financial benefit to the City of Jackson and Ella Sharp Park: construction of a

disc golf course is inexpensive, maintenance costs are minimal, and the play is free in the majority of cases.

Furthermore, the sport attracts positive and dedicated disc golf players and disc golf clubs that bring a

beneficial element to the area. The players tend to take an active role in the course and the surrounding areas,

making sure the course is in good shape and well maintained.

Project impactThis project would have a very positive impact by increasing the recreational opportunities available in the City

of Jackson, and thus increase opportunities for the city to increase the overall health of the individuals in the

greater Jackson community. Some additional impacts of this project include:

Given the popularity of disc golf in Michigan, a local course close to downtown would create a localmarket for disc golf equipment, accessories and paraphernalia. Local small businesses that focus on

fitness (like P & T Fitness in downtown Jackson) could be a base for the disc golf niche market.

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association7, 20 to 39 year olds make up 59.7% of theirmembership, and 75% have some sort of post-secondary schooling. Bringing a disc golf course to the

city could make the area more appealing to younger audience and make our parks system even more

attractive for younger, more educated families looking to relocate in the Jackson community.

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association1, 68% of disc golf members have a household incomeover $40,000. By attracting this demographic of individuals with some degree of disposable income,

there could be a reciprocating impact in the local economy with local businesses.

Placed next to Sharp Park Academy and the Middle School at Parkside, the disc golf course could serveas a home course for a number of schools teams, or after school clubs, and engage a younger audience

in being physically active.

4 http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/database_see_the_healthiest_an.html5 http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/08/michigans_is_fifth_fattest_sta.html6 http://www.mlive.com/health/index.ssf/2012/09/michigan_on_track_to_hit_almos.html7 http://www.pdga.com/files/documents/2012_Disc_Golf_and_PDGA_Demographics.pdf


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Project workload

The City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Department and the Ella Sharp Park Board of Trustees will assist in

providing the necessary planning and design work for the layout of the projects course. Consumers Energy

volunteers will be used in the clearing and preparation of the courses, and installation of the disc pole holes,

tee pads, tee signs, and message board.

To facilitate the project, volunteers can be broken down into teams per each hole. Each hole will need one

team leader to oversee the hole and deal with any problems that might arise; two volunteers to work on tee

pad installation; two volunteers to work on basket and sign installation; and six volunteers to do site clearing

and preparation. Upon completion of the installation of the tee pads, baskets and signs, excess volunteers will

join in helping with course clearing on their hole. Two additional volunteers will be used for message board

installation and trashcan placement.

For clearing purposes, the average length of a recreational disc golf course is 230 feet long by about 15-20 feet

wide. This means an individual Course Clearer volunteer (6 per hole) will be responsible for clearing a patch of

course about 25 feet by 30 feet over the four hour period. Given that some portions are already grass, these

volunteers can be diverted to higher foliage areas as needed.

A communications structure will be put in place so that team leaders will have access to City Parks and

Recreation Department personnel if any questions or problems arise. Due to the scope of the project, City of

Jackson Parks & Recreation staff as well as community volunteers may also be called upon to assist in the

construction on the Volunteer Service Day.

A summary of the volunteer hours is as follows:

Volunteer Summary

Team Leader 1 volunteer X 18 holes = 18 volunteers

Tee Pad Installers 2 volunteers x 18 holes = 36 volunteers

Basket & Sign Installers 2 volunteers x 18 holes = 36 volunteers

Course Clearers 6 volunteers x 18 holes = 108 volunteers

Message Board Installers 2 volunteers = 2 volunteers

Total Disc Pole Holes Costs 200 volunteers

The Nonprofit Network will be serving both the Consumers Energy Leadership Team and the Ella Sharp Park

Board assist in the planning and preparation necessary to ensure the volunteer resources are used effectively.


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Project budget

The following is a general summary of costs associated with the purchase, construction and installation of 18

Mach VTM Disc Pole HoleTM baskets, 18 Cement Tee Pads, 18 Tee Signs, a Message Board and Trash Cans. Note

that figures may vary slightlybased on time of purchase and are estimates. The project budget may be

supplemented by additional funds from the Ella Sharp Park endowment, or revised to fall entirely within the

parameters of the Consumers Energy proposal. Furthermore, partnerships with home improvement businesses

will be pursued to provide the necessary equipment (i.e. post-hole diggers) for the completion of this project.

DISC POLE HOLES

DGA Mach VTM (Figure 1) $325.00 x 18 = $5,850.00

Locking Collar Assembly $15.00 x 18 = $270.00

Anchor Assembly $25.00 x 18 = $450.00

Concrete (Approx. 1 cu. ft. per hole) $4.00 x 18 = $72.00

Total Disc Pole Holes Costs $6,642.00

TEE PADS (approx. 5 wide by 10 long and 4 thick)

Concrete (approx. 34, 60 lb. bags) (Figure 2) $68.00 x 18 = $1,224.00

Forms $12.00 x 18 = $216.00

Total Tee Pads Costs $1,440.00

TEE SIGNS

Course/Sponsor Tee Signs (Figure 3) $105.00 x 18 = $1,890.00

Concrete (Approx. 1 cu. ft. per hole) $4.00 x 18 = $72.00

Total Tee Signs Costs $1,962.00

MESSAGE BOARD AND TRASH CANS

Message Board with 4 slot literature rack (Fig. #) $1,116.00

Trash Cans (Fig. #) $122.00 x 9 = $72.00

Total Message Board and Trash Cans Costs $1,188.00


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INSTALLATION LABOR ESTIMATES

Site Clearing / Preparation 35 hrs. x 18 = 630 hrs.

Baskets (4 hours ea.) 4 hrs. x 18 = 72 hrs.

Tee pads (4 hours ea.) 4 hrs. x 18 = 72 hrs.

Signage (1 hour ea.) 1 hrs. x 18 = 18 hrs.

Total Installation Labor Hours (volunteer) 792 Hours (3.96 hrs. per vol.)

PROJECT SUMMARY TOTALS

Total basket costs $6,642.00

Total concrete pads costs $1,440.00

Total Tee sign costs $1,962.00

Total Message Board & Trash Can Costs $1,188.00

Total Estimated Cost $11,232

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3


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Project continuation

There are many ways in which this project could be used to leverage additional future community support. The

nature of the project allows for numerous partnerships with organizations like Jackson County Parks

Department, the Jackson Fitness Council, and Jackson Public Schools.

By purchasing sponsorship tee posts, the project will be able to sell hole sponsorships and provide funding for

course maintenance, upgrades, and further beautification projects. Corporate branding is also available on

each of the baskets themselves by installing customizable disc golf basket blades. An example is shown here:

Other ways in which this project could gain future community support include, but are not limited to:

Encouraging a disc golf league with the City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Department. Leagueregistration fees could be put towards course maintenance, and upgrades to surrounding shelters,

bathrooms and parking lots. Corporate sponsorships could also be included in league play.

Encouraging a disc golf tournament/invitational competition. Tournament registration could be puttowards course maintenance, and upgrades to surrounding shelters, bathrooms and parking lots.

Corporate sponsorships could be included in tournament play.

Figure 4 Figure 5


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Corporate sponsorships could also be incorporated into the layout of the message board. Corporate sponsorships of printed discs (about $4.50 each custom printed) could utilized in fundraising

for course improvement projects, or used for tournament souvenirs.

Appendix

View of landscape just south of Point A dirt parking lot looking east.


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View of landscape just south of Point A dirt parking lot looking west.

View of landscape just south of Point A dirt parking lot looking north.


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View of bathroom facility referenced in Point B.


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View of large picnic pavilion referenced in Point C.

View south of large picnic pavilion in Point C showing the baseball diamond referenced in Point D.


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View of path south of Point D leading to Horton Road.

View of tunnel under Horton Road that could be excavated in the future (using public improvement funds) to

serve as passageway in between project areas, looking north.


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View of tunnel under Horton Road that could be excavated in the future to serve as passageway in between

project areas, looking south.


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View of field south of Horton Road that could be utilized in project, looking south.

View of field south of Horton Road that could be utilized in project, looking north. This area is currently

serving as a RC car / dirt bike course.

2013 ce volunteer day - disc golf proposal

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