Credit Island group: End golf, embrace environment
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By Tory Brecht | Thursday, October 09, 2008 |
A focus on environmentally sensitive, relatively inexpensive, and flood-friendly outdoor recreation facilities highlight the recommendations the Credit Island Task Force delivered to aldermen Wednesday.
Replacing the traditional golf course — which was often in the red and cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair after flooding — with a disc golf course was among a long list of
suggestions.
Other major changes recommended were cleaning out and dredging the harbor or slough area between the park and River Drive to improve fishing and boating opportunities, dredging out the lagoon on the island and rebuilding the warming shelter to promote ice skating, improving nature trails and adding interpretive signs, creating a museum or education center in the lodge to showcase the history and environment of the island.
The task force also debated, but ultimately rejected, such ideas as using the island as an all terrain vehicle park, a dog park or a recreational vehicle park.
The group was created after devastating spring and summer floods left behind a wrecked golf course, tons of driftwood and ruined park infrastructure.
“We’d like to take the park back, as much as possible, to its natural setting,” said Dan Ebner, the task force’s facilitator. “The group was unanimous in all of its recommendations, except for dredging.”
Some members felt that dredging may be cost-prohibitive.
Tom Helms, a former member of the Davenport Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and task force member, said the time had come for the golf course to close. While it was a beautiful 18-hole golf course back in its glory days, he said, “Mother Nature over they years has made it impossible to maintain” and newer, more profitable golf courses have sprung up around town.
The task force said replacing the current nine-hole course with an 18-hole disc golf course makes sense financially and is more prudent, given the fact the island floods, on average, every six years.
Davenport aldermen — who ultimately will be responsible for tasking city staff with making changes at the park — appeared unanimously supportive of the task force recommendations.
“This is an awesome report,” said 6th Ward Alderman Jeff Justin. “It seems very realistic and the goals are achievable.”
Third Ward Alderman Bill Boom and Mayor Bill Gluba praised the task force for presenting a coherent, fiscally sound policy document at a much cheaper cost than hiring outside consultants.
Paul Olsen, a task force member and cross country coach whose teams often use the course on the island, said the reason camping, all terrain vehicles and dog park ideas were rejected were partly due to expenses and partly due to environmental sensitivity.
“We want the whole range of activities to be compatible with one another and also compatible with the natural habitat of the island,” he said.
First Ward Alderman Nathan Brown said he plans to bring forward a resolution in coming weeks to instruct staff to begin implementing the recommendations. First, however, he wanted to give residents a chance to digest the information.
Recommendations
The following are among the recommendations of the Credit Island Task Force:
Create a “Friends of Credit Island” group that will continue to provide support and planning for the park.
Eliminate golf and two tennis courts, but keep the remaining ballfields, basketball court, soccer field, rugby field and picnic shelters. Replace the golf course with an 18-hole disc golf course, but maintain a traditional golf practice area.
Add a playground to the two already existing.
Dredge both the outer harbor and inner lagoon to promote fishing and boating. Increase the size of the culverts leading to the harbor or build a bridge to allow more in-flow from the main channel of the Mississippi River.
Consider building a marina on Concord Street.
Restore the warming house and restroom at the lagoon and stock it with a variety of fish. In addition, build a handicap accessible pier and a walkable surface trail around the lagoon.
Maintain a higher level of road surface on the causeway to prevent flood damage.
Install impermeable surface on the interior walls of the clubhouse/lodge and use removable furnishings and appliances. Convert the lodge into a museum or education center.
Maintain current jogging and cross country racing trails, but add distance signage. Add a designated bike lane to enhance the trail system.
Install native plants and keep mowing to a minimum. Remove trash from the harbor and create a self-guided nature trail.
Develop a memorial program to encourage tree donations, and consider making the first park memorial dedicated to Richard Swearinger, a member of the task force who was killed in a moped accident on his way to one of the group’s meetings.
Tory Brecht can be contacted at (563) 383-2329 or tbrecht@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.
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