Though they faced a recent setback at city council, one of the leaders of Nelson’s Disc Golf Society says his group is still hoping to build a course above the local cemetery.
At its last meeting council looked at — then quickly pulled — a motion to grant the group a two-year lease for the land, because it isn’t a formal society.
But Mike Moor says the group had no idea the issue would come up at the meeting, and was already working to obtain official status, which it could have as early as next week.
The society is also hoping to bring its presentation back to council, and may make some modifications to soothe fears about the impact of building a course on the land between the Burlington Northern Rail Trail and the cemetery.
“We feel like our proposal may have been a little too much for everyone making the decision,” says Moor.
“So maybe we can go with a lesser proposal for now and let everyone see what it’s all about.”
Instead of building a permanent course, the society may ask for approval to put up a temporary installation for the summer.
“If things go well, if everyone seems to be satisfied with what we’re doing, then we’d try and get our proposal happening again next year,” Moor says.
Instead of putting up chain link targets, the temporary course would likely be built from wooden posts, which could be removed at city request. The group would also put up fewer signs and hold off on building a planned informational kiosk.
Moor says he’s spoken with the societies behind a half-dozen disc golf courses in East and West Kootenay, and none of them had to become an incorporated society to proceed with construction.
“In most of those cases the cities have said ‘what can we do to help?’” he adds. “We’re not at that stage with the City of Nelson yet.”