CLYDE - Roughly 60 people attended the official opening of the Village of Clyde’s new nine-hole, disc golf course and community memorial garden June 16, two additions the municipality hopes will “provide unique outdoor spaces for the community to enjoy.”
After a round of hot dogs and refreshments were served by village staff, mayor Charis Aguirre spoke briefly about its history and that it was the brainchild of former councillor Art Purdy — the course is located at the east end of 52nd Avenue, while the memorial garden is situated at 4804 - 50th Street and features raised flower beds, picnic tables and a bench.
Land owned by the municipality on the east side and south of the ball diamonds was available, and after some time and effort by Purdy to convince fellow councillors of the project, the land was prepared and the baskets for a nine-hole course were laid out. The course and memorial garden were funded via $60,000 from the Canadian Community Revitalization Fund, administered in Alberta by PrairiesCan, in addition to $20,000 from the village.
"We are thankful for the partnership of the federal government with our village to create spaces
where our community can gather and invite others,” said Logan in a release. “We have much to be proud of in our beautiful village and these two additional spaces are no exception. We hope that you enjoy exploring and utilizing these spaces as we continue to cultivate them for our community’s enjoyment.”
Because the idea had initially come from Purdy, he was given the honour of cutting the ribbon and noted he was inspired after reading an article in this newspaper about a similar project for the Village of Boyle.
The shortest hole, or basket, is No. 8, which is 66 yards or 60 metres from the tee pad and the longest is No. 9, a total of 219 yards of 200 metres.
For the uninitiated, the game is similar to golf, and the discs, like golf clubs, come in varying weights, like the driver and putter. And like golf, the score for each hole, or basket, is calculated by the number of throws it takes to get a disc into it. The game started in the 1960s and is now played in 40 countries, and like golf, it requires a bit of skill mixed with a bit of luck for most players.
In a release, the village notes future plans both areas may include local competitions, picnics, community events, and possible memorialization plates for loved ones to be placed upon a garden bed of their choice.
“Open spaces, recreational amenities and accessible gathering places are at the heart of communities across Alberta. This investment will provide families in the Village of Clyde with inclusive and accessible opportunities for active, healthy living, and contribute to the quality of life of this vibrant community for years to come,” said Edmonton-Centre MP Randy Boissonnault, who is the federal minister of tourism and associate minister of finance in the Liberal government.
Added Saint Boniface-Saint Vital MP Dan Vandal, who’s the minister of northern affairs and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency: “Our government is continuing to work with communities to create modern and inviting gathering places. Investment in a new disc golf course and memorial garden for the Village of Clyde is helping to create an accessible community recreational hub where residents and visitors alike can connect and enjoy the outdoors.”
