What began as a simple idea for a walking trail on unused city land may turn into a full-fledged athletic park for the City of Holbrook.
Councilman Bobby Tyler initially asked city staff to investigate the possibility of creating a community walking path on property just south of the Little Colorado River. City Manager Ray Alley determined that it could be done at a low cost by simply clearing existing roads and trails, leveling a few areas and placing millings on dirt portions of the path.
That idea expanded, however, when Tyler and city staff realized that it could be the ideal site for a disc golf course. The disc course was first slated to be put in place at the city’s nine-hole golf course, but Alley noted that there was still some concern about potential conflicts between simultaneous users of the two overlapping courses. He suggested that the disc course be integrated into the walking path south of the river.
City Finance Director Randy Sullivan, who first proposed a disc golf course, noted that the area offered the type of obstacles popular with many of the sport’s enthusiasts, and that relocating it to the walking park would eliminate concern created by discs potentially veering off course.
Tyler pointed out that the park could also be utilized for other activities and proposed a bike path be considered as well.
“We could build a culture of bikes and activities,” he remarked. “We have all that land, and we need to utilize it and develop it.”
He noted that the city could work with companies that sponsor biking and running events to design a course that would draw such events into town. Tyler explained that his vision is to create a park that will be utilized by residents and serve as an attraction for visitors.
“There are five million visitors to the Grand Canyon and more than 800,000 to the Petrified Forest. We have the traffic for it,” he said.
Alley noted that the potential for creating a multi-use park centered around sporting activities such as biking, running, walking and others such as disc golf was within the city’s reach if it were completed in stages.
Councilman Richard Peterson pointed out that some of the activities already planned in the Holbrook area could be held at the new park once it is complete. He noted, for example, that in conjunction with some of the longer marathon-type runs, shorter versions could also be held at the park for those who wish to participate, but are not able to complete a lengthy run.
City staff members agreed to continue looking into possible ways to expand the park to include more activities, and to make it suitable for various biking, running and walking events.
