Local Eagle Scout's project leads to Cheney's first disc golf course at two different city parks

Cheney Boy Scout Eagle candidate Gabe Gerber tosses a disc on the new disc golf course he coordinated installation of as part of his Eagle project.

Most Eagle Scout projects take place in one location.

Cheney Boy Scout Gabe Gerber's took place in two - one at each end of the city.

Gerber led the construction of Cheney's first disc golf course, a course that spans two city parks: Hagelin in north Cheney next to the city's pool and Betz Elementary School and Salnave Park in the south. The course features three holes in Hagelin, and five holes and a practice hole at Salnave.

The idea for the course came about earlier this year from Cheney's Parks and Recreation Department. Former recreation supervisor Kim Best received approval from the City Council to apply for a $5,000 Spokane Parks Foundation project grant with the intention of using the money to add an amenity to one of the city's parks that had few such features.

In an Oct. 15 email, Best said the idea for a disc golf course came after research the sport was growing in popularity. Best said they found out that a disc golf club existed at Eastern Washington University, and that more elementary schools were adding it to their physical education curriculum.

"Our main focus was adding a different element to our parks and to reach out to those who are low income, as this would be a free activity for those families, amongst others," Best said.

The department received $4,000 from the Foundation, and put the money towards purchasing nine baskets, rule signs and tee signs. Best said they realized Hagelin was not feasible for a nine-hole course after talking to disc golf professionals.

Best also secured hole sponsors from local businesses, and met with Spokane United States Youth Disc Golf Association (YDGA) executive director Erin Johnson, who agreed to help with plans and installations of an alternative course layout in Cheney. Gerber's mother, Debbie, worked with Cheney's Parks and Recreation, and upon hearing about the project, thought it would be good for her son's Eagle project.

The idea also appealed to Gabe.

"I needed to get an Eagle project done," he said, adding that he had played disc golf before.

Gerber met with Best and Johnson to get information about materials and course layout. Since the baskets were already built, Gerber said his responsibility was to build the tee-box signs, assemble a team to do the installation and then put the course together.

Gerber got donations of wood from West Plains Lumber and Windsor Plywood, along with paint from Jarms Ace Hardware. The Cheney High School sophomore eventually put together a team of 18 Scouts and leaders from all three Cheney troops, organizing three separate work sessions where the boxes were cut, sanded, painted and assembled.

"It was neat to see boys from all three troops, because you don't see that often," Debbie Gerber said.

An original installation date of Sept. 29 was moved to Oct. 6 because the city had not marked the location of utilities. Once digging started, they found they had to make modifications with some holes because of requirements preventing discs from being thrown towards playgrounds or playing fields.

A further challenge emerged when it was discovered that a bottom piece attaching the baskets to the mounting base did not have the required locking hole installed. Debbie Gerber said they were fortunate that one of the Scout leaders had the needed tools to drill the holes, and after he returned with the baskets "we stuck a nail in it" to mount it to each base.

Gabe Gerber said that the digging, installing of baskets and tee boxes and pouring of cement to firm up the mounts took a total of five hours.

"The biggest challenge was organizing the people," Gerber said. "Calling them and getting them to follow through."

Johnson with YDGA is excited about the new course, noting that he has been told that both Salnave and Betz Elementary schools will be adding disc golf to their PE classes. In an email, he said the main focus with local schools is to provide a place for practicing and playing for students who don't "run, jump, dive, tackle or spring."

John McCallum Cheney Boy Scouts (left to right) Gabe Gerber, Alex Rose and Ian Schwendiman work on digging holes to mount elements of a disc golf course at Salnave Park on Oct. 6.

"Our participating students are the forgotten Xbox nation who need healthy, challenging, accessible habits," Johnson wrote.

Johnson said Cheney's is junior course, meaning older, more serious disc golfers would likely find it a location to practice shorter shots. The course, which winds among the trees at both parks, is still a regular course where students can learn to play the sport along with getting exercise - which does include running.

"This guy, you and your crew made short work that day," Johnson said to Gerber after awarding the Scout with a specialized US/YDGA disc on Nov. 5 at Salnave. "If it wasn't for this guy, I'd still be digging holes."

"I thought it would make a good project," Gerber said. "One that would last a long time and that I'd someday be able to show my kids."

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.