News Paper Article

We made the news, Craig Colman from the Itemizer Observer wrote a great article for us in this weeks IO (http://www.polkio.com/ns/news/22875/new-rec-opportunities-for-city-planned). 

I want to thanks Craig for the article. -sg

New rec opportunities for city planned

INDEPENDENCE -- A running trail and disc golf course just north of Riverview Park are in the works.

Craig Coleman

April 17, 2012

INDEPENDENCE -- A running trail and disc golf course just north of Riverview Park are in the works.

Independence's Parks and Recreation Board recently gave its blessing to projects being spearheaded by two separate groups of local volunteers.

Shaun Gatherum of Monmouth is part of a contingent that includes local high school and middle school athletes that wants to build a roughly 2.5-mile wood chip trail.

It would start at Riverview Park and wind north through a wooded area along the Willamette River. The route would link to and border the city's forthcoming 50-acre sports field complex and boat ramp north of town off Highway 51.

Gatherum approached officials about the idea late last year.

"It would give the community a place to run that's safe and off the street," he said.

The project is completely volunteer driven. Gatherum said he and others have been clearing out undergrowth for several weeks. They'll also be responsible for the funding, construction and maintenance of the course, he said.

The hope is it would be ready in June.

A separate group, meanwhile, is seeking to create a disc golf course that would encompass 7 to 8 acres of the northern part of Riverview Park and overlap a portion of the proposed running trail.

This effort has just begun. Like the trail, it's not city funded and is in need of volunteers and donations, said Steven Christenson of Independence, an organizer.

"There's a lot of area in the park right now that's not being used," Christenson said. "The nearest course is in Dallas ... I personally would prefer having a course here instead of driving or going to courses in Corvallis or Eugene."

Christenson said the goal is to start with nine holes, "and if the community likes what it sees, we could get it up to 18."

For more information on the Independence Running Trail: 503-838-2175 or visit www.isctrail.blogspot.com.

To learn more about the disc golf course: independencediscgolf@gmail.com.