NORMAL, Ill. — Community parks have long been a unifier and equalizer amongst neighbors. The first Normal Parks and Recreation director was hired in 1957. The Department has evolved over the past 60+ years, now with 34 full-time staff and over 600 seasonal and part-time employees. Their latest project was the disc golf course at 1850 Gregory Street in Normal.

The course opened in late November, inspired by the hope of providing a new and challenging layout that appealed to novice disc golfers, as well as the more advanced. It was designed by Dana Vicich, an ISU graduate with the internationally acclaimed DiscGolfPark company. According to James Wayne, Assistant Director of Business and Recreation Operations, “Central Illinois has a rich history with disc golf, as several professional tournaments are hosted in the Morton and Peoria areas.”

The Town’s original disc golf course was installed at Maxwell Park in 2003. “Due to the emerald ash borer, many of the natural challenges (trees) were eliminated. The new course will eventually offer a seven-hole beginner course, an 18-hole competitive course, and an expanded footprint with more acreage. It’s a new challenge and an opportunity for families and individuals of all ages to learn a fun and exciting game,” explains James. The final seven competitive holes will be installed this summer.

Funding for the disc golf course was provided through an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the State’s Department of Natural Resources. The grant covered the course and several other projects within Maxwell Park.

The course is a clear example of what the Town of Normal Parks and Recreation Department aims to accomplish. The Department’s Director, Doug Damery, explains, “We are in the business of parks and recreation, with the main goal of providing opportunities for all to have fun and enjoyable experiences. We provide residents and visitors with a clean, safe, well-managed, fiscally sound, and environmentally pleasant community.”

Normal Parks and Rec operates and maintains a wide variety of facilities and programs across town, including 19 municipal parks that span 700 acres of open space and 400 programs that serve more than 10,000 people each year. They also manage Champion Fields Softball Complex, Community Activity Center, Connie Link Amphitheatre, Fairview and Anderson Aquatic Centers, Ironwood Golf Course, and Constitution Trail.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with disc golf, Doug recommends you give it a try: “It’s a great sport to play! It is free, fun, challenging, quick to play, and can be done individually or with your family and friends. Plus, you can be outdoors and stay fit.”

For more information about the disc golf course or any other Normal Parks and Rec programs or facilities, visit NormalParks.org.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.