Knollwood Park

Nate Upton    February 14 at 1:50pm

If anyone wants to play Saturday, let me know. I'm staying with inlaws two blocks away.

Corey Nufer    November 23 at 9:59am

Anyone interested in joining the clean up effort and the movement to force the Parks and Recreation Department to clear out full garbage cans at Knollwood, please sign up and keep in contact with us through the following link:

https://www.discgolfscene.com/clubs/Clean_Knollwood_FOR_GOOD/

We will be holding fundraisers, clean up days, and attending Parks and Recreation public meetings to accomplish our goals. Any help is appreciated!

Corey Nufer    November 23 at 9:35am

Jimmy, I want to start by saying that this message will be abrasive, and that it is not my intent to target or insult you personally in any way. The trash cans throughout the entire park are the exact same as the ones in the outlying areas, some even have a city stamp on them and were physically placed there by the city. The fact is that you have Gator ATVs, you have employees, and you have one employee that can spend the single hour each month to empty all garbage cans at a small park like K ... more

Jimmy, I want to start by saying that this message will be abrasive, and that it is not my intent to target or insult you personally in any way.

The trash cans throughout the entire park are the exact same as the ones in the outlying areas, some even have a city stamp on them and were physically placed there by the city. The fact is that you have Gator ATVs, you have employees, and you have one employee that can spend the single hour each month to empty all garbage cans at a small park like Knollwood. You say this is about "responsible" adults picking up after themselves, well, the majority of them do, but it's hard to continue doing so when the people that ARE responsible for the park will not remove the filled cans. That is the city's responsibility and they have shirked that responsibility for years. You can threaten me all you want, but the evidence is obvious that Frances Jewell and the City of Kalamazoo Department of Parks and Recreation has been irresponsible in the maintenance of this park.

You see me pointing out the problems that the city IS responsible for, and you take offense and get hostile rather than doing something to change the culture of apathy at your department. Mark Polega insisted that I was too negative about the situation and as a result, decided to ignore the pleas of park goers and I can see that this attitude is institutionalized. As a 20 year employee of the city, I would expect you to see the the point in the idea that it is the Parks department's job to maintain the parks. As I see it, leaving every garbage can full and overflowing is lazy, leaving it to a disc golfer to organize clean up days is lazy, and it is disconcerting to me that you would place responsibility of the job your people are paid to accomplish on the shoulders of park goers. This is not about the "service I am getting now" frankly, you should be angry at just how apathetic your department has become, this is about the attitude of your superiors and the refusal to take responsibility for their appointed jobs.

We, as an organization, raised money and improved the park ourselves, what did we get for it? I was threatened with legal action for arranging the installation of course improvements, then told that if we want to raise money to fix the park, we would have to pay $200 to your department for the privilege . That is not an attitude of cooperation, that is an attitude of greed, laziness, and selfishness. We have organized clean up days and have cleaned up broken glass and trash, as well as utilized our own tools to cut fallen trees and branches for four years. If the Parks department has any real interest in improvement and maintenance of Knollwood Park, Frances Jewell would acknowledge the apathy, would admit that they have neglected the interests of park goers, and work with our organization. If they had worked with us, the park would have new signs, 18 concrete pads, and a more accessible and easier to maintain garbage system over the past four years. Instead, I have to appeal constantly to the city commission, defend myself against the misrepresentation of your superiors, and use guerrilla marketing and free food to entice volunteers.

I understand that you're angry, I hate it when people point out what has gone wrong, but your anger can only mean that I am finally being heard by people that are listening. Frances Jewell herself was compelled to contact the city commission in this matter due to the pleas of park goers finally making it through to people that matter. Our group will be represented this year, those refusing to help will be exposed, and real work to improve the park will continue. I just hope that you can see that this is not about me trying to insult you, I appreciate union labor and voted to protect collective bargaining. This is about your department allowing us to help without threats, and your department spending the simple hour or two each month to do what it is paid to do by the citizens of the City of Kalamazoo. Parks and Recreation is not designed to create revenue, departments all over the country understand that Parks are a point of a city's pride and morale. The attitude that "if you don't like it, tough" is just the kind of attitude that is ruining the sense of pride in community in America.

Larry LaBond    October 17 at 8:31pm

New course at the Vicksburg Recreation Area! Baskets are in and we are having a work day to clear it up more this Sunday at 11am. Keep in mind that the course is still being built and it is currently difficult to follow and there is work needed on every hole still. Come help out and check it out!

Corey Nufer    August 26 at 6:14pm

The City has refused to dump any but the very front garbage cans for years, the fact is that I do know most of the people that are supposedly responsible for the park and there is simply a lack of interest. I fail to see where Knollwood is a drain on the city budget when they spend virtually no time there whatsoever, seriously, the most time a city employee has spent at the park was when they put in a lockable gate on the driveway. I've called them twice to check out a very dangerous branch teet ... more

The City has refused to dump any but the very front garbage cans for years, the fact is that I do know most of the people that are supposedly responsible for the park and there is simply a lack of interest. I fail to see where Knollwood is a drain on the city budget when they spend virtually no time there whatsoever, seriously, the most time a city employee has spent at the park was when they put in a lockable gate on the driveway. I've called them twice to check out a very dangerous branch teetering over the walkway on 18 and in the two months since I made contact, they haven't even come out to look.

There are plenty of people that do care about this park and actually care enough to volunteer and clean it up themselves and rather than just getting nasty about it, we actually try to do something.. You're right, it isn't that hard to do and there are a few people that just don't care, but that does not mean that the City isn't guilty of their share of the problem. It's easy to place judgment when you haven't personally dealt with the City in this matter and I mean no offense when I say that the players, in general, do care and are doing their part to help.

Corey Nufer    August 26 at 8:21am

Next clean up day event is Sunday, September 2nd at 12. We need people to help us scrape up, bag, and transport the broken glass from hole 8. Also, need people that are willing to help us empty the cans along the course and move the garbage to the front so the city can bring their lazy butts down and pick it up. Any help is appreciated, hot dogs on the grill for those that wish to help (always all beef).

Christopher Jones    May 30, 2012 at 3:30pm

Anyone come across a map for this course? I found it really hard to navigate from hole to hole. Thanks in advance.

VINCENT 25149    November 17, 2011 at 1:36pm

well the parks department is not gonna open the gates for us. So I would suggest that everyone coming to triple dubs carpool.

VINCENT 25149    November 16, 2011 at 9:13pm

the city has told me that the parks in Kalamazoo are closed from Oct 31st till May but that's not to say we can't use the parks still. Mark has applied for a permit to have them come open the gates but it might cost some $$$

Jake Arndt    November 16, 2011 at 4:37pm

Good question on the gates...I went out there today and it was shut down...hopefully Trip Dubs is still a go on Sunday.

Amy Paff    November 14, 2011 at 7:48pm

Anyone know why the gates are closed?

Larry LaBond    November 12, 2011 at 3:36pm

K'Aces league meeting this Wednesday at 7:30pm at Fat Tony's. Everyone welcome. We will be discussing several things concerning area disc golf.

Justin Goldsmith    November 2, 2011 at 3:58pm

Sorry I meant right side of the fairway.

Justin Goldsmith    November 2, 2011 at 3:28pm

Lost a Blue Pro Rhyno with Detroit Lions dye on left side of 10. $20 +disc for return. Name on inside rim.

Steve Hedstrom    October 31, 2011 at 11:54pm

I am down to play trip dubs. AM Division. I will get a partner or will partner up with someone / either way. Let me know if your down.
http://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Knollwood_Triple_Dubs_2011

Ryan Kurzava    September 20, 2011 at 4:07pm

Lost Cryztal FLX Magnet on 4 again. Blue, first was Orange. No name, reward if found.

Ryan Kurzava    September 15, 2011 at 1:49pm

Lost Crystal FLX Magnet in water on hole 4! Reward if found.

VINCENT 25149    May 24, 2011 at 10:29am

I ponied up half of my reward $$ to the guy. but still have doubts that it will stop. I guess I shoulda stated information that leads to conviction.

Larry LaBond    May 18, 2011 at 7:28pm

I have had contact with "poop" and he has agreed to not do it anymore. So hopefully this is a problem resolved!

Larry LaBond    May 17, 2011 at 9:57pm

I was given a name of someone on Facebook that has made some interesting posts. I think that it is "PooP". I'm gonna give his name and the Facebook link, but I want everyone to wait until Thursday before trying to contact him. This will allow more people to view his stuff before he takes it down or secures it: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=146403195391458#!/profile.php?id=100001446357441&sk=wall His name is Joey Sans. He apparently went to Loy Norrix. Check out the posts on hi ... more

I was given a name of someone on Facebook that has made some interesting posts. I think that it is "PooP". I'm gonna give his name and the Facebook link, but I want everyone to wait until Thursday before trying to contact him. This will allow more people to view his stuff before he takes it down or secures it:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=146403195391458#!/profile.php?id=100001446357441&sk=wall

His name is Joey Sans. He apparently went to Loy Norrix. Check out the posts on his wall and see what you think. If anyone knows him or comes across him please get him to stop his vandalism. I will be sending him a message soon. I just want to give people a chance to see who it is.

-Larry #6903