Public views vary on how to transition Jasper Country Club

CityVisions and Gamble Associates opened a Pandora’s Box of possibilities for 58 acres of the former Jasper Country Club last night at a public input session held at Klubhaus61.

Opinions on possible use of the former golf course varied among the audience, which consisted of city employees and council members, board members from the Jasper Library, Jasper Schools, County Tourism, business owners and city residents.

David Gamble with Gamble Associates said transitioning private golf courses into public space has become a national trend.

He presented different methods to accomplish this, including a complete overhaul; partial decommission; a light touch; eco-recreation; and urban wild.

Gamble said the already existing features of the former golf course provide a unique possibility for a new, bigger city park with minimal development. He gave examples of successful Eco-Recreation parks such as Bernheim forest south of Louisville.

The proposal emphasized maintaining and enhancing natural features of the property. Their plan involves combining the golf course’s 3 small lakes into one central lake, surrounded by a walking/biking trail. Framed by health and wellness, the design would capitalize off the existing paved trail.Gamble said the area can also be used as an environmental learning path with pavilions along the trail.

Gamble also suggests keeping most of tree canopy as well as returning some of the golf greens to managed wildflower meadows. Barry Alberts with CityVisions asserted that both firms focused on “compelling uses for this particular site to take advantage of its natural attributes.” They both agreed that removing substantial amounts of trees would remove value from the property.

They also noted seven guiding observations in suggesting the eco-recreation option. First, the site’s visual and environmental properties are unique within the Jasper Parks system. Second, the site’s topography and access limit development. Third, already existing water bodies serve storm drainage purposes. Other observations included the grading and tree canopy limit development; possible active recreational uses; potential physical community center; and community programming in arts, environment, fitness.

Aside from enhancing the natural features, Gamble and Alberts suggested a 15 acre site at the southwest corner by 15th Street would be the best area for developing a community building. Other possibilities for this area include a new public library, an environmental center or a new school.

This area has been earmarked for purchase by the Greater Jasper School District, however, Jasper Schools Superintendent Tracey Lorey said last night that the school district is “not ready to make that decision.”

The district is currently undergoing a feasibility study of its elementary schools to estimate repairs to current buildings. Lorey said although the site is attractive because it is near the high school, the school board will do what’s best for taxpayers.

School Board member Bernie Voegler spoke up from the audience stating that the board is not “dead set we should buy that property.” He also noted that the other possibilities laid out by the firm will factor into the school board’s decision.

The community conversation also requested input from the public on how to transition the Jasper Country Club property to a civic venue. But as the wave of options ebbed and flowed through minds of attendees throughout the presentation, participants clutched handheld digital “Response Cards”. A direct survey of 60 people holding the devices was used for a direct feedback survey which launched further public conversation.

Given the plethora of options, attendees seemed indecisive on which method to employ, with many opting for substantial change to the area. Once the surveys were tabulated, 32 percent of the participants prefered a light touch, 29 percent wanted a complete overhaul and 29 percent opted for a partial decommission.

Only 9 percent of respondents present chose the Eco-Recreation option preferred by the two consulting firms.

Paradoxically, when asked the public’s biggest concern for transition, 42 percent worried about maintenance costs and 29 percent were concerned with disturbing nature. Others were concerned with traffic, noise, or all of the above.

Other comments from the public included suggested uses for the property such as for a large playground, splash park or a sports center.

One audience member asked if the transition could happen in small parcels of land to allow for better consensus on use. Gamble said “there should be flexibility in the planning.”

The participants as a whole wanted to see a variety of use for the property for passive and active recreation, as well as potential for arts, entertainment and education.

The next step for the firms will be to compile more public feedback on use of the land, as well as analyze results of the small survey. The public will continue to be involved as planning moves forward for transition of the golf course.

City officials want Jasper residents to “imagine the possibilities” of the new resource.

A public walking tour of the former Jasper Country Club will be held Wednesday, October 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. Organizers asks walkers to park at the 15th Street gate to start the tour. The rain date is October 23.