Getting Physical
GROVE CITY — Two parks in Grove City will be getting added disc golf space and running trails, thanks to a $40,000 grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board.
Trevor Gardner, a physics teacher at Grove City High School, planned a three-phased project, called “PHACE the Facts,” to increase physical activity.
“PHACE” stands for “physical healthy activity challenges everyone.” Gardner said he was inspired partially because Mercer County annually has been ranked near the bottom of the list of counties in the state for health.
The first part of the project is expanding the disc golf course at Grove City Memorial Park, which currently has nine holes. Nine will be added.
Gardner said the baskets can be installed this month, and will be followed up with brush clearing.
The second part of the project is adding running trails through Memorial Park.
Gardner said he is looking at adding three to five trails, which will vary in difficulty and length from a half-mile to 1.5 miles. He said he hopes the trails will be ready by early spring.
He said some trails already exist, but they will need to be marked and organized for the project. Additionally, a website is planned and a phone app will be designed. With the app, runners will be able to keep track of their times and post them to a website.
The third part of the project will be a new disc golf course at Hunter Farm. This will be a full 18-hole course which Gardner feels will be open in 2015. It will be designed by J. Gary Dropcho, who is well known in the disc golf world.
The idea for the project came about two years ago, while Gardner was running and playing disc golf in the park. It initially only included plans for disc golf.
He applied for the grant on his own, initially, and was declined.
Later, he added trail running and decided to try to include students in the project. He presented the idea to the Grove City School Board and resubmitted the application.
He was unsure if he would get the grant.
“It was a waiting game,” Gardner said.
With this uncertainty, he approached local businesses for donations, raising $3,000.
Additionally, students at the high school are helping with the project.
Gardner said several students last year put together a video presentation and did research. This year, a few runners on the cross country team are working on mapping out trails and another will work on the phone app. He also said trail running and disc golf will be worked into the gym class curriculum at the school.
Gardner said the students will hold a grand opening next year for the courses and trails.
