WAPELLO, Iowa — Nature rolled out the welcome mat with some warm temperatures and ideal weather Sunday as about 200 people turned out for a new attraction in Wapello.

The Wapello Parks & Recreation Board held a grand opening for its new disc golf course at L.J. Thompson Park. Board members handed out discs to give residents the opportunity to check out a new nine-hole course. Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, except golfers throw discs that are similar to Frisbees at metal baskets.

“I just thought my grandkids would like to play it, and I don’t mind playing it,” said Vicky Bohnesen while walking the course with 10-year-old Keith Timmerman.

“You always think the opposite of what I think,” Keith, of Mediapolis, said teasingly.

He scrunched his nose when asked if he enjoyed the new activity in L.J. Thompson Park.

“No one can make it if it’s that far,” he said of one of the nine baskets.

But park board members were pleased with both the course and the grand opening.

“This is a good introduction to it,”  Rondalyn Weyrick said of disc golf.

She said the Park Board discussed adding a disc golf course to the 80-acre park for several years, and the plans materialized quickly once the decision was made to move ahead. The approximately $3,000 in costs were paid by a grant from the Community Foundation of Louisa County and private sponsors for each hole.

“It’s just one more thing for our families to come out and enjoy in the park,” Weyrick said.

She said a second event may be held in the spring to introduce more people to the new activity.

Reporter contact information

Jennifer Meyer: 563-262-0525

jennifer.meyer@muscatinejournal.com