Marysville officials are hoping to start the summer activities early this year.
Beginning May 7, every Friday in May, there will be free putt-putt from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Marysville’s Uptown.
Marysville Recreation and Events Manager Amanda Morris said the city’s Uptown Friday Night events begin in June. She said the month’s unpredictable weather, combined with lingering COVID-19 precautions made May difficult to plan for.
“We didn’t want to just leave the month alone and wait until June to start the summer,” Morris said.
She said putt-putt allows participants to spread out and stay socially distanced from other groups.
She said the nine-hole course will be spread throughout the Uptown. Balls and putters provided, but visitors can bring their own if they want.
Officials said a donation has allowed the city to hire an outside vendor to set up the course and provide the equipment at no cost to the city.
Morris said there is also a perception that Marysville does not have activities for children and families. She said free putt-putt is a perfect family activity.
“We kind of hope this will be something that helps fill that void,” Morris said.
Morris said participants can start where they want, finish when they want and play as many holes as they want.
“There really is a lot of flexibility with this and that is one of the fun things about it,” Morris said.
Another flexible piece of the plan is the placement. Morris said the putt-putt course can be moved if it looks like rain.
“If the weather looks like it is going to be inclement, we will move the putt-putt under the pavilion, that way it can still take place,” Morris said. She added the city is “fortunate to have the kind of resources like the pavilion that allows us to do that.”
While that is an option, city officials like the idea of having the course around the Uptown.
“We think this will give people an opportunity to walk around,” Morris said. “We have a lot of new things happening Uptown and we want people to see them and to visit the new stores or see a shop they had forgotten about and go back in.”
She said she hopes the Uptown shops will stay open and maybe offer their own games or activities and specials to attract and keep visitors.
“We really are trying to create a fun, user-friendly event for our residents and families as well as our Uptown businesses,” Morris said.
She said city officials can change the plan or details based on the experience of participants. She said she wants to hear feedback. Morris said she can be reached by phone at (937) 645-7363.
She said that in addition to the putt-putt, the Marysville Outdoor Refreshment Area (MORA) will be active. She said the city has not seen problems with MORA users or businesses.
“I really think that people like the MORA and everyone wants it to be successful so they follow the rules and act responsibly and that has made it great and really, that made it an easy decision to activate the MORA,” Morris said, noting the area is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-10 p.m. and Saturdays from 2-10 p.m.
City officials are hoping to use the challenge of an unpredictable month and create a community experience.
“I think that while May can be difficult to plan for, there really is a great opportunity to have a lot of fun for the community,” she said.
Beginning May 7, the City of Marysville will have free putt-putt in the Uptown. (Photo submitted)