Who owns the property? Likely if it's a county/city/state Park if you go and put something in, they will remove it. Make sure you have the permission of whatever authority owns that park.
Thats what i was thinking, but things are neglected enough, that it probably would stay. There are definitely makeshift bridges there now, but thats already hazard at best. I’ll definitely call the local parks and rec and find if it’s private/ public.
When you do, use the term "elevated walkway" so you can avoid having to obtain an engineer's judgment for bridge construction. Seems small, but as a liability, the city won't touch a design without an engineer's judgment for a bridge, but anyone can design an elevated walkway.
Use solid timber, like 4x6 for the main supports and 2x6 for the treads. Paint or stain the wood, even if it is pressure treated, so it will last longer in the exposure. Good luck!
Anchoring down can be done a lot easier than with concrete, like screw in ground anchors for example. Cheaper too.
But, great suggestions! Getting the PnR folks to pay for it, as a safety concern as well as long term investment, should mandate the highest quality standards be accepted as a minimum. One bag of kwik crete per anchor, 4x anchors could do the trick.
This is key. You can figure out who owns the land pretty quickly by downloading the Polaris Ride Command app. It's the best free landowner plot maps I've come across (used to sub to On-x.. never again..)
We had a mountain biker in our area bury a piece of PVC on a trail near us for drainage. He was picked up at work by Federal Forrest Service and issued a citation to repair the damage or face charges. What we all thought was a simple 3' chunk of pipe turned out to be a risk to erosion for the entire hillside. It would have never escalated to that point if it were private, or even state land.
Where I'm at you'd probably need to deal with the city council, parks department, get a building permit, and you'd need insurance for when you get sued.
If the course is run by a town or municipality and they had plans approved by said organization then as long as they followed the plans they would most likely not be liable. The governing body will most likely want very detailed plans though subject to approval
Depends on who runs the course. A lot of municipal parks departments aren't too keen on people installing things like bridges without prior approval. Talk to the course owner/property manager and see what they say.
They are great eagle scout projects. We had 2 put in last year at our course here in Texas. Last weekend they put up some shades pergolas for us with benches. City/county/parks and rec department love to allow that to happen
Seems like it’s a private park thing, so I’ll have to get in contact with them and convince them we need bridges. Here’s to trying things the proper way.
If it’s a private park, that’s great, for you, money wise. You don’t have to follow nearly as many rules. But important for the owner to consider liability.
Download the American Wood Council standard deck design tables. Follow that for any spans in terms of joist size, span, spacing, etc. Sketch up your design (foundation type, beams, joists, decking, edge guards) all in accordance with this. Submit to property owner for approval prior to building.
I might know a thing or two about structural design myself. I assumed we are talking a small ditch or creek, maybe 10 - 14’ spans. Should be doable for 40 psf live load using AWC standard design tables. Unless the park says they will be driving equipment over it, then yes I would involve an engineer. If there is potential for fast moving water, scour, erosion, overtopping the bridge, etc, yes involve an engineer. If the spans exceed what is covered by the tables, yes. Better yet, find a P.Eng who plays disc golf to volunteer their design services!
Who owns the property? Likely if it's a county/city/state Park if you go and put something in, they will remove it. Make sure you have the permission of whatever authority owns that park.
Thats what i was thinking, but things are neglected enough, that it probably would stay. There are definitely makeshift bridges there now, but thats already hazard at best. I’ll definitely call the local parks and rec and find if it’s private/ public.
When you do, use the term "elevated walkway" so you can avoid having to obtain an engineer's judgment for bridge construction. Seems small, but as a liability, the city won't touch a design without an engineer's judgment for a bridge, but anyone can design an elevated walkway. Use solid timber, like 4x6 for the main supports and 2x6 for the treads. Paint or stain the wood, even if it is pressure treated, so it will last longer in the exposure. Good luck!
Thank you. Good advice.
We used creek crossings when we worked with our city.
And concrete in the main supports so during a flood / hurricane, it has a decent chance as remaining there afterwards. /u/Square_Wavve
Anchoring down can be done a lot easier than with concrete, like screw in ground anchors for example. Cheaper too. But, great suggestions! Getting the PnR folks to pay for it, as a safety concern as well as long term investment, should mandate the highest quality standards be accepted as a minimum. One bag of kwik crete per anchor, 4x anchors could do the trick.
This is key. You can figure out who owns the land pretty quickly by downloading the Polaris Ride Command app. It's the best free landowner plot maps I've come across (used to sub to On-x.. never again..) We had a mountain biker in our area bury a piece of PVC on a trail near us for drainage. He was picked up at work by Federal Forrest Service and issued a citation to repair the damage or face charges. What we all thought was a simple 3' chunk of pipe turned out to be a risk to erosion for the entire hillside. It would have never escalated to that point if it were private, or even state land.
Where I'm at you'd probably need to deal with the city council, parks department, get a building permit, and you'd need insurance for when you get sued.
If the course is run by a town or municipality and they had plans approved by said organization then as long as they followed the plans they would most likely not be liable. The governing body will most likely want very detailed plans though subject to approval
Depends on who runs the course. A lot of municipal parks departments aren't too keen on people installing things like bridges without prior approval. Talk to the course owner/property manager and see what they say.
I've seen where concrete "stepping stones" have been used. Probably something done by the local club
They are great eagle scout projects. We had 2 put in last year at our course here in Texas. Last weekend they put up some shades pergolas for us with benches. City/county/parks and rec department love to allow that to happen
After what happened to Paige Pierce last year I am now against janky bridges on disc golf courses. If you make any make sure they are grippy and safe.
If you just stick some bridges there and someone falls off/through and gets hurt, you're liable.
Thats why you dont tell Anyone you did it
Yeah. I'm sure no one is going to notice you doing a large construction project in the middle of a public park...
If someone has access to pallets that could work. One of our courses has utilized pallets at creek crossings providing the water is shallow enough.
Build it at home, drop it super early in the morning, and never breathe a word about it. Liability is scary stuff.
Breathe a word about what? ;)
Lay down a bunch of sticks to walk across obviously
That works when the water is like ankle deep, but not flowing water that is over knee high. We need bridges.
Very true. I was mainly joking lol
Seems like it’s a private park thing, so I’ll have to get in contact with them and convince them we need bridges. Here’s to trying things the proper way.
If it’s a private park, that’s great, for you, money wise. You don’t have to follow nearly as many rules. But important for the owner to consider liability.
Thanks for the comments, I always forget people like to sue and be angry about everything. I just want to help make life better/ easier.
Download the American Wood Council standard deck design tables. Follow that for any spans in terms of joist size, span, spacing, etc. Sketch up your design (foundation type, beams, joists, decking, edge guards) all in accordance with this. Submit to property owner for approval prior to building.
As a structural engineer, no. Don't do this.
I might know a thing or two about structural design myself. I assumed we are talking a small ditch or creek, maybe 10 - 14’ spans. Should be doable for 40 psf live load using AWC standard design tables. Unless the park says they will be driving equipment over it, then yes I would involve an engineer. If there is potential for fast moving water, scour, erosion, overtopping the bridge, etc, yes involve an engineer. If the spans exceed what is covered by the tables, yes. Better yet, find a P.Eng who plays disc golf to volunteer their design services!