- January 9, 2025
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Andrew Haas uses control to lock in and grabs the flag for a long reception. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Cody Raymond goes up to grab the Frisbee over Eric Rich during the first game on Sunday, July 2, at Holland Park. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
The park added a walking trail and a couple fountains while removing a sidewalk and trees from the field. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
John Birney, Alex Russell,Brian Gurdry, Rich Ratner, Andrew Haas, Mike Budnik, Eric Rich, Cody Raymond, Christian Ear, Mark Cady, Austin Cowling, Ryan Gynan, Kale and Roth Britton, Christian Stowers, Douglas Reed and Fabian Cerulo
Several former AP Physics classmates had used James. F. Holland Memorial Park as their ultimate Frisbee destination for 10 years until the park closed. After its reopening, John Birney and his friends are happy to be playing again at what they consider to be their home.
After an exam in 2005, Birney’s Physics teacher allowed him and several others to play Frisbee in a field near the classroom. The group began meeting weekly at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Holland Park.
“We really liked playing,” Birney said, “and we noticed there was really no group or anything in the area, so we formed one along the way.”
Over the course of 10 years, more locals joined in with the originals, and the game became a routine for everyone, including college students returning from break.
Then the park closed down for renovations on Feb. 2, 2015.
“We were sort of shocked,” Birney said. “We always kept to one end of the park, so we never really noticed that it was in need of repair.”
They expected renovations to take months or a year, so they were disappointed that they had taken nearly two-and-a-half years.
During that time, the Frisbee group migrated from the Indian Trails Sports Complex to Rymfire to Wadsworth and any other field that allowed them to play.
After the park reopened on Sunday, June 16, the groups began to notify everyone on its Facebook page, and the crew returned to Holland Park for the first time on Father’s Day.
“It was like a mini-reunion for us,” Birney laughed. “It's been a long wait, but I think it's been worth it. I'm looking forward to all the games yet to come, and the park is definitely more beautiful than ever.””
Alex Russell, one of Birney’s former classmates, was also thrilled to be playing at Holland Park, although he recognizes that he’s no longer the energetic teenager he once was.
“The biggest difference is the age group,” he said. “We were high-schoolers at the time. Also, there used to be a sidewalk and trees that made a good boundary for us. While the park has changed a lot, it’s still the same field. But, I’m just glad we got our field back.”
To see more photos, click here: http://www.palmcoastobserver.com/photo-gallery/photo-gallery-ultimate-frisbee-has-returned-to-holland-park?time=1499120602
