Mini-golf at Mingo Creek is getting a mulligan.
Three months after plans to build a miniature golf course at the county park in Nottingham Township were shanked over concerns about charging fees to visitors, the concept is getting another shot as county officials are reviving plans to build the family-friendly attraction.
The county commissioners are expected to vote during this morning’s meeting to spend $73,659 for Remington & Vernick Engineers of Ross Township to perform engineering studies at two proposed locations for the miniature golf course at Mingo Creek County Park.
County spokeswoman Nicole Ford said the 18-hole course would be built on a half-acre lot either near the main entrance from Sugar Run Road or behind the county park office not far from the Ebenezer Covered Bridge. Each hole would have a different theme touting Washington County’s history that includes the Whiskey Rebellion, courthouse, Pony League and other attractions.
If the course is constructed, a 40-space parking lot would be built nearby for visitors, and part-time summer workers would help run the site. Ford said there would be a fee to use the facility – likely to rent putters and golf balls – and the attraction would be open from spring until fall.
The commissioners originally floated the idea in August, but tabled the initiative over concerns whether charging fees to use the miniature golf course could impact overall funding for the park. County officials reviewed that issue and apparently received input from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that fees to use the course would not be an issue for the park.
But Commissioner Larry Maggi said he still has concerns about the concept, specifically about the “pay-to-play” requirement for visitors and how such an attraction would affect the “pristine and beautiful park” that offers walking and hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic pavilion, dog runs and covered bridges.
“We don’t need to build a mini-golf course to draw people to Mingo Park because it’s already a place where people go to enjoy tranquility, peace and quiet,” Maggi said.
If the project moves forward, Ford said county officials are hoping to have the miniature golf course operating by late summer of next year. The overall cost and feasibility of the project were not immediately known.
The commissioners are expected to vote on the engineering plan at their 10 a.m. meeting today in the public meeting room on the ground floor of the Crossroads Center building at 95 W. Beau St. in Washington.