San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation is asking young residents to help name the new mini golf course at Micke Grove Regional Park
Children 17 and younger can now submit name suggestions for the new “whimsical 18-hole and nine-hole zoo-themed mini golf course” in Lodi.
“The planned mini 9-hole course will give young children and their families an attraction featuring adorable zoo animal sculptures, interactive play features, and immersive landscape elements that reflect natural habitats and promote playful explorations,” a news release states. “The full 18-hole course will offer more of a challenge for adults, children and teens who want to test their skills at making par. The course will have reservable space for birthday parties and events, a nature-based play zone for children, water features, murals, concessions and more.”
The new mini golf course will replace the former Fun Town amusement area, San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation said in a Facebook post.
There will also be a children’s play zone, water features, murals, concessions and more, according to the news release. The project is expected to break ground this year.
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation has been working on the revitalization of the former children’s amusement park. Fun Town was originally called Funderwoods, a park for young children that featured more than 10 rides and dozens of games.
“The Tilt-A-Whirl” was the most popular ride, followed by the roller coaster. The oldest ride was the merry-go-round, which dates to the park’s creation in 1956, according to newspaper clippings.
The park’s rights were not owned or operated by San Joaquin County; the land was leased to the owners until illness struck the family, said Judy Vasbinder, the county’s parks manager in 2023.
“(The owners) decided to retire and move away and sold their interests to a younger couple,” Vasbinder said then. “Unfortunately, the younger couple took on the responsibility and the lease, and then COVID hit.”
Unable to open, operate or make money, the couple could not continue, and the original owner moved out of state, she said. The rides where sold to a third party by the owner.
“We did some research, and the nearest full-size miniature golf courses are up in Sacramento. I know there’s one over in Livermore, and the next closest one would be over in Modesto,” Vasbinder previously said. “There wasn’t really anything within our county that provided a miniature golf course. We could fulfill that need.”
In 2023, Vasbinder said San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation was requesting $1.3 million for the project. It is unknown how much the project will actually cost after completion.
The project was originally expected to be completed by late summer or early fall 2024, Vasbinder said at the time.
The new course will be adjacent to the Micke Grove Zoo.
Students from kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to submit a name idea for the new Micke Grove Mini Golf Course.
“Think wild. Think whimsical. Think zoo meets mini golf,” the news release states.
What to know about the naming contest
Here are a few details children and parents should know about the naming contest:
“This fun and educational space will combine the joy of mini golf with the natural wonder of wildlife,” the news release states. “It’s designed to inspire exploration, imagination and memories that last a lifetime.”
To learn more about the new Micke Grove Mini Golf Course, visit sjparks.com.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation accepting name ideas for new Micke Grove mini golf course
Reporting by Angelaydet Rocha, The Stockton Record / The Record
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