The “Ultimate” Collaboration
A city and club team up to shed light on a growing sport
By Robert Thornberg
Photos: Courtesty of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department
Have you ever seen a football hang in the air and change direction? No? It happens all the time in Ultimate Frisbee.
In the mid-1980s, a group of people in the Corvallis, Ore., area formed two Ultimate Frisbee teams to play in tournaments around the state. In 1988, the two teams—the men’s “Slugs” and the women’s “Wild Hairs”—decided to form a summer league, but they needed fields and help getting the venture off the ground. They contacted the Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department and the alliance was formed. That summer, parks and recreation listed the first Ultimate Frisbee co-ed league in the city’s Activity Guide. Teams were charged $10 each; games were played on a soccer field on weekday evenings. There were seven teams that first year. By 2001, there were 29 teams in three competitive divisions, and it has stayed steady ever since.
A Good Start
As the popularity of Ultimate Frisbee grew, it became evident that the league would need some fields dedicated to the sport. Parks and recreation proved to be a valuable resource again. Several city parks were used to expand and promote the program. Lower Pioneer Park proved an ideal spot, and Pioneer Ultimate Frisbee Field (PUFF) was born. In the mid-1990s, with fundraising from the Corvallis Ultimate Club, irrigation was added and the field was upgraded. The city agreed to maintain it to support the program. This was a good solution, but the field was still too small for a full field and too small to run tournaments.
A Permanent Home
In the early 2000s, 125 acres were donated to the city with the requirement that some of the land be used for sports fields and some for natural areas. Forty acres were designated for fields and became known as The Crystal Lake Sports Complex in 2002. The area is impressive, next to the Willamette River and features eight to 10 soccer and ultimate fields, nine baseball fields, and two bocce ball courts. A beautiful natural buffer of trees and shrubbery, known as the Kendall Farms Natural Area, surrounds the fields. A multi-modal path separates the fields and joins the area to Willamette Park at one end and the Willamette Boat Landing at the other. The sports complex was built at a cost of $2.4 million and was paid for through the city’s general fund and System Development Charge Fund, as well as a grant and donations. It has become a regional highlight and one of the most visited areas in the city. It also became the permanent home for the ever-expanding Ultimate program.
A Year-Round Sport
With the Crystal Lake Sports Complex as a permanent home base, the parks and recreation department and the Corvallis Ultimate Club have worked together to steadily grow the program. The competitive summer program is still going strong, but Ultimate is now a year-round experience. It begins in the winter months when players come to the artificial-turf field at Corvallis High School for one evening each week. When the weather warms, and grass fields become available, the program moves back to the Crystal Lake Sports Complex for the spring, when participants register as individuals. Managers are then selected and teams are formed via a draft process based on the skill level of the players. This allows them to play with a new group of people—players of equal skill—and form new friendships. Pick-up games are played two evenings each week. In the summer, participants form their own teams and register. A structured schedule is created with standings kept. The summer program has also expanded to include a youth program for middle and high school students. Youth register as individuals, and then experienced adult players, who are active in their programs, teach the youth all of the skills needed to properly play the game and “learn to love it for a lifetime.” As the weather begins to cool and families transition back into school life, a fall drop-in program is offered. This allows youth and adults the opportunity to hone their skills and continue to exercise while enjoying friendships and the area.
The Collaboration—How Does It Work?
Like many other ventures, it often takes more than one organization to provide a quality product. Ultimate in Corvallis is a shining example. Without the efforts of both the parks department and the Ultimate club, the programs would not be nearly as strong. The Parks Division maintains the fields, keeping them mowed, level, and safe. It also sets up and properly lines the fields for league programs and tournaments. The Recreation Division provides the platform to collect participation fees, coordinate rosters, and provide a field monitor to ensure the programs run smoothly and safely each evening. The Recreation Division publicizes each program in the city’s bi-annual Activity Guide and provides detailed information in the online ActiveNet program. The Corvallis Ultimate Club does an excellent job in recruiting players, helps recruit instructors for the youth program, and coordinates the team formations, including all of the on-field activities: games, practices, and lessons. Over the years Corvallis Ultimate has become a 501(C)(4) non-profit with a board of directors and a budget, promoting local Ultimate for youth, high schools, and adults. This collaboration, with both organizations utilizing their unique skills, ensures that the program will remain strong and continue to grow. From the simple beginning with seven teams and about 150 total participants to a high of 29 teams and approximately 690 participants, this program shows just how successful collaboration can be for everyone.
Robert Thornberg is the Recreation Coordinator for the Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department. Reach him at Robert.thornberg@corvallisoregon.gov.