Unconscionable.
That’s not the only word I can think of to describe the city of Wichita’s latest machination at the site of the former Clapp Golf Course.
But it’s probably the most descriptive word that’s actually publishable in a family newspaper.
On the City Council agenda for Tuesday, city staff is proposing to extend a low-rent, no-bid lease for the former Clapp clubhouse to a disc-golf business for the next 10 years.
It’s essentially a gift of the use of public park property to a private business. Duck’s Flying Discs gets not only the clubhouse, but access to acres of adjacent city parkland to support its disc golf business — on what used to be a real public golf course.
The lease terms are outrageous.
The contract gives Duck’s full control of the former golf clubhouse, which, according to county appraiser records, is 2,880 square feet of business space.
The contract also gives Duck’s the rights to sell equipment, snacks, soda and beer to its disc golf players and other park users, keeping all the revenue generated.