Pictured: "Sweet Spot" by artist Scott Diven is one of the art installations at the Art Nine Disc Golf Course at Shawnee Mission Park. Photo courtesy of Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

On May 11, 2024, we cut the ribbon for the Art Nine Disc Golf Course, located at Shawnee Mission Park in Shawnee, Kansas, and it is already getting very positive feedback. 

“We have had an incredible response from the disc golf community, but also from everyday users of the trails sharing that it is joyful to come upon these unexpected art pieces that celebrate nature,” said Johnson County Park and Recreation District Superintendent of Culture Susan Mong. “One family shared ‘my kids are so excited to see these larger-than-life art pieces that celebrate nature.’”  

“I love that the idea of this project emerged out of the imagination of one of our park patrons who thought art and disc golf together could be something special,” Mong said. The Art Nine project is part of JCPRD’s Public Art Program, which was launched in 2019 to activate parks, trails and facilities in a new way. A call for artists for this project occurred in spring 2023 and upon review by an art selection committee, made up of artists, community members and disc golf advocates, ten design proposals by four local Kansas City metro artists were commissioned to create the art.

“The artists were asked to design art sculptures that highlighted and celebrated the natural environment within Shawnee Mission Park including native flora, fauna, animals, birds and unique features of the park,” Mong said. 

The artists recently took time to reflect on the inspiration and goals behind their creations.  

Scott Diven of Kansas City, Missouri, was the creator of “Sweet Spot” (pictured above) near the tee for hole #2; “Their Journey” near the tee for hole #4; and “Let Her Fly” for hole #9.  “This being a course geared towards adults and children I felt an excitement to create works that will not only interest adults but also make children smile. My three sculptures were inspired by creatures of Shawnee Mission Park’s past and present. I hope that my work creates some happy moments on the course that lead to conversations and inspiration after you leave.” 

Tim Mispagel of Olathe, Kansas, was the creator of “Paper Wasp Putting Game” near the Shawnee Mission Park Inclusive Playground, adjacent to disc golf course parking lot; “Forest Guardian” near the tee for hole #7; and “Twilight Refuge” near the tee for hole #8. “As a working artist and avid disc golf player who regularly visits the park, I was inspired to apply,” Mispagel said. “It's still sinking in that this is actually happening. Honestly, it was a dream come true to have not just one, but three public sculptures in a space so very near and dear to my heart and my family. I'm hopeful that the Art Nine Disc Golf Course project will not only inspire an appreciation for the arts, but also encourage newcomers to explore the sport of disc golf for the first time.”

Jake Balcom of Kansas City, Missouri, was the creator of “Iron Leaf” near the tee for hole #6. “As with most of my work, flora was the main inspiration for the sculpture at the Art Nine course,” Balcom said. “However, the fun and playful nature of disc golf in this project made me want to create some sort of playful interaction to the installation. I hope that the sculptures will make playing the Art Nine course more enjoyable and unique. Since many young people play, I also hope that seeing these ten sculptures may inspire a few to look into pursuing the arts!”

Amie Jacobsen of Independence, Missouri, was the creator of “Spirit of the Brook” near the tee for hole #1; “Over the Rainbow” near the tee for hole #3; and “Echinacea Umbrella” near the tee for hole #5. “Most of my work is in the public art realm, and I am often inspired by native plants and wildlife, so this project was in line with my body of work from the start,” Jacobsen said. “These are joyful and fun pieces that are all about community enjoyment and pride!” 

Mispagel’s “Paper Wasp Putting Game” is considered a tee experience and is placed adjacent to the inclusive playground in the Walnut Grove area, which allows adults and children of all abilities to experience the game of disc golf. “This installation was designed to be both an art piece but also an object to aim your disc at for different point values,” Mong said. “It is a wonderful experience, and we know that many families and individuals will enjoy the ability to visit the inclusive playground and this inclusive disc golf experience in one stop! This new Art Nine Disc Golf course is the first of its kind in the country and our well-traveled disc golfers who joined us at the ribbon cutting have confirmed this for us.”

To learn more, watch the video below:

For more information about the course and artists, visit JCPRD.com/1913/Art-Nine-Disc-Golf-Course.

David Markham is the communications specialist at Johnson County Park and Recreation District.