Dirt-moving crews with the city of Grand Junction are winding down their work at Watson Island, after months of wintertime landscaping efforts at the riverside park.
The dirt work represents the second consecutive winter of renovation efforts at the 15th most popular disc golf course in the state, which was once a waterside dumping ground. City Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou said this year’s efforts involved improving paths between disc golf holes, and digging a pond on the island to irrigate plants coming to the landscape in mid-April. Crews also added a handful of concrete blocks to diversify the landscape around the island.
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
A disc golf target seen amidst dirt work and other construction on the Watson Island Disc Golf Course on March 27, 2026.
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
With spring’s arrival, city staff are now pivoting to other projects around town according to Sherbenou. The city does, however, have a volunteer planting day at the park scheduled April 18 to bring in new vegetation.
“It’s pretty much winding down for the season,” he said. “After the restoration work is done, and the plantings, we’ll probably take a pause on it until next winter.”
The landscaping efforts were minimally intrusive for disc golfers, according to Sherbenou, who said coordination with a local league for the sport helped prevent disruptions, as did the timing of the effort which began around early November.
A group of friends stroll through the Watson Island Disc Golf Course while playing disc golf on March 27, 2026.
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
All the work was done in-house, according to Sherbenou, who said municipal staff had time to focus on the park project thanks to warm outdoor conditions over the winter. Combined with the use of materials that were already on-hand, the move saved considerable money for the local government; this year’s project cost at Watson Island totaled just $5,000 or so, according to City Communications and Engagement Director Kelsey Coleman.
“We’re basically just using the budget for materials,” Sherbenou said. “We of course have a lot of experts in irrigation, horticulture, forestry, and maintenance of green infrastructure. And during the wintertime, they’re less busy with their more typical tasks.”
Dirt work and other construction seen on the Watson Island Disc Golf Course on March 27, 2026.
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
Watson Island hasn’t seen the last of its improvement efforts, however.
The bridge to park is in need of repairs, according to Sherbenou, who expects that improvement to come in the next phase, this winter. Once finished, the bridge will safely allow passage for heavy equipment, which had to enter the park through a temporary crossing for the latest round of landscaping.
“This is just one of many efforts to improve the riverfront,” he said. “It’s something we’re very fortunate that parks and rec gets to be involved in.”