A new 18-hole disc golf course will be completed soon in De Soto after receiving a grant from the state.

The Department of Commerce issued a $10,000 attraction development grant Tuesday to help finish the project at Riverfest Park.

Kansas Tourism Deputy Director Jordan Roemerman said De Soto is the first on a list of over 20 grants they’re giving out across the state this week.

She said she appreciated the idea of this project and the incorporation of history into the course.

Each hole has its own historical theme from the area. Wetlands, watermelon sales, the town dump and the former sand plant are just some of the themes to pay homage to different historical pieces in town, she said. Each hole will have a QR code to take players to a webpage with information on the theme.

The project was made possible through work with sponsorships, local businesses and community donations.

“I’m very grateful that we were able to get the grant that’s going to help us bring this to the finish line, and I’m excited to see us be able to throw the first disc here,” Mayor Rick Walker said.

City spokeswoman Whitney Lange said the construction started around February and is expected to be finished by July or August.

Although it was initially planned for in the Riverfest Park master plan, staff efforts to seek out donations and funding options made it happen, Walker said. It became somewhat of a passion project for the staff.

The course brings more recreation to De Soto and serves as a way to keep people in town after work, Lange said.

This grant will go toward one of the final steps in getting the course up and running — purchasing the baskets. There will be two baskets at each hole – a shorter distance basket for novice players and longer distance basket for more advanced players, Lange said. This is the city’s first city-owned disc golf course.