The record 22-foot flooding of James River on June 19 led to damages at businesses south of Springfield, including Rivercut Golf Course, Carson’s Nurseries, CySports Center and 160 Grand Prix.
Rivercut Park Board spokeswoman Jenny Fillmer Edwards said a damage estimate has not been completed, but the back nine holes are scheduled to reopen at noon today.
Rivercut, which runs up against James River, experienced flooding on 12 of its holes, the practice range, the Connie Morris Golf Learning Center, maintenance building and lower parking lot. A 75-foot golf cart bridge near hole No. 6 also was washed away, according to a news release. No water reached the clubhouse.
Rivercut Golf Course officials report 12 holes were flooded.SBJ photo by ERIC OLSON
Parks Director Bob Belote said in the release staff would work to reopen the front nine within one to two weeks. He noted the flooding left water and debris on greenway trails, including the Ward Branch Greenway.
“All our golf and operations staff are out here working hard to clean up,” he said in the release. “People really need to show great caution on all our greenways until we have a chance to get them cleaned up.”
The course, which sits southwest of Springfield city limits at 2850 W. Farm Road 190, is included in the Park Board’s insurance policy, according to the release.
In the 2001-built Connie Morris Golf Learning Center, floodwaters rose to 8 inches, soaking flooring, baseboards and lower walls. Roughly 2 feet of water entered the maintenance building, though damage is minimal since staff moved mowers and other equipment to higher ground earlier in the day. The bridge at hole No. 6 was completely destroyed, according to the release.
A damage assessment is not yet ready.SBJ photo by ERIC OLSON
Carson’s NurseriesSteve Dorrell, landscape designer with Carson’s Nurseries, 6607 S. Campbell Ave., said the retail center lost around 150 five-gallon plants, and the flood took out the company’s straw shed, all of its straw and the back walls of its storage shed.
“Everything’s got mud all over it. It washed a lot of stuff away,” he said. “Most of it, even if we could find it, won’t be worth saving. By the time you nurse it back to health, you’ll have more in labor than a new plant would cost.”
Dorrell said nursery staff are back at work this morning, and the store is open for business.
“We’ve all pulled together and helped each other out,” he said, noting the plants that could be saved were moved on higher ground Saturday.
The nursery’s nearby farm also was flooded, but Dorrell said no plants were currently growing.
Youth sportsCarson’s Nurseries owner J.J. Cybulski also operates nearby youth sports fields inside the CySports Center.
“It got up deep over there,” Dorrell said of roads leading to the indoor center.
Combined with the nursery, Dorrell estimated several thousand dollars worth of damages.
The Summers at the River Sports Complex, owned by Jon Field, also was flooded.
160 Grand PrixImages posted to Facebook show miniature golf and go-kart venue 160 Grand Prix was under water after the Friday floods.
It’s unclear how much damage the flood caused.
A call to the entertainment facility went unanswered this morning.
The Summers at the River Sports Complex, roads leading to CySports Center and 160 Grand Prix are covered with water.Facebook photo posted by STEPHEN ALLEN
