City Council approves EDC golf-cart photo scavenger hunt for Aug. 16

The City Council approved a special-event request from the Economic Development Corporation to hold a golf-cart photo scavenger hunt on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the North Forest parking lot, council members were told. Registration will begin at 4 p.m.

Council members and staff said the event is meant to bring people into the city’s social district and to provide family-oriented entertainment. The EDC’s special events committee includes Yelena Varga, Tony Maniscalco and Dana McClain, and the city manager and city planner provided administrative support, the council was told.

Organizers described how teams of up to four people will use a list of 18 clues to take photos at locations around town; the top three teams with the most correct answers — with time used as a tiebreaker — will win prizes. Staff said they are preparing a liability waiver by merging the parks-and-recreation waiver with a form used by another community that runs a similar golf-cart event. The city will set up a tent on the grass lot behind Commercial House, and the council approved closing the parking spaces adjacent to that lot for the event.

During discussion, council members encouraged participation and noted the event will allow golf carts registered outside city limits to participate for the one-time event if they complete the city’s registration; organizers clarified the allowance applies to golf carts only and not to side-by-side utility vehicles. Several council members called the event a positive way to draw visitors and to use the social-district designation.

The motion to approve the event passed on a voice vote with councilmembers signaling “aye.”

Organizers and the recreation department will finalize waivers and event logistics in the coming weeks; registration details and sponsorship opportunities were noted as items organizers plan to publish before the event.