This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/20/2018 01:30 PMDespite comfortably sailing through the Parks & Recreation and Planning & Zoning commission approval process, the proposed disc golf course at Peddler’s Park was greeted by strong opposition from park neighbors and residents at a special Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting on Feb. 13. While some spoke in favor of the course, most residents raised concerns about the location, safety, costs, property owner rights, and the process of approval.
Disc golf is a game that combines Frisbee and golf. A golfer is given a disc and has a certain number of throws to reach the “hole,” which is a stand with a chain basket sitting on top. Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard previously said disc golf is “growing like crazy” across the state. Nearly 80 people of all ages and experience levels came out to play in a town tournament last fall and Maynard said having a regular course can draw in even more enthusiasts.
Peddlers Park, on Peddlers Road, was chosen as the course location because of the 30-plus acres there owned by the town and because the park has very limited use in general compared to Bittner Park, the other proposed location. At the Feb. 13 presentation, Maynard said Peddlers Park has been in the Parks & Rec Commission five-year plan for some new use and this disc golf course is a good solution. The course would have minimal environmental effects and would open the land up to more people in town.
The Inland Wetlands Committee approved the course plan on Nov. 8 and while the course is not on Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT) property, Maynard said he and members of the Parks & Rec Commission met with members of the trust to review any concerns and ultimately moved a few baskets in response to the concerns over proximity to certain parts of the trail. Additionally, Maynard said establishing the course would require minimal clearing as trees provide desired obstacles, but that some trees would have to be cleared to expand the parking lot. The plan is to expand the lot to accommodate about 20 course users at peak times.
The meeting on Feb. 13 was set up after residents starting voicing concerns about the proposed course to town officials and on social media. Prior to opening the meeting up for questions, Maynard tried to address some concerns about safety.
He said he spoke with the town’s insurance carrier and reported this recreational amenity offers no greater risk than anything else the town offers. He said local businesses and eagle scouts have lined up to help build the course, keeping costs down. Some residents had also raised concerns about possible injury or lawsuits that can occur if someone is hit by a disc, but Maynard said could only find three lawsuits across the country related to disc golf.
“If there are issues about safety, we are still open to modifying this a little bit if we need to do that,” he said. “…But I can really think of no other recreational amenity that we can build at such low cost that will benefit so many people.”
Residents in attendance still expressed concerns about the course including the potential dangers of putting more cars on Peddlers Road and the fact that the new course would cross with some Westwoods trail heads. While Maynard said adjustments had been made to account for the trail, members of the GLCT did not agree. Ted Mankovich, a GLCT director, said while he is not opposed to disc golf, he doesn’t want a trailhead crossing the course.
“The Westwood Trails Committee—we would really have to close that as an entrance to Westwoods,” he said. “It’s fine to have a Westwoods trail there, but I would not want to put that as an entrance because that is inviting people to go through something that might be dangerous for them.”
Resident Tim Sperry raised the point of environmental concerns at Peddlers Park. At one point the park was used as a burning dump and he said he doesn’t think it would be smart to start turning over some of that land.
“We don’t know the actual confines of the dump, so you are going to start digging and you are going to find stuff,” he said. “Let’s leave it alone and at some future date, when we put it into a plan, we may say that Peddlers is a great place for a non-sporting venue park where people can go and sit at picnic tables, have family events, and de-stress in the natural beauty of Peddlers Park.”
Resident Susan Anderheggen, who brought the issue of the disc golf course to the BOS a few weeks ago, said she wants to see the town press pause before going any further.
“My request is if we are going to spend some town money on this we should do a cost benefit analysis on the town side,” she said. “…I would request that before we cut down trees and spend taxpayer money for this course that we should know how many people are going to play.”
However the greatest opposition came from residents, particularly those on Denison Drive off of Peddlers Road. Maria Cahill said this issue has not been properly handled and neighbors were not notified until just before the Planning & Zoning hearing. She said the right way to do this was to send out letters to residents early and start a conversation.
“The neighbors have gotten together. We are willing to work with Parks & Rec, but we would like some compromise…I just think this thing this needs to be re-drawn up with all of the modifications,” she said. “We would like a buffer of 200 feet from the property borders on Denison Drive and we would also like to have a nine-hole golf course.”
Cahill said she and her neighbors are willing to consider all options to resolve this issue.
“Nobody wants to play the lawsuit card, but that has been brought up in our group,” she said. “…Neighbors do not have to gather money for a lawyer—I am a lawyer. I would volunteer my time to represent my neighbors in a heartbeat, but we don’t want to go there.”
Some residents did come to support the park and lauded the benefits of disc golf as a family-friendly outdoor activity. Members of the Parks & Recreation Commission also attended to defend the process of moving the disc golf course forward for approval.
“We hold very seriously the responsibility of being on the board and we would never enter into the suggestion of an activity for the town where we felt we hadn’t done our due diligence, we didn’t listen to all sides, and we didn’t work hard to make sure that what we were presenting wasn’t safe for our community,” said commission member Sue Robbins. “We’ve had a lot of people weigh in with opinions, opinionated facts, emotions, and we have really worked hard to make sure that we have listened to everybody. This has been on our agenda and on our radar for a year and I take offense when people say they were all of a sudden surprised by what was taking place.”
Looking ahead, First Selectman Matt Hoey said Peddlers Park is Parks & Recreation property, but the town has the authority to decide if the parking lot is expanded.
“That is one of the reasons we are having this hearing in addition to the fact that this board felt that a project of this size deserves more public scrutiny and more opportunity for people to express their opinions and ask questions about it,” he said. “I don’t think it is a done deal and this board has the opportunity to make a decision on it as to whether or not we move forward on expanding that parking lot.”