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Bittner Park Sees Upgrades to Disc Golf Course

Bittner Park is getting some upgrades, thanks, in part, to an unexpected partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

The disc golf course at Bittner Park received some improvements earlier this year, according to Park and Recreation Director Rick Maynard, after members of the USCG played a few rounds at the Park last year.

“About a year ago, the Coast Guard reserved the course for an event and cookout, and I went up there to talk with them about teaming on some projects, and we developed the idea of having them tackle the course improvements like clearing brush and fixing the disc golf tee pads,” said Maynard. “Last Spring they came in and did about 10 of the tee boxes. They weren’t able to finish it then, but they came back a few weeks ago and are have done a great job with these boxes.”

According to Maynard, the new tee pads are 8 feet by 12 feet. The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) lists the average tee pad as 6 feet by 13 feet. Maynard said the larger size was to accommodate course players.

“Some golfers like a bit of a running start, so the boxes are not only big but heavily used,” Maynard explained.

Maynard noted that while the town provided the materials, the Coast Guard’s volunteer work made the project possible.

“The Coast guard’s volunteer work on this was a hugely important effort for us up there,” Maynard said.

The disc golf course improvements were critical, according to Maynard, not only because of the rapid increase in the sport’s popularity, but the Bittner Park course has become a favored stop on the Professional Disc Golf Tour. The wooded layout and forested course provide a challenge for golfers and the Park’s reputation continues to grow.

“We are also developing a long course and a short course just like a regular golf course would have. The pros who come really like the long course here because it really provides a challenge,” Maynard said. “I think the layout that [PGDA player] Craig Smolin designed was aided by the input he got from colleagues and other pros. It really is a great course.”

In addition to improvements at the park’s disc golf course, Maynard said that his team is also looking to add at least three more pickleball courts to the four that were opened last year. Members of Park and Recreation are currently discussing several different proposals that would allow for the additional courts, but would have impact on both the current basketball court and the skate park.

“We are having a lot of discussion about it,” Maynard said. “There is potential for more courts up there and we are looking at several options. One is to take out the basketball court there and put in two or possibly three pickleball courts. The basketball court would remain up there it would just have to be reconfigured. We are also considering making the basketball court into another two pickleball courts so that they could be dual functioning courts for events and what not. But we really want to get input on this.”

Maynard stressed that neither the basketball court nor the skate park would be removed from Bittner Park. The pickleball court proposals would call for reconfiguration. Before any action is taken, however, Maynard said he wants to gather feedback from the skate community on any proposals, as the skate park was the original project at the North end of the park. By realigning the skate park, Maynard said he wants to ensure that solving one issue doesn’t create another.

“We are not removing either the basketball court of the skate park; we are simply discussing reconfiguring the site,” he explained. “Potentially, we would have the four existing pickleball courts [and] three more pickleball courts for a total of seven, and possibly three temporary courts on the basketball court. But we would still keep the basketball court and the skate park, they aren’t going anywhere. We are looking for input from skateboarders and the folks who play basketball.”