Update April 1, 2009

Neighborhood Watch reports that fairways have been cut, and players are on the course.
.

Mar. 24, 2009 -- Disc Golf in Leddy Park Working Group votes 3-3. *to see the complete meeting, go to Ch17 website. Next step is that the Parks Commission will discuss the results of the working group, and make a recommendation to the City Parks, Arts, and Culture Committee of City Council [Karen Paul, Chair]. Or maybe the issue will go straight to City Council.

Mar 31, 2009 -- As a result of complaints about rogue dg play in the park, letter to B'town from the city, informing them that they can not play disc golf in Leddy Park unless it is approved by the city.

April 28, 2009 -- Parks Commission has disc golf in Leddy Park on their agenda. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets the third Tuesday of every month at 5:00pm in the conference room at the DPW and Parks/Recreation Offices at 645 Pine Street. So why are they meeting Apr 28? Public Forum is at 5:30pm.

The Parks and Recreation Commissioners are:

• Barbara Nolfi, bnolfi@datavermont.com
• Steve Allen, Chair, stphnallen@aol.com
• John Ewing, ewing@burlingtontelecom.net
• Carolyn Hanson, Vice Chair, carolyn@burlingtontelecom.net
• Dave Hartnett, lisahartnett@aol.com

Testimony at Disk Golf in Leddy Park, Working Group, Public Forum

*to see the complete meeting, go to Ch17 website

To: Leddy Park Disk Golf Working Group

Mar. 24, 2009

Lea Terhune, Ward 4 NPA

Lack of Public Consensus. There is no clear community consensus regarding development within Leddy Park. During the process undertaken by the working group the group was advised by members of the Btown Disc Club and heard from a number of its membership advocating for development of a course within the park (Btowndisc.com). However the working group also received an outpouring of community sentiment in favor of protecting the woodlands in the park and/or opposing the development of a course in Leddy Park.

___________________________________________________________________-

.

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, minutes of July 15, 2008

• Bob Whalen recommended conceptual approval
• Club members asked to occupy “space that is not utilized”, using existing pathways, removing underbrush and saplings.
• Hanson asked how this would affect people walking on trails (off the path)
• Ewing asked if there would need to be a lot of clearing of trees (no)
• Nolfi asked if there would be a lot of open spots (no, as well)
• Allen asked if any neighborhood outreach has happened (currently in the process of doing some outreach)
• Hanson/Ewing, motion to approve the concept

Conclusion: The Parks Commission never approved construction of the course, tree-cutting or any other pre-development site work. Parks Dept. acted without authorization, and in so doing they violated the public trust and probably the City Charter as well.

.

Jan, 12, 2009. Lisa Coven, Parks Dept. staff, to LPDG working group member.

. The group agreed to be responsible for taking information back to the public and acting as their liaisons. … . Group members are responsible for representing their wards/neighborhood that they were nominated from. … . I also expect members to report back to their NPA's and even Front Porch Forums.

Working group:

}Ward 3: Harry Wendt: harryjwendt@netzero.com (did not communicate with NPA)

}Ward 4: Pat Kearney: pgkearney@comcast.net (attended every Ward 4 NPA meeting)

} Joanne Hunt: joanne.hunt@comcast.net (attended Ward 4 NPA meetings)

} Matthew Hogg: mhogg@uvm.edu (did not attend NPA, or communicate with Ward 4 NPA)

}Ward 5: Nick Hinge: nick@hingevt.com (did not attend Ward 5 NPA, or communicate with NPA)

}Ward 7: Dan Herman: danh1@live.com (did not attend Ward 7 NPA, or communicate with NPA)

} Greg Jenkins: gregjenkins@burlingtontelecom.net (attended every Ward 7 NPA meeting)

Conclusion: The only representatives who had communication with their NPAs were Kearney, Hunt, and Jenkins. The other representatives did not communicate with their NPA, do represent their wards in any substantive way, and their votes should not count.

Ward 4/7 NPA Resolution, Feb. 19, 2009

~ Whereas the Parks and Recreation Commission has appointed a Disc Golf Working Group to evaluate the proposal for an 18-hole disc golf course at Leddy Park;

~ Whereas the Disc Golf Working Group has been charged to obtain input from the constituents who they represent;

~ Whereas the Chittenden County Forester, in a letter, dated September 22, 2008, stated, "…it would be hard to make a case that clearing the understory for disc golf (in Leddy Park) is consistent with maintaining long-term forest health or with the existing forest management plan.";

Now, therefore, be it resolved that:

The residents of Wards 4 and 7, as represented by their NPAs, are not supportive of a disc golf course in Leddy Park due to its adverse environmental impacts; and

The Disc Golf Working Group shall include this Resolution within the recommendations it makes to the Parks and Recreation Commission; and

The Parks and Recreation Commission shall direct the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department to work with the BTown Disc Golf Club to identify alternative sites for a disc golf course in Burlington, or surrounding communities.

The resolution was proposed by Nancy Powers and seconded by Michael Crane from Ward 4; proposed by Greg Jenkins and seconded by Phil Lavigne from Ward 7.

Ward 4: support the Resolution 42
oppose the Resolution 0
uncertain 12

Ward 7: support the Resolution 14
oppose the Resolution 0
uncertain 9

.

Recommendation to Parks Commission:

It is important to build consensus about new uses in a city park. Residents view the park as their own, and view the Parks Dept. as caretakers. Residents expect to be consulted, and we expect our opinions to be honored and respected. Some people may like to ride horses, or shoot skeet, but they shouldn’t have expectations that it is their right to locate their sport in Leddy Park. The attitude of entitlement on the part of B’town Disk Golf Club bothered people a lot. Leddy is a densely used park serving hundreds of families who walk to the park, and use the passive recreation trails in the park on a daily basis, 12 months of the year. Recommend NO BUILD -- disc golf course in Leddy Park.

Lea Terhune

Ward 4, NPA Steering Committee

.

Disc golf in Leddy Park? NO

Last meeting of the Disk Golf at Leddy Park Working Group , Ch17, streaming video.

The Question: Disk Golf at Leddy Park? YES with recommendations, or NO.

The vote was 3-3. By Robert's Rules, that is a NO. Parks staff said they were not using Robert's Rules, they were building consensus and would fall back on majority rule. So they named the vote tally a split and decided the group should send two spokespersons to the Parks Commission meeting on Apr. 28.



The group decided to continue the meeting to make recommendations even though the YES with recommendations choice did not win the vote, Recommendations were solicited from the working group -- about disk golf in Burlington, or the process of the decision by Parks Department, the formation of the working group, etc -- and they said they would send recommendations they all agreed on to the Parks Commission.

Meeting of Parks Commission -- April 28.

Meeting to review working group process: May 12

Hartnett Report to NPA Confirmed

from JULY 08 MINUTES, Parks Commission:

VIIB. Consideration of Proposal for Disc Golf Course Development

Whalen explained that other groups had come to him in the past and that the current group has definitely been the most persistent, committed and organized. He recommended that the Commission give conceptual approval of the proposal so that the club members can continue to develop details of the proposal and plan fundraising and implementation strategies.

The club members then introduced themselves and explained that disc golf has been around for 40 years, serves several different age populations and is a lot like golf but is played in natural areas. In addition the club explained that the sport offers healthy benefits for players as well as benefits to the community. The location is proposed at Leddy and will currently occupy space that is not utilized. The club proposes to use existing pathways where possible and generally only remove underbrush and saplings.

The club stated that they had hundreds of people interested in this project and have formed a non-profit and intend to raise $10,000. They said they were asking for approval of the project, but would appreciate input from the Commission and Department.

Hanson asked how this would affect people walking on the trails at Leddy and if a fee would be charged for players and was assured that people playing golf would not be directly on the trail but off the path and will also have out of bounds areas as well and there would be no fee to the City with the exception of some trash receptacles.

Ewing asked if there would need to be a lot of clearing of trees and was told very little and Nolfi asked if there were a lot of open spots and was told no as well.

Some concerns were raised about possible vandalism to the proposed project as well as some concern about college students and alcohol use/abuse and the club indicated that this has not been a problem at other facilities and they do not anticipate any at this location but would be mindful of these issues.

Allen asked if any neighborhood outreach has happened yet and also was concerned with too much signage and was told that they are currently in the process of doing some outreach and the signage would be minimal and they wanted to get further approval from the Commission before moving further.

Motion to approve the concept for a disc golf course. Hanson/Ewing. Motion carried.



COMMENT:

The July '08 Parks Commission minutes are what Dave Hartnett recollected when he spoke at our February NPA meeting. His report is confirmed by the PC minutes.

Some key points:

* "continue to develop details of the proposal and plan fundraising and implementation strategies" is NOT permission to start cutting trees to build the course!
* Passive recreation areas with trails (existing pathways) is not "space that is not utilized." "Hanson asked how this would affect people walking on the trails at Leddy" ?
* Friends of Leddy Park also has "hundreds of people interested in this project" -- opposed to it, that is, and they are taxpayers. Allen asks "if any neighborhood outreach has happened yet' and he is told by the disc golf club members that they are "currently in the process of doing some outreach." ??? People in the neighborhood learned of the project when trees were being clearcut in the park.
* Whalen recommended that the Commission give conceptual approval of the proposal so that the club members can continue to develop details of the proposal and plan fundraising and implementation strategies. Disc Golf Club members say they are asking for approval of the project, but would appreciate input. The commission gave good input, and voted to approve the concept. That was not permission to cut trees and begin construction.
* Ewing asks if there will be "a lot of clearing of trees and was told [no] very little" -- "generally only remove underbrush and saplings city proceeded to clear cut swaths for fairways." City proceeded to clearcut swaths for disc golf course fairways.
* Concerns about alcohol use/abuse-- this has not been a problem at other facilities -- a boldfaced lie. It is a common problem, as a simple internet search will confirm.

Well, it's easy to see that there was a disconnect between Parks Dept actions and Park Commission approval of concept. Dave said he expected club members would follow up on things like outreach to neighborhoods, and come back to discuss it further.

After reading these minutes, I think Parks Commission should have put a stop to this project immediately and required the disc golf club to begin the process anew. I think that anything other than that now is unacceptible.

Abbi sent the following instructions to the Working Group, including the disc golf technical advisors in the group: "I believe we can be successful in completing our stated goal of making recommendations to the Parks n Rec Commission." That is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog! Who's in charge here, anyway? Isn't the Parks Commission supposed to make decisions and recommendations to the Parks Dept?

Abbi also instructs the group regarding the outcome of their work, which was supposedly to evaluate information and vote "yes," "yes with recommendations," or "no" on construction of a dis golf course in Leddy Park:" I believe we can agree on some recommendations about how a project like this should be implemented," she writes. Source document: http://protectleddypark.blogspot.com/

Lea Terhune
Ward 4, NPA Steering Committee

Working Group vote:

NO, Yes with recommendations, or YES?

Abbi Jaffe 03/04/09 10:22 AM

Hello Leddy Park Disc Golf Working Group members,

We are in the final leg of our journey together. We have built a
great team and I believe we can be successful in completing our stated goal of making recommendations to the Parks n Rec Commission. I believe that we can reach some shared agreements and that we can find closure in our process.

Later today I am going on vacation, away from cell phones and email for 10 days. I want to give you some idea of what our last meeting could entail. I will continue to distill our process and find the best way to close our time together.

Our goal (the meeting facilitation team), before we meet again, is to get you the big picture of how this process will go after we make our recommendations. Specifically,


~ will disc golf be on the agenda of the next Parks n Rec Commission meeting?

~Will they be, when will they, or have they already decided anything about Disc Golf at Leddy Park? Disc Golf in Burlington in general?

~Who has the power to decide?

~Who has the last say? (Parks n Rec or City Council?)

~Will the Parks 'n Rec Commission automatically pass this over to City Council?

~Will City Council pass this issue over to the voters?


We don't know the answers, but we hope to reach some clarity before meeting again.

Homework: You (working group members and B-town Disc Golf advisers) came up with some homework that I think can be a helpful way for us to start our meeting together (after public comment). You assigned yourself with making a short statement about your opinion on this matter. You will have 2 minutes to share your thoughts about disc golf at Leddy Park, this process, or public process in general. Yes, I will 'beep' when your 2 min are up.

This group was charged with responding to the issues brought up by the public about Disc Golf at Leddy Park and making recommendations to the Parks n Rec Commission. This group has thought deeply about the issues. If the project gets approval then we will have wanted to have had our say. I believe we can agree on some recommendations about how a project like this should be implemented.

Homework: Go through the past meeting minutes. Review the recommendations/suggestions that we have brainstormed. At our next meeting we will have a brainstorm session where you can choose to bring those recommendations forward, or come up with other recommendations. The rest of that hour will be spent looking for the recommendations we can all agree on.

Just a DRAFT Agenda

-Meeting Set-Up: (review minutes, hear back from B-town Disc Golf... agree on agenda)
-Public Comment: Only 15 minutes will be allowed for public comment.
-2 Min Working Group Statements: you will have 2 min to share your opinion
-Agree on recommendations should disc golf get passed at Leddy Park (we will submit this to the Parks n Rec Commission)
-Vote on yes, no, yes with our recommendations
-Agree on recommendations about the future of this process
-Agree on recommendations about the future of public process
-Close meeting


You have been a great group to work with. I know we can have a successful last meeting. Lisa/Warren and I will be in touch with you the week of March 16th.

Thank you,
Abbi

RESOLUTION

DISC GOLF RESOLUTION

Presented by Wards 4 & 7 NPA's

(To be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Disc Golf Working Group)

~ Whereas the Parks and Recreation Commission has appointed a Disc Golf Working Group to evaluate the proposal for an 18-hole disc golf course at Leddy Park;

~ Whereas the Disc Golf Working Group has been charged to obtain input from the constituents who they represent;

~ Whereas the Chittenden County Forester, in a letter, dated September 22, 2008, stated, "…it would be hard to make a case that clearing the understory for disc golf (in Leddy Park) is consistent with maintaining long-term forest health or with the existing forest management plan.";

Now, therefore, be it resolved that:

The residents of Wards 4 and 7, as represented by their NPAs, are not supportive of a disc golf course in Leddy Park due its adverse environmental impacts; and

The Disc Golf Working Group shall include this Resolution within the recommendations it makes to the Parks and Recreation Commission; and

The Parks and Recreation Commission shall direct the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department to work with the BTown Disc Golf Club to identify alternative sites for a disc golf course in Burlington, or surrounding communities.

The resolution concerning Disk Golf was proposed by Nancy Powers and seconded by Michael Crane from Ward 4; proposed by Greg Jenkins and seconded by Phil Lavigne from Ward 7.

The vote result:

Ward 4

support the Resolution 42

oppose the Resolution 0

uncertain 12

Ward 7

support the Resolution 14

oppose the Resolution 0

uncertain 9

RESOLUTION

Supported by Ward 4 & Ward 7 NPA's

(To be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Disc Golf Working Group)

~ Whereas the Parks and Recreation Commission has appointed a Disc Golf Working Group to evaluate the proposal for an 18-hole disc golf course at Leddy Park;

~ Whereas the Disc Golf Working Group has been charged to obtain input from the constituents who they represent;

~ Whereas the Chittenden County Forester, in a letter, dated September 22, 2008, stated, "…it would be hard to make a case that clearing the understory for disc golf (in Leddy Park) is consistent with maintaining long-term forest health or with the existing forest management plan.";

Now, therefore, be it resolved that:

The residents of Wards 4 and 7, as represented by their NPAs, are not supportive of a disc golf course in Leddy Park due its adverse environmental impacts; and

The Disc Golf Working Group shall include this Resolution within the recommendations it makes to the Parks and Recreation Commission; and

The Parks and Recreation Commission shall direct the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department to work with the BTown Disc Golf Club to identify alternative sites for a disc golf course in Burlington, or surrounding communities.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The resolution was proposed by Nancy Powers and seconded by Michael Cain from Ward 4; proposed by Greg Jenkins and seconded by Phil Lavigne from Ward 7.

The vote result:

Ward 4 support the Resolution 42

oppose the Resolution 0

uncertain 12

Ward 7 support the Resolution 14

oppose the Resolution 0

uncertain 9

DISK GOLF COURSE IN LEDDY PARK? STOP Wasting City Time, Resources, MONEY and Energy!

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing about the newest in a series of failures that have plagued the review process for the Leddy Park disc golf course proposal. This latest, an obvious conflict of interest for one of the experts sitting on the Disc Golf Working Group whose recent action calls into question the completeness and accuracy of any expert technical advice he provides to the group.

Brenden Bush and Peter Hess of BTown Disc Golf Club are to be "technical advisors to the DGWG regarding the design and operation of a disc golf course" according to the Parks & Recreation Department. In this role, one would think that Bush and Hess would be available when questions arose that required the input of a technical expert.

Anybody who has attended a DGWG meeting has seen the BTown members sitting at the table with other members of the DGWG actively involved in discussion and giving opinion on matters beyond technical aspects of the course design and operation.

Members of the public have recently been granted two minutes to give their opinion during the public comment portion of the DGWG meetings, while two Btown members are given hours of unfettered access to the DGWG while it deliberates. This is another process failure on its own but not why I am writing.

To my main point, Brendan Bush's February 13 post on the BTown Disc Golf Club FaceBook page calls into question his ability to provide the kind of unbiased expert information required by the DGWG and further, presents an obvious conflict of interest.

2/13/09:

Hey,

A lot of you have been asking what else you can do to help move the Leddy Park disc golf project forward, beyond showing up to give your public comment to the working group.The group opposed to the course is organized online and in their neighborhoods, and it's time for us to step it up and do the same.

So here's the deal: we're holding an organizing meeting on Thursday, February 19, and we want you and your disc-golfing friends to be there.

Where:
Sapa's Coffee and Tea
9 Center St. (between Climb High and Daily Planet)
Burlington

When:
7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 19, 2009

RSVP:
Send an email to info@btowndisc.com or RSVP to the facebook event listed on our facebook page to let us know you are coming ( http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=51130228790&ref=nf )

We'll be going over our plans to engage and recruit more members of our community, and what you can do to help.We'll have talking points, flyers and signup sheets for you to use, and we'll give you some basic guidelines on reaching out to those in your neighborhoods, classes, offices and anywhere else.

An 18-hole disc golf course in Leddy Park will be a huge asset to our community, and we need to make sure that everyone in our community understands that.So please join us on Thursday, February 19 at Sapa's in downtown Burlington.

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you there,

Brendan Bush
BTown Disc Golf Club

p.s. Please send this email to everyone you know in Burlington who supports this project, and ask them to join us on Thursday as well.

During DGWG member selection, the Parks & Recreation Commission were so adamant about not wanting to introduce bias into the group, that they felt it necessary to exclude neighbors whose property abutted Leddy Park, even when the those neighbors had been vetted by the NPA and offered as DGWG candidates to the commission. Certainly the actions of Bush would fail those same standards.

Clearly, members of the DGWG should not be involved in activity related to the Leddy Park disc golf proposal that represents a conflict of interest with their DGWG responsibilities. Bush's recruitment and organizing efforts in support of the Leddy course proposal are inappropriate and represent a conflict of interest while he is serving on the DGWG.

BTown Club members like Bush, who invested time and energy into getting a course built in Leddy Park before this current period of review started, are not the unbiased experts the DGWG should be depending on for technical advice. In fact they are just as biased as any park neighbor who does not want to see valuable park woodlands cleared for disc golf.

I'm sure you will take appropriate action to address this issue. But addressing this issue alone won't solve the larger issue surrounding the current proposal.

Our community would be best served if the DGWG were immediately dissolved and we stopped wasting city resources, time, and energy on a flawed process to find justification for the controversial and divisive proposal to place an 18 hole disc golf course in Leddy Park. Instead what is needed is the creation of a task force with a broader mandate to find an appropriate location for a disc golf course that does not require the destruction of valuable city open space, has the support of city residents including any neighbors, and meets the requirements of the BTown Disc Golf Club.

Respectfully,

Mark Barlow

a project where everyone comes together!

Phil Baruth's Vermont Daily Briefing has an interview with Andy Montroll:

VDB: Speaking real quickly about the New North End, I noticed that at that same mayoral debate — again, in a yes/no question — you opposed the development of Leddy Park into an 18-hole disc golf course. And you were pretty firm about that. Can you explain your reasoning there, and what you’d do with that issue?

Montroll: I think around 10 years ago or so I was down in Maryland visiting some of my family, and they took me to play disc golf. First time I was ever exposed to it. It’s a very fun game. A really great game. And I actually came back and told Wayne Gross, Director of Parks and Rec, that we should do disc golf up here in Burlington. It wasn’t one of the projects that I actively promoted or anything, and I was kind of disappointed that they never did anything about it.

So I think it’d be a great addition to our recreational offerings here in Burlington. I don’t think Leddy Park is the place to have it, though.

And the more I’ve been hearing about it, it seems that it’s really a very different use than what Leddy Park is currently being used for, right now. But there are places in the city where you could have it. Another one of our Councilors, Dave Berezniak has been looking at another site that looks like it could be really good. And it looks like there are some creative ideas —

VDB: Where would that site be?

Montroll: His site is where the city’s old landfill is. It’s been completely capped and, as I understand it, it’s completely safe there. And it’s a big, open area that could accommodate a project like this. There are other areas in the city where I think we could do something as well.

So, rather than focusing on just one location, that’s so controversial — I just don’t think we need to do that in Burlington. I think we can develop a project where everyone comes together and says, “This is great.”

___________________________________________________________________________________

From: "K. Wright"
Date: Feb 13, 2009 2:08pm
Subject: Re: Your Position on Leddy Park Disc Golf
To: Mark Barlow

> Mark,
>
> I actually am opposed to disc golf at Leddy Park--it was just the way they asked the question that was unclear to me. Andy was able to get a clarification on the question before answering and I wasn't. So yes, I do oppose it at Leddy and believe they could find a more suitable site for it.
>
> I have to say, I am just not a fan of yes or no questions unless they are on something really simple--for example I wasn't sure whether they had asked if I supported disc golf at all or whether it was site specific.
>
> If elected I can guarantee you the process will be better and I will not just accept this happening at Leddy.
>
> I am glad you e-mailed me Mark, so I could clarify my position. Feel free to share this, Thanks,
>
> Kurt

Note: I have observed, more than once, that Kurt stands with his neighborhoods, no politics about it. Lea

Parks Dept. does not answer....

Wayne,

Please sensitize the disc golf working group to the issue of homelessness in our community. A good person to speak to the group would be Mike Schirling, Chief of Burlington Police. He spoke on the subject recently on Ch17 Live@5:25 . It is unkind to refer to homeless people as tramps, or as otherwise undesirable. A selling point for disc golf in any location in our community is NOT that it will displace or drive away homeless people. If homeless people are creating problems in the park, we have an excellent community policing program that will work with residents, social service agencies, and homeless people to resolve that issue. The solution is NOT disc golf.

And the trash that the golf course designer said they cleaned out of Leddy Park? They did not clean it up, they left it in piles and Friends of Leddy removed it. Why isn't trash cleaned out of the park by park staff?

Finally, I have some unanswered questions on your desk and I would appreciate answers. Our NPA steering committee meeting is this Thursday, and we have been asked to follow up on the way the working group was formed. You may recall that there was some confusion about the selection process, we gave you a list of recommendations, and now we observe that many people in the working group are affiliated with the golf club and have a clear conflict of interest in recommendations the group will make. Whatever your thinking was when you formed the group, we would appreciate hearing from you about it.

Lea
NPA Steering Committee, Ward 4

Landfill site would rate high!

I know we are all striving for a win/win solution to the dg dilemma. I wish someone would just say "I screwed up," so we could all start over, and move this idea forward with good process and a good location that residents can support enthusiastically. Together we can do it!

Wayne Gross discouraged the working group from considering alternative sites, but that does not prevent us from making preliminary inquiries about the landfill site on our own. We can talk with Dave Berezniak, Ward 2 City Councilor; meet with staff at DPW to find out what their concerns might be; and request agenda time at the NPAs (they book several months in advance) so we are ready to move forward in a positive manner. I expect that many of the present dg course adversaries will be supporters and help pitch the new site, because they have studied this closely and they have learned where a course would be appropriately sited, and where it is not appropriate.

I spoke with a dg player who was very excited about the landfill site. He said it would be a challenging and interesting course, with variety and beauty.

If you check a website that rates courses, you get a pretty good idea of how the landfill location would rate (high), as compared to Leddy Park (low). At best you're going to get 8 flat fairways in Leddy, none near the shoreline or ravine. Here's an example of the top-rated course -- which site does it remind you of?


Pros:

This course is set on a big hill overlooking ....

It has a major fun factor due to almost every hole being down hill. The designer did an excellent job of maximizing the elevation changes.

There is road around the park with parking spaces at different holes. You can park at any basket and play from there and finish there for a staggered start if it's busy.

There is a picnic area and playscape right in the middle of the course and the flow of the course comes back to the middle three times which is pretty cool. It would be a great place for a family reunion or DG party or tournament.
http://www.dgcoursereview.com/

Keep thinking positive, and please look for common ground to resolve this dilemma peacefully, for the good of our community. And, please forward this email to neighbors.

Lea Terhune
Ward 4, NPA Steering Committee

Science-based public input:

February 4, 2009

Dear Member of Parks & Recreation Disc Golf Working Group,

I am writing to offer my thoughts regarding the proposed Disc Golf at Leddy Park.

I have lived in Burlington for the past thirty-six years and feel very fortunate to have such beautiful parks. I have a degree in Plant and Soil Science and Environmental Studies and an ongoing interest in the environment. In the past, I worked with Warren Spinner on special projects as a volunteer and then as a contract and seasonal employee. I respect the hard work Warren does and that of Park Department employees who number a few but who have the awesome responsibility of maintaining hundreds of acres of heavily used parkland with dwindling resources. I have some idea of the pressure the Department must be under and therefore I appreciate Mr. Gross’s search for creative ideas that will bring in needed resources. Disc Golf could be a great idea but I believe the selection of Leddy Park is inappropriate for environmental reasons.

Main concerns:

• The woodlands at Leddy are not just patches of derelict land but instead the land acts as a buffer for the lake. While I agree that the woodland is not in stellar condition now, it could be. At a time when we need to be actively restoring woodlands along the lake, I question the wisdom of establishing a Disc Golf course at Leddy that would do the opposite.
• Disc Golf would undermine the health of the trees in this environmentally important area by damaging roots, bark and making the soil surface less permeable to water.
• Soil compaction leads to the creation of rivulets. Rivulets caused by compaction carry undesirable runoff quickly into lakes and streams. Conversely, soils that are not compacted act as a filter, allowing pollutants to percolate down into the soil before reaching the lake.
• At a time when we should be considering redesigning and ‘greening’ the parking lot at Leddy, a popular disc golf course could put pressure on parking at Leddy. More cars bring more pollution to a lot that is already too close to the lake.
• DPW recently received a grant to tackle the issue of urban runoff more effectively. They are hiring a person specifically to work on this issue. I wonder if there has been inter-department communication regarding the proposed Disc Golf course at Leddy?

Other concerns.

• Noise is a real concern for neighbors whose homes are in close proximity to the course.
• Safety – Discs move at high speeds. Given the mixed use of the Park, I wonder if other users can be kept safe?
• Parking - pressure on adjoining neighborhoods and commercial lots could easily become an issue. Historically, users of Leddy Park have parked in adjoining neighborhoods and commercial lots to avoid Park fees.

I hope that you will consider looking for an alternative site in Burlington for Disc Golf that will not compromise the limited woodlands we have that help to protect the lake.

Sincerely,

Jean Markey-Duncan

City Council Resolution

FRISBEE GOLF AT LEDDY PARK

Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:

That WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Department with the endorsement of the Parks and Recreation Commission gave preliminary approval for thinning the woods at Leddy Park in preparation for installing an 18 hole Frisbee Golf Course; and

WHEREAS, the general public only became aware of this project by observing the work in progress; and

WHEREAS, when questions and concerns about the Frisbee Golf Project were raised by the public, the Department stopped further work on the Project, held a public meeting on Wednesday, September 3, 2008, attended by approximately 150 citizens, and announced that the Commission would reconsider the Project at it meeting on September 23; and

WHEREAS, the general public at the September 3rd meeting identified the following principle concerns, namely, (1) safety of pedestrians on the established pedestrian trails which closely parallel proposed golf fairways; (2) prospects for long term damage to the woods themselves due to the elimination of ground cover, the removal of saplings and erosion resulting from the projected 500 to 1000 visitors per week, and (3) the adequacy of our roads and access to Leddy Park to accommodate the projected number of visitors;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreation Department be commended for its pro-active response to concerns expressed by citizens;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreation Department seek independent and expert opinions concerning the issues enumerated above which were raised by citizens;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Parks and Recreation and its Commission report to the City Council a summary of the expert opinions requested before recommencing work on the Frisbee Golf Course.

lb/emb/c: Resolutions 2008/Leddy Park – Frisbee Golf Course Proposal

9/9/08

Go to
www.leddypark.org for updates.

MORE LEDDY DISC GOLF QUESTIONS
By Deborah Blom, Leonard St.
Wed, 17 September 2008

Dear Greg and Ron,

I have a few more questions to add re. the disc golf course.

Can BTown Disc Golf Club control who is playing on the course? If not, should we perhaps not accept their claims from authority ("we would never do something like that!")? Should we not question the relevancy of BTown Disc Golf Club's president's assertions such as (paraphrased) "We don't really ever drink while we golf or --we are lawyers and doctors-- but go somewhere else after the game." or "we all care about the environment"? I am not particularly concerned about drinking in the park and only give this as an example, but a glance at videos of disc golf on sites like YouTube or MySpace certainly show several people drinking while golfing (as does at least one of the articles below). This would indicate that those considering this course, need to get more generalized data rather than listening to what a small group of golfers, those who are motivated enough to frequently drive to Waterbury to play, have to say.

Additionally, several sites on the internet talk about how to safely design disc golf courses (see below) (e.g., don't place holes adjacent to or crossing trails). Has anyone contacted these folks for advice, especially regarding courses where injuries to non-players have apparently occurred (like Lenore Park)? Have you considered hiring a consultant as suggested by the Disc Golf Association (it should be noted that I have no idea what the qualifications are of the person who did design the course; perhaps he does have training)?

http://barryarnson.com/2008/05/09/more-gwinnett-county-disc-golf/
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A262849
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080812/NEWS/808120305
http://barryarnson.com/2008/05/09/more-gwinnett-county-disc-golf/
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1987/43899/teaching.html
http://www.discgolfassoc.com/discgolf-course-design/course-design-standards.html
http://www.pdga.com/cd_start.php

Finally, I understand the desire to add to the park's offerings. However, am I right in assuming that we don't want the current offerings to be compromised by the course? Is this being considered? For example, in addition to the safety concerns that have been brought up, folks walking the trails to the south of the tennis courts are usually looking for a sense of solitude and for a short respite from city life. The cutting that has occurred so far makes the homes surrounding the part much more visible and the additional cutting/trampling that will occur will increase this problem. Additional cutting on the other side of the trail, will make the traffic visible and allow more sound to penetrate. Add that to the presence of people talking/celebrating while playing golf and the chance of flying discs entering the path, and the solitude is lost. This is one of the few paths that I know of in the area that is relatively safe but secluded, and it would be a shame to lose it (N.B. to those who say that there are plenty of paths in Burlington: whether you are right or not, I ask you to remember that many folks in the New North End may not have cars or the means or time to ride the bus frequently for recreation).

I ask that you please add these to the list of questions/concerns.

Sincerely,
Deborah Blom

NPA Resolution Calling for Special Task Force

RESOLUTION
WARD FOUR AND SEVEN NPA OVERSIGHT ON LEDDY PARK DEVELOPMENT

• Set aside, to be considered at a later date.
• Meeting Notes: " allow time for the Parks and Recreation Commission and Staff to advance the golf course development process without an additional layer of oversight. It was assumed that the best interests of the city and neighborhoods will be respected and protected by the existing system of oversight, i.e. the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff, City Council and Friends of Leddy Park organization." 9/18/08
  

Whereas the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department has allowed tree cutting by a private non-profit organization for the purposes of creating an 18 hole disk golf course with no prior public meeting;

Whereas the Parks and Recreation Commission allowed "preliminary approval" of such tree cutting without calling for a public meeting or requesting public comment;

Whereas the Director of Burlington Parks and Recreation admitted at a public meeting on September 3rd 2008 that he allowed the development of the disk golf course in Leddy Park without ever playing the game;

Whereas the Burlington City Ordinance § 3-203 states "... all public recreational activities hereafter sponsored by the city, shall be under the management, care and control of the city council..."

Whereas the Burlington City Ordinance § 3-207 states "...The city council shall have power to make and alter from time to time, all needful rules and regulations for the maintenance of order, safety, and decency in said parks and for said recreational program..."

Whereas the Burlington City Ordinance § 3-209 states "...No shade or ornamental trees growing in the streets and public grounds of said city, shall be destroyed or removed except by leave in writing, first obtained from the city council."

Whereas these ordinances were not followed during the decision process to construct a disk golf course in Leddy Park nor did any City officer or Councilor inform the Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA) of said proposed disk golf development; and

Whereas the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies were established by the City of Burlington to “help improve communication between the citizens of Burlington and City government”

Now therefore be it resolved that:

The Wards 4 and 7 NPA has lost confidence that City Officials will adequately represent our interests during discussions regarding the planning of Leddy Park,

and therefore the NPA hereby requests that the City Council, under its authority, appoint a special Task Force to investigate the impacts of a disk golf course in Leddy Park.

Be it further resolved that the Wards 4 and 7 NPA requests that this Task Force be made up of:
6 representatives from of the Ward 4 and 7 NPA (three from Ward 4 and three from Ward 7).
2 representatives from Burlington Parks and Recreation
2 representatives from the Btown Disk Golf Club
2 representatives from the Parks and Recreation Commission
2 City Councilors (one from Ward 4 and one from Ward 7)

The Task Force shall be charged with directing and otherwise being fully involved with an independent study conducted by a neutral third party that shall determine the environmental, social, recreational and fiscal impacts of a disk golf course in Leddy Park. The Task Force shall present the study’s findings to the public and the City Council. The City Council shall then determine if such a course is to be built. Until such time where the City Council will make this determination all work on the disk golf course in Leddy Park shall stop immediately.