Leddy Park Disc Golf Working Group
January 12, 2009
Minutes
Present: Abbi Jaffe, Warren Spinner, Harry Wendt, Patrick Kearney,
Joanne Hunt, Matthew Hogg, Nick Hinge, Dan Herman, Greg Jenkins, Brendan Bush, Peter Hess,
Lisa Coven.
Desired Outcomes:
-Goal by the end of this meeting series, we will have: gathered input
and made solid recommendations (in the form of a document) for the
Parks and Recreation Commission. These recommendations will then be
taken into consideration.
-3 meetings, 2 hrs each
Meeting One: Jan 12 (3 weeks till next meeting)
Meeting Two: Feb 2 (2 weeks till next meeting)
Meeting Three: Feb 17
Reserved: March 23rd
-The first two meetings are to address the issues and consider
recommendations. At the third meeting we will decide on our
recommendations. A fourth meeting time has been reserved if needed.
-Goal by the end of this meeting, we will have:
Knowledge about the issues concerning disc golf at Leddy Park so that
we can ask questions, and make a plan for getting our questions
answered.
Park User Numbers:
Average of 65 users/day for field use from April to the end of October. These numbers were
derived from field reservations.
A traffic study was conducted for three weeks in August and counted an average of 500
cars/day entering into the park.
Group members quickly introduced themselves again.
Review the Agenda:
Review the Ground Rules
Review Public Input
It was suggested that a short article be placed in the North Avenue News giving a
status update on the group. The group is responsible to communicate back to their
wards/neighborhoods and collect feedback from the issues discussed within the group. Members of
the public may also submit written comments to lcoven@ci.burlington.vt.us
It was suggested that Group Members utilize their NPA Steering committee members, the NPA
meetings and the Front Porch Forums. NPA information can be found at
http://www.cedoburlington.org/neighborhoods/npa/npas1.htm
Minutes accepted from organization meeting.
Issue Topics
I. Evaluate park-wide issues that may be exacerbated by the increased number of park users:
-Access to bathroom facilities
-Traffic problems (including parking)
-Littering
-Noise
Alcohol use/ Littering Issues-
• Littering
• Not a ‘cooler’ sport →active walking
• Tailgating?
• I already hear partying in the park (disc golf has playing codes)
• More traffic traveling through might break up current issues with noise and transient camps
Alcohol use/ Littering Suggestions-
• Sign at beginning of course – no glass, littering, keep voice lower, courtesy rules, ethic of
pick up trash
• Research other Disc Golf Courses and ask about alcohol use (Brandon has information)
• Recycle Cans
• Goal of Disc Golf must align with Park goals (expectations of using course)
• Disc Golf Group walks course once/week during operation (officially charged?)
Alcohol use/ Littering Questions-
• Is there a current issue with alcohol use already?
• Is there a littering issue?
Access to Bathroom Facilities Issues –
• Don’t use the woods → 2 bathrooms open ___hours
• More people using woods to pee not suing facilities
• Pee diluted across ‘18’ holes
• Its going to happen → lets address their issues
Access to Bathroom Facilities Suggestions –
• Signage for bathroom locations
• Rules on websites (parks & BDG)
• Score cards with rules about course/use designated bathrooms
• Pick up score cards at the Arena
• $ → sell dies and have score cards
• Nature of course design takes you by the bathrooms many times
Access to Bathroom Facilities Questions –
No questions at this time.
Traffic Problems and Parking Issues –
• Parking does not seem to be an issue
• What if a tournament?
o have to have permission from Parks and Recreation
o sign up before
o less people because the course will be closed to casual users
o have to have 18 holes
• No sidewalk from North Avenue → no room
• Increased traffic makes it unsafe for pedestrians, bikers and other cars
• Peak use → per day in August 200 Waterbury
• Burlington course will be used more than Waterbury
• Noise caused by increased traffic will be heard by people who live near
• Hard to get in and out of Leddy
• Booth ended because it did not cover the cost of the person in the booth
Increased traffic at shopping center.
Traffic Problems and Parking Suggestions –
• Increase bike parking – hole 1
• Better signage on Leonard Street
• Promoting alternative means of transportation – locals will bike
• Review in a year?
• Pull baskets if needed?
Traffic Problems and Parking Questions –
• Number of car spaces at Leddy
• Reach out to other courses in Urban areas for parking space numbers
II. Evaluate Disc Golf Impacts:
-Impact of the disc golf course on the natural environment (specifically the impact on the
forest and the potential erosion problems)
-Impact of the disc golf course on private property
-Impact of the disc golf course on other park users.
Natural Environment Issues –
• County Forester’s letter state that it is not good for the environment to have Disc a Disc Golf
Course
• Need to pay attention to the environmental issues
• Compaction of soil
• Damages to tress by discs
Who will do this? Parks? BDG?
• Issues with ravine and erosion (holes 1, 2)
• A lot of run off exists already at holes 14 and 15?
• If this is a rec use park, how do we balance nature and park use → primary use is recreation
yet let’s minimize impacts
• Alters what the area looks like → Aesthetics/ what are the resources
o Does adding activities take away from mellower use
• Soil compactions near baskets and tee’s
• Lots of flexibility with course design
BDG on board to have disc golf and a healthy forest
Natural Environment Suggestions –
• Take photos and reevaluate in a year
• Control and mange on timely basis (who)
• Multiple pin locations (rotating placement)
Natural Environment Questions –
• Is Leddy Park at its capacity? (for recreation)
• Define ‘active’ use (NRPA)
III. Evaluate Disc Golf Benefits:
-Recreation benefits
-Health and fitness benefits
-Economic benefits
Meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.