Ellington disc golf plan raises concerns in neighborhood

Ellington — A proposal to build a disc golf course near a residential area has raised concerns with residents, who want to know how the plan might affect wetlands, walking trails, and the neighborhood.

The Recreation Department is working on a proposal by the Parks and Recreation Commission to build an 18-hole disc golf course on the town-owned Ellington\ Highlands subdivision on Stein Road.

The course is a permitted non-regulation use, and the department has submitted applications to the Inland Wetlands Agency and the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special permit.

Disc golf is much like golf except instead of a ball and clubs, players use flying discs. A disc golf hole begins from a tee area and ends at a target, the most common of which is an elevated metal basket.

Recreation Department Director Dustin Huguenin and University of Connecticut student Aidan Caron, who has been helping with the project, appeared before the Inland Wetlands Agency on Feb. 13 to present the application.

Disc golf has become more popular since COVID and there has been a higher demand for more courses in the area, they said.

The tee pads, a designated area from which the first throw of each hole takes place, will be constructed with timber and rubber mats, Huguenin said. Minimal grading may be necessary to make the tee pads level.

Fairways will not cross any streams on the site, Caron said, but there may be a few instances where players will have to walk across a footbridge.

There will not be activity at night on the site, and the department is working with Public Works Director Ken Radziwon on parking areas, Huguenin said.

The course is designed so that no fairways are pointing toward homes and buffers will be installed, Caron said.

Huguenin and Caron referred to a written proposal for the course, which states that a considerable portion of the property’s existing trail system has been designated for hiking and non-disc golf activity. The proposed course layout avoids this area. They said signs stating that the trails are out of bounds will be prominently displayed.

Residents who attended the meeting said they are concerned about stormwater runoff from the site, tree removal, and maintenance of the course.

Carter Lonsberry of Highland Avenue asked why the agency did not hold a public hearing on the proposed project to get residents’ views.

Rachel Dearborn of Lower Butcher Road said she believes nine of the 18 holes are in wetlands. Her main concern, she said, is that there isn’t a map representing the proposed course and wetlands.

Issues of concern for Valerie Amsel of Reeves Road include maintenance of the course and trees taken down, as well as the course taking over the walking trails on the property.

Some residents reported receiving a flier with questions about the project’s impact on traffic, parking, deforestation, wildlife, crowds, and access.

Agency members unanimously voted to continue the discussion to March 13 in the Town Hall Annex.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the application on March 27 in Town Hall.