Eatontown Park's Disc Golf Course Faces Hurdles

Last year, a resident approached Eatontown government about disc golf. An 18-hole course has been in the works at 80 Acres Park, but it's faced some challenges along the way.

Eatontown officials hoped the course will be ready for April 13's Easter Egg Hunt, said Eatontown Councilwoman Jennifer Sherrod. The Borough hoped to begin installation last weekend. But a resident shared her concerns at Feb. 13's council meeting about how the course could negatively impact the environment, Sherrod said.

Sherrod said she would share those concerns with the Recreation Advisory Committee. The majority of Council asked that the project be put on hold until "how, when and if the project should proceed," Sherrod said in an email to Patch. The next Council meeting is Wednesday.

"We were targeting to have the course installed in time for the Easter Egg Hunt (4/19) which is held at that park," Sherrod said. "We thought that would be a good way to promote it."

A 2014 study from the University of North Carolina at Asheville states that disc golf can have negative environmental effects such as "greatly increased erosion, soil compaction, significant trampling of undergrowth and loss of vegetation cover, as well as persistent damage to trees."

But the study concludes that disc golf does not cause significant environmental damage compared to other types of outdoor recreation. And there are ways to decreased damage such as putting up signs that promote environmental awareness, the study says.

The preliminary map for 80 Acres Park shows the course would cover unused wooded areas. A petition on change.org called "Save disc golf in Eatontown" has 1,170 signatures as of Thursday afternoon. The petition urges supporters to attend the Council meeting and voice their opinions.

"Disc golf works seamlessly with and around nature as the nature itself presents a challenge to the players," the petition, written by Patrick Henderson, states.

Patch has corrected the date of the Easter Egg Hunt after receiving incorrect information on the date.