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Permanently Altering the Woodlands

I regularly walk on the Bittner/Baldwin trail system. I have noticed the flagging and markers throughout the woods recently. From the March 5 Parks & Recreation Commission minutes, I learned that the commission is considering putting a disc golf course there. I strongly oppose this.

Putting a disc golf course in the woodlands of Bittner Park would significantly alter the environment. Cutting trees less than eight inches in diameter would allow more sunlight to reach the forest floor, changing the plant life, which at this time of year has many wildflowers. These wildflower and other plants are sensitive to soil compaction. The disc golf course would have people off the trails, resulting in forest floor compaction. Although a 25 foot buffer to the many wetlands is planned, it seems unlikely that a person would not retrieve their disc should it stray from the course. The trail system at Bittner/Baldwin are some of the most used in Guilford. Changing the nature of the woodland environment would change this trail walking experience. As it is easy to see from the stakes and flagging from the trails, a disc could hit a walker.

I think a simple census would reveal that more people use the existing Bittner/Baldwin trail system than play disc golf. If Parks & Recreation has funds to spend, it should consider using them to improve the trails by having better bridges and wetlands area with raised walkways. Picnic tables by the skate park and fields could be used by many without environmental impact.

As a former chair of the Guilford Conservation Commission, I know that permanently altering the Town of Guilford woodlands for a sport Parks & Recreation hopes to cultivate is not in agreement with the conservation goals of Guilford.

Heather Allore

Guilford