• Stouffville held a public open house at the Leisure Centre on June 6 to present potential disc golf course locations.
  • Rob Braid, Director of Leisure and Community Services, and Roger da Cunha, Manager of Park Operations and Development, were available to present options and answer questions.
  • The open house was overwhelmingly attended by residents from the Ken Laushway Woods area, who recently held their own meeting with Mayor Lovatt and Councillor Sherban to oppose use of the woodlot for a course.
  • Following a brief open house period with location options on display (below), Laushway area residents took over an informal Q&A session, answering each other’s questions and openly contesting Town Staff responses.
  • Director Braid informed the group that there has been support for the proposal. “Have we received positive feedback as well? Absolutely,” he said.
  • Many attendees were noticeably upset about the prospective Laushway location, perceived consultation failure, and the likelihood of significantly increased visitors in the park.
  • “Stouffville is not the way it used to be. I, for one, I am done,” said a 13-year Laushway-area resident. “I’m retiring to another town!” another added.
  • There are also concerns regarding increased drinking, smoking, and drug use in the Laushway woodlot should a course be installed. “It’s not fair to assume this activity will automatically lead to drinking and drugs…That behaviour is not exclusive to this sport,” Braid replied.
  • Safety and the risk of other park users being hit by discs continue to be concerns; however, Staff tried to assure attendees that course design can mitigate the risk.
  • “In any amenity the town builds, we take safety into consideration,” da Cunha said. “When it comes to disc golf, when we design a layout, we take into account existing uses. Its design is always away from other uses.”
  • Environmental and ecological concerns also remain, with many assuming the course would require a significant number of trees be cut down. Braid and da Cunha highlighted how the natural topography of a location is utilized through course design and that it would not require clear cutting of trees.
  • “Council has been asked every week for more activities for our young people,” Mayor Lovatt told the crowd. “Council owns this: we made the decision for disc golf, to purchase the equipment, and to look for a location in town that provides a great and free opportunity for kids.”
  • The Mayor proceeded to conduct an informal poll in which nearly every person in attendance indicated their opposition to the use of the Laushway woods, while an estimated 20% of attendees opposed a municipal disc golf course entirely.
  • Lovatt noted the ability of Council to reconsider the idea, while the Town is now considering smaller locations with fewer holes aimed at beginners, which could result in a less successful course.
  • “Council needs to hear your feedback,” Mayor Lovatt says of the location options and course. “Please take one minute to learn more and fill out the survey here.”
  • The survey is open until the end of the week, and Council will make a decision on the matter at their June 21 meeting.