Park City Disc Golf - Bridgeport, CT

Jeff Tavolacci · Post by **Jeff Tavolacci** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:13 pm

Come get some

Ryan Brunelle · Post by **Ryan Brunelle** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:02 am

Kraig Steffen was working on Beardsley Park for a long time, but nothing ever materialized. Thats all I have ever heard of a course in bport.

Dustin DeMilio · Post by **Dustin DeMilio** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:44 am

Click here for large map.

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:59 pm

i'm down to help if this gets going.

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:29 am

Yes yes yes. Bridgeport is 5 minutes from my house. Baskets should not be the limiting factor to getting the course in. If in fact the town is behind it, there is NO REASON this can't happen. Overall disc golf equipment (tees, baskets, etc) cost very little, especially when you compare it to a basketball court or baseball field, etc. We put the course in New Canaan with no financial help from the town. There is enough interest in this area to raise funds for baskets AND plenty of people to help with the physical labor. It just takes some organization and an "in" with the town. Seriously what is the status of this? I would be happy to help out, spearhead, attend town meetings, and/or do what is necessary to get a course in Bridgeport.

I'm not familiar with 90 acres, but I would be happy to tour the area and check out the options...if in fact the town or parks department is serious about letting this happen. I remember Kraig telling me about his dreams to put a course in near the zoo, but I don't know if this was a real option or just a day dream.

Mark D - please pm me!

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:39 am

Just heard from Ryan B...the 90 acres park aka Veterans Memorial Park off Park Ave. I think this park straddles the Fairfield/Bridgeport town line. I've actually walked through most of this park when I did some geocaching a few years ago.

From what I remember there is potential for a good dg course there, but planning/organization/flow would be critical because the paths were used somewhat frequently by walkers. The good news is that there is a variety of terrain. One larger open area could support a few holes, some elevation, stream, and obviously woods. I remember a huge rock and rocky area that could be a great spot for a hole.

Success would require well thought out hole locations and backing from the town in terms of where we can put baskets/fairways, etc. I wonder how eager the town is to make this happen and where...

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:22 pm

nitsud wrote:Jeff - you are thinking of Mark D. : i was talking to him about this the other day and it is still a go once there is enough money for baskets and such. however i don't think it will be at beardsley park because there are so many cars there... a better location seems to be 90 acres.

Who is Mark D? Please have him get in touch with me about the course potential asap. Money for baskets and such are not a limiting factor. Disc golf courses cost 10K, while the soccer and baseball fields are in the 100-300K range. Plus us discgolfers have a way to find money if it means more places to play.

I briefly checked out 90 acres again today. The only possible starting points/parking lots are near the Fire Department at the southeast corner of the park. Problem with this is very far away from the open areas near Park Avenue. The other entrance would be the community center further north off Madison. Although an initial longer walk, this spot would enable us to get into the heart of the park through the high voltage wires. I haven't explored the hole potential in this area, but it seems to be logical starting point (near the baseball field).

Does this course have true potential or is it just another pipe dream? Now that the leaves are gone we should be able to judge the potential...let's make it happen. My phone is not ringing yet.

Dustin DeMilio · Post by **Dustin DeMilio** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:22 am

BBD- if you want to meet up over there one day soon we can walk around and see what's possible now that the leaves are gone... i'm just a few mins from there. i think i can get mark over there too, he's a little tough though because he works during the day, so it would have to be later in the day (which means darkness) or on the weekend.

on another note,. my friend in easton also has a bit of land and is dying to start a course there as well...

Ryan Brunelle · Post by **Ryan Brunelle** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:42 am

Yeah, lets talk more about Easton. I'm ALLLLL over that idea.

Matt Buono · Post by **Matt Buono** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:41 am

I can meet at the park after three any day of the week... I would love to be able to submit some sort of formal proposal to the city asap!

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:43 am

domeo wrote:I can meet at the park after three any day of the week... I would love to be able to submit some sort of formal proposal to the city asap!

Do you know the Bridgeport park and rec guys responsible for the necessary approvals?

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:45 am

nitsud wrote:BBD- if you want to meet up over there one day soon we can walk around and see what's possible now that the leaves are gone... i'm just a few mins from there. i think i can get mark over there too, he's a little tough though because he works during the day, so it would have to be later in the day (which means darkness) or on the weekend.

on another note,. my friend in easton also has a bit of land and is dying to start a course there as well...

Dustin, check for a pm.
What about tomorrow at 3 so Dome can go?
It's basically dark at 4 now, so maybe we could start a little earlier.

Matt Buono · Post by **Matt Buono** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:47 pm

aygood wrote:
domeo wrote:I can meet at the park after three any day of the week... I would love to be able to submit some sort of formal proposal to the city asap!

Do you know the Bridgeport park and rec guys responsible for the necessary approvals?

I know a couple of organizations that go to run down parks in bridgeport area and use volunteer's to clean the parks, so I can get the right person name to give are proposal to.

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:21 pm

I cruised the park on Friday and got the lay of the land. 90 Acres park is a lot smaller than I remembered, maybe that's why they renamed it Veterans Park.

I was wrong about access, there is plenty of parking off Park Avenue right next to the open holes. This course would be in a premium location: 2 minutes from the Merritt Pkwy and Sacred Heart college within walking distance.

There are so many different trails that run in different directions through the park. Playing dg would be tough here if the park was busy b/c people would be coming in from all different directions. It could be challenging, but dg could "take over" some of the smaller trails and use them as fairways. We'd almost have to in a couple areas.

I found at least 9 good hole options that would need some clearing <3" diameter trees (many already dead) and undergrowth. It's doable, but this park has a lot of factors to deal with in terms of flow, pedestrian traffic, wet areas. Basically I saw 2-3 field holes with elevation, huge rock hole, mature tree fairways, and a cool dam feature that we probably can't throw near.

I'm concerned that there might be opposition to us carving out the wooded areas because it would be a different landscape with those areas cleared. IMHO it would make the park better looking and would beautify an under appreciated park. Also there is a conservation easement along the south side of the park. It looks like its only on the southern side so hopefully this won't be a problem?

Ultimately a dg course here depends on the town's direction. If they want this to be a disc golf park - great. If they want us there to help reduce vandalism, trash, and illegal dumping - great. If they want us there to help keep the park safer - great. If they want for people to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet in woods and don't want some areas cleaned up - not great.

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:27 pm

Park description, thread
http://www.nynjctbotany.org/lgtofc/veteransmemparkbridgeport.html

Aerial movies of the park, mostly of the open partly asphalted area but you can see some of the electric wires,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiSitzp17Jw

Dustin DeMilio · Post by **Dustin DeMilio** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:36 pm

the model airplane video is amazing. donde esta marko? polo

Dustin DeMilio · Post by **Dustin DeMilio** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:50 am

update: i just found out they are building a new school there, it's being built where the discovery museum parking lot is/was... perhaps cutting off some of the open field space.

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:22 am

i don't suppose Seaside park is an option.... talk about learning to play the wind.

edit: looks like it has a nice pond and wooded section in addition to massive fields. :scratch:

nawwwwwwwwwwww couldn't possibly get approved.... or could it.....

:scratch:

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:24 am

Yes, that is what I referred to as construction when we spoke on the phone. Depending on how far out the school extends (it looks like only one building now), this shouldn't impact a course. Actually the existing building didn't look like a school, but maybe you're talking about new building going up. I doubt the town would be too eager to approve a new course there when they're dealing with building a new school, etc.

Oh well...

Seaside would a great place, if there weren't mobs of people.

Dustin DeMilio · Post by **Dustin DeMilio** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:58 am

Matt - i can see where i live in that pic! a course within walking distance would be a dream. adam is right though, way too many people there. especially on the weekends and during the summer.

Pleasure Beach? or is that only for the birds now?

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:13 pm

yeah pleasure beach is closed off.

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:23 pm

Only other areas I can think of are Lake Mohegan which probably is not doable b/c of people. And Elton G Rogers Park. Anyone been there?

Isn't there another section of Beardsly Park west of Rt. 25 that is wooded and used less? I've never explored it.

Probably should get Kraig Steffen in on this. I bet he knows more and might have some connections. You out there Kraig?

Dustin DeMilio · Post by **Dustin DeMilio** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:40 pm

how about brett woods in fairfield? i think there is 180 acres or so... not many people either.

Adam Goodman · Post by **Adam Goodman** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:40 pm

Although I haven't walked all of Brett Woods, I did check it out for any dg potential. Unfortunately a lack of any parking lots and conservation signs prohibiting all but walking and horseback riding, suggests that a dg course here would be most unlikely. I'd love for someone to tell me otherwise.

jjderosa · Post by **jjderosa** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:07 pm

bridgeport is true. mark and i (i am mark's brother, john) have a mtg w/ parks dept. at the end of the month. the topic is disc golf at veteran's memorial. we've built a tremendous amount of support in city hall as well as privately and i feel confident that this can get green lighted if we want to tackle it correctly.

the city needs help with this park as many areas are unusable and need attn. specifically, there is an enormous amount of thorn bushes in the main trail from park to madison that need to be removed. they are doing it themselves but can't get the resources there. i believe there is a car in this trail too, at least there was last time i was there.

in my opinion there is more than enough room for 18 here. we've played 18 "imaginary" holes w/ rocs here several times and each time we have no problem fitting them in. there are many unused portions of the park that i believe the city will allow us to use as well.

they are in fact concerned with the new discovery magnet school and do have visions of the kids from the school utilizing the park in some way. probably in a science manner as the school has a focus on science and technology. enhancing the trails will only allow the kids to use the park more efficiently.

during our meeting my focus will be to determine what their goals are for the park and to find out in what ways we can help them achieve them with our volunteer efforts. if we are allowed to install 18 baskets then we must be prepared to go above and beyond in helping them enhance existing trails, clear brush and more.

i am confident that the course will significantly enhance the park and more importantly, the city as a whole. we feel that the course will bring hundreds, perhaps thousands, of "new" people to the city annually that otherwise would not have a reason to come here and that is very important to the city. the city wants "new" people to come to bridgeport and they will act on new and creative ways to make this happen. they embrace the "hipster" scene that is beginning to emerge downtown and throughout the city and disc golf is just another arm of that in my opinion.

i'm not sure how far they will be willing to go yet, but my objective would be to have hole sponsorship by local businesses which would have the potential to drive traffic to downtown restaurants and other businesses and restaurants throughout the city. we have compiled a list of 50 businesses that we are ready to approach for hole sponsorship. businesses that have already have signed on for hole sponsorship are habitat for humanity and camelot development (a bridgeport based real estate development company). we will need help getting additional sponsorships in place but that is something to address once we get down the road a bit. OR - if the city funds the baskets or we come up with another way to secure the baskets then we won't need as many, or any, sponsorships. i like the idea of presenting to the city that it won't cost them anything so i would like to find a way for them to be zero dollars out of pocket for high return.

the parks dept. is in fact leaning towards veterans rather than beardsley. they feel that beardsley is established and there may not be an opportunity to create value there. i'm not saying beardsley is out but this is what i gather from conversations thus far.

nonetheless, mark and i would like to establish an informal, core group that would be interested in helping push the disc down the fairway. one evening next week would be good to meet and we can host at our artspace in the east side. this is not a deal yet but with the right presentation and the correct set of goals we should be able to get it through.

please hit me at jjderosa at gmail com asap with your contact info, thoughts and suggestions and we can coordinate a time to get together.

many thanks,
john derosa
bridgeport, ct

Matt Aubin · Post by **Matt Aubin** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:33 pm

this is awesome news, i'm sure i can help some way just let me know.

jjderosa · Post by **jjderosa** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:47 am

you got it.

Karl Molitoris · Post by **Karl Molitoris** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:05 am

I'm secretly hoping for 2 holes out on the spit (right beneath the lighthouse). The walk out there (just to play 2 holes) would be worth it!

Karl

canobeano · Post by **canobeano** » Wed May 05, 2010 1:34 pm

I knew that this topic had to have been brought up before! Anyone that wants to see disc golf in Bridgeport, please start communicating with me. I want to get your thoughts, share mine, and develop a plan of action to actually see one, if not two, disc golf courses in Bridgeport. See my post.

Ben Henson, Planner
City of Bridgeport
(203) 576-3972
ben.henson@bridgeportct.gov

jjderosa · Post by **jjderosa** » Wed May 05, 2010 7:01 pm

As of last week, we have achieved tentative approval for an 18 hole course at Veterans Memorial Park in Bridgeport. It appears that this will be fast tracked for work to begin this summer. A couple of ancillary benefits offered up to the Parks Dept. in order to streamline the approval process are volunteer efforts to conduct the following work: assist with the removal of a tract of invasive thorn bushes in a main trail, remove an old rusted out car in a main trail, repair a consistently muddy trail with wooden planks, construct a park kiosk w/ park trails, features and course map. Details of these efforts will be forthcoming and additional volunteer work groups will be brought in to work alongside the disc golf community (boy scouts, habitat, etc.) in order to make these things happen. More details to follow later next week.

Alongside Ben's post, the possibility of Beardsley is pending as well.

Thanks,
John

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Park City Disc Golf - Bridgeport, CT

Park City Disc Golf - Bridgeport, CT

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