Montgomery County faces backlash over unapproved disc golf course

Concerns regarding the installation of disc golf baskets at Green Lane Park were raised during a recent Montgomery County government meeting. A speaker highlighted that 34 disc golf baskets have been placed on a 30-acre section of the park without any official documentation or approval from the county. According to affidavits from the former county solicitor, there is no record of how the baskets were acquired, whether they were purchased or donated, or if permission was granted for their installation.

The speaker criticized the lack of public discussion surrounding the conversion of this public space into a venue for professional disc golf tournaments, emphasizing that the plan was privately funded and never presented to the county commissioners. This has led to concerns about the exclusive use of the park for disc golfers, effectively denying access to the majority of residents who do not participate in the sport.

Furthermore, the speaker referenced Montgomery County's \"Return on Environment\" report, which estimates that the 30 acres of open space provide health and recreational benefits valued at approximately $488,000 annually. Over the three and a half years since the disc golf course opened, this translates to an estimated $1.6 million in benefits that have been inaccessible to the broader community.

The speaker called for the removal of the disc golf baskets and urged the county to consider repurposing the land for more inclusive recreational use, highlighting the inequity of the current situation. The discussion reflects ongoing concerns about the management and accessibility of public park spaces in Montgomery County.