Portsmouth council asks Parks & Rec, legal to craft MOA for two-year Glen Park disc-golf trial

The Portsmouth Town Council voted to direct the parks and recreation director and the town solicitor to develop a memorandum of agreement with a proposed disc-golf 501(c)(3) organization and return the draft to the council by the first meeting in December for approval.

The action followed more than an hour of public comment during which residents described Glen Park as a treasured open space, voiced safety and liability concerns, and urged clearer rules and professional design review before any installation. "I am begging you to protect this open, natural, safe, and calming space," said Martha Cummings, a resident of Glen Road who described daily walks in the park that she says have helped her for decades.

Speakers opposing the proposed layout cited the park—s mixed uses and site conditions. "A multiuse community park simply isn't the right or safe place for a high-velocity sport like disc golf," said Dr. Sarah Nadam Polly, who referenced reports of bystander injuries. Other residents raised worries about erosion on steep amphitheater slopes, parking and flooding, and about how tournaments or league play would be scheduled around existing activities such as Tai Chi classes and youth sports.

Proponents of the course told council the group has raised several thousand dollars toward installation, has formed a nonprofit, and intends the installation to be nonpermanent. "We are just simply building this and giving this to the town. That is it. Nobody owns it," a proponent said, adding the group expects typical day-to-day use to be modest and that tournament or insured PDGA events would carry additional requirements.

Council and staff clarified operational details: the 501(c)(3) would be a fundraising/maintenance arm but would not own park land or have greater legal rights than any citizen; reservable league or tournament play would be managed through the town—s CivicRec system; and the trial period was set for two years with the understanding the council would not renew if town maintenance costs became significant. Parks and public works staff said routine mowing is the primary daily maintenance and they do not expect major recurring town costs during the trial; however, council members and residents requested that the MOA include provisions for insurance, professional course review, limits on advertising, fencing or setbacks from roads, hours of play, criteria to end the trial early, and erosion protections.

Council member Paul Kessen asked the staff to ensure the memorandum addressed potentially sensitive topography at proposed hole locations. Residents asked for clear signage or a QR-code-based information system rather than signs on the course and requested that the parks director respond directly to citizen inquiries rather than routing them through volunteers.

The motion approved by council reads in part: "Direct the Parks & Recreation director, working with legal, to develop an MOA with a potential disc-golf 501(c)(3) organization to bring back to the town council by year—s end." The motion passed 7-0.

Council members said the MOA will be returned to a public meeting for final review; staff left open the option to revisit the agreement earlier than two years if problems arise.