Commission backs study of disc golf and passive recreation for Snipes property, refers proposal to board of supervisors

The Lower Makefield Township Parks & Recreation Commission voted to send a conceptual plan to the township board of supervisors to study installing a disc golf course and complementary passive recreation (walking trails, picnic spots) at the 36-acre Snipes property off Dolington Road.

Parks staff described disc golf as a low-impact, low-cost outdoor sport that commonly uses existing wooded terrain and requires modest hardware (tee pads, baskets, signage). Staff offered preliminary cost ranges for a course and site work (roughly $50,000–$95,000 depending on scope) and said designers would be engaged for site planning, parking and phased approaches. The presenter emphasized courses typically operate dawn-to-dusk, require limited structural work and can be designed so the course coexists with walking trails.

Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about access and parking at the Snipes entrance on Dolington Road, site overgrowth and who would perform initial clearing and future maintenance. Resident Richard May, who lives near the park entrance, said traffic and egress at his driveway are a concern and urged careful parking planning. Local resident and longtime Snipes volunteer Bill Gabota urged that any disc golf design include walking paths and picnic spots so nonplayers can also use the site.

Several residents spoke in favor. Mike Loreno, who lives nearby, said the proposal "lifted a weight" off his shoulders and welcomed the chance to bring local youth outdoors. Commissioner discussion noted that final scope, parking and funding would be set only after design and public outreach; possible funding sources mentioned included sponsorships, DCNR or other grants and modest fees for organized tournaments. The commission moved to ask the board of supervisors to consider a disc-golf-plus-passive-recreation concept for Snipes; the motion passed.

What happens next: the commission will forward the concept and the transcript of public comment to the township manager and board of supervisors to determine whether to fund design and public outreach. An engineering or landscape design firm would then map parking, tee placement and any required clearing.