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Residents raise safety concerns about redesigned disc golf course at Firefighters Park; staff say baskets relocated
Summary
During public comment Troy residents urged changes after a redesigned disc golf course was laid out across walking paths at Firefighters Park. Staff said five baskets were moved, there are no recorded incidents in nearly a decade, and the city will consider limited signage and monitor use; basket installation is underway with a mid‑July/July 1 target.
Troy — Several Troy residents urged the City Council on June 15 to address safety and right‑of‑way concerns stemming from a redesigned disc golf course at Firefighters Park, saying some baskets and flight lines cross or closely approach a popular walking path. City facilities staff said changes have already been made and promised ongoing monitoring.
Charlene Angel, a resident who said her property is adjacent to Firefighters Park, described multiple holes where the disc flight crosses the walking path and called the configuration a potential liability. "These discs which are basically the size of a salad plate ... thrown at full force can go 50 to 75 miles per hour and they pose a danger to walkers," Angel said. She asked the council to require posted right‑of‑way information and to ensure baskets are sited away from the path.
Recreation and facilities staff responded that they have relocated five baskets and removed baskets that were placed directly on the pathway; Facilities and Grounds Operations Manager Dennis Trantham told the council he had not received any reported incidents in his nearly 10 years on the job. Trantham said staff considered line‑of‑sight and potential confusion for players when siting baskets and noted the city can relocate baskets without extensive signage changes if trail geometry shifts.
Resident Brian Fontock, a local teacher and longtime disc golfer, told the council the sport provides a constructive after‑school activity and that the disc golf community worked with staff on the new course design. "We've made a lot of concessions so far," Fontock said, adding that the course has been a shared space for decades and that efforts were made to accommodate both walkers and players.
Council members and staff discussed options including limited, non‑cluttering signage, paint or low‑profile trail notices, and targeted social media outreach to alert park users. Staff said basket installation had begun and that the project goal ranged from a July 1 opening to a mid‑July completion; staff also said typical equipment relocation is manageable with existing city equipment.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting but asked staff to continue coordination with community stakeholders, evaluate modest signage that would not "clutter the park," and monitor user interactions once play resumes. Staff noted the course was moved after a required stream stabilization project and that the reinstallation was part of a planned refresh cycle.
What’s next: Staff will continue adjustments and report back as needed; the city’s target for opening the refreshed course was discussed as July 1 to mid‑July, and staff had begun installing baskets.
