Council squashes disc golf in Upper Bidwell Park

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Disc golf enthusiasts still drive to Upper Bidwell Park to chuck Frisbees around and take in the scenery, although the sport was banned there.

The City Council voted 4-3 to remove disc golf from the Highway 32 location Nov. 18. The decision led to immediate boos and outbursts from the crowd, as well as verbal confrontations on the steps of City Hall.

Disc golf has not been shut down at the site, only a decision to do so was passed, according to an e-mail from Mayor Andy Holcombe, who voted for the legislation. There is no penalty for playing, but tickets will be issued in the future.

Disc golf advocate Lon Glazner joined an effort to pass a referendum that would halt the legislation and restore disc golf in Upper Bidwell Park, he said. The referendum requires about 4,800 signatures from people eligible to vote in Chico.

About 200 volunteers hope to collect their goal of 10,000 signatures before the Dec. 18 deadline.

"It's the least intrusive method for the public to interrupt a council decision that we think is broadly disappointing," he said. "It gives the council an opportunity to revisit their decision."

Grace Marvin, the conservation chairwoman of the Sierra Club, Yahi Group, asked the council to vote for the ban. She's not opposed to disc golf, but wants it in a different location, she said.

"I've seen the damage done to trees and the compaction of the soil," she said.

Community member Christina Aranguren was also pleased with the council's decision and thinks the park should be kept as pristine as possible, she said.

"In a perfect world it would have been better for the trailhead to be closed," Aranguren said.

Sophomore Zach Stephens attended the City Council meeting and went disc golfing earlier the same day, he said. He gained a new appreciation for the park, thanks to the sport.

"What the Bidwells were trying to do was create a public resource, not a preservation," he said.

Megan McCourt can be reached at mmccourt@theorion.com

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