City says no to disc golf course plan

Maumee Mayor Chelsea Ziss has nixed a proposal for a disc golf course near the Towpath Trail.

“This is something we have been talking internally and externally about a little bit,” Mayor Ziss said at a council meeting on Tuesday. “After speaking to staff internally, and really realizing the appetite for the location isn’t there, we are not going to move forward with that location.”

She left open the possibility that a new site could be found to bring a disc golf course to Maumee.

“We’re still going to keep track of talking to the Metroparks and talk to ODNR. I think it will be a fine sport if we can bring it here, so we’re not necessarily giving up on disc golf altogether,” Mayor Ziss said.

The disc golf course was to be developed in a wooded area east of Side Cut Metropark between Ford and Conant streets. Clearing the necessary space and constructing the course would have cost $19,000.

Two paths, the Towpath Trail and the Riverwalk Trail, cut through the area, and the course would have been located in the wooded area between them.

Some opponents said there could be disruption to the natural wildlife habitat at that location.

Bill Buri, whose home backs up to the remains of the Miami and Erie canal, which follows the Towpath Trail, was not in favor of the location.

“It’s the last vestige of a natural area within the city boundaries,” Mr. Buri said. “It is greatly used by nature. There is a very large amount of wildlife, flora, fauna, birds, mammals, insects — all categories.”

“A disc golf course would disrupt their habitat,” he said. “I am sitting in my yard right now watching a red-tailed hawk perch.”

He also took issue with supporters who claimed the location was an “underutilized” area.

“As much as they claimed it would be in balance with nature, it’s an area that humans don’t go through,” he said. “They said it was an underutilized area. I beg to differ. Nature is utilizing that area 24 hours per day, seven days per week.”

“A disc golf course would not be in harmony with that natural area,” Mr. Buri said. “I’ve played disc golf. It’s an enjoyable sport. It just doesn’t belong where they proposed it.’”

Joel Szirony, owner of Saucy Disc Golf, which has tournaments and leagues across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, said he was disappointed by the mayor’s decision.

“We were told the city would do more research and consultations with wildlife experts. Everything had seemed positive. But I don’t think there was enough discussion,” said Mr. Szirony, who also has an online retail shop.

There have been disc golf courses installed in state parks that have had no impact to wildlife, he said.

“Maumee Bay State Park put one in, and wildlife is thriving there,” he said. “I think people who didn’t have a clue what a disc golf course would be shared concerns that I don’t think are valid.”

He thinks officials were pressured by opponents to scrap the proposal.

“There were a lot of feelings and emotions from people who lived close to the site that were a little nervous about having a new activity in their backyard. They showed up to the meetings, and made their voices heard,” Mr. Szirony said.

He would support a disc golf course at another site in Maumee, but does not think that will happen.

“One of the challenges for Maumee is there’s not enough land for it,” Mr. Szirony said.

Jim Stengle, who was opposed to the site, said the decision by Maumee officials was in line with what the public had wanted.

Mr. Stengle, who lives near the site, said most residents who spoke in opposition at previous council meetings were heard clearly by officials.

“They have no problem with disc golf, just not on that site. It is the last true wildlife area in Maumee, and it should be kept that way for generations going forward,” he said.

“The city should designate that legally in some way so that we never have something like this again,” he added.

Mr. Buri agreed. “It should be designated a natural area in perpetuity.”

Contact Kelly Kaczala at

kkaczala@theblade.com.