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Disc golf course at Holiday Beach draws vocal opposition from critics

Kevin Money (left), director of conservation services with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), makes a presentation on a proposed disc golf course at Holiday Beach Conservation Area to a large group of people in the community room at the Libro Centre last Tuesday evening.
Kevin Money (left), director of conservation services with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), makes a presentation on a proposed disc golf course at Holiday Beach Conservation Area to a large group of people in the community room at the Libro Centre last Tuesday evening.

An open house regarding a proposed new nine-hole disc golf course at Holiday Beach Conservation Area brought out over 100 people last week, the bulk of whom where opposed.


The open house was held in the downstairs community room at the Libro Centre last Tuesday night with much of the opposition being from members of the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO). 


Holiday Beach is managed by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) with Kevin Money, ERCA’s director of conservation services, outlining the proposal. Money went over legislation pertaining to conservation areas. He later added there are different zones conservation areas are divided into. ERCA manages Holiday Beach under a long-term agreement with the Province of Ontario for recreational and conservation purposes. ERCA says while there are many areas within the site designated as natural heritage or ecological protection, there are also areas identified for recreation.  


Provincial legislation passed in recent years, including Bill 108 and Bill 23, means Holiday Beach must “sink or swim” on its own as tax dollars are not allowed to be used.


The proposal from the disc golf community met goals of the management plan for the site, Money indicated.


“When approached by people regarding disc golf, we said ‘this will fit in’,” Money stated.


Money added ERCA reached out to “well regarded experts” about the proposal and potential impacts on birds and wildlife, noting where bird habitats are and where the nests are located within the site. He said they also reached out to the HBMO and had a meeting with three members, with that resulting in an agreement to stay out of naturalized areas.


“We’ve tried to engage further with the HBMO without any success to date,” Money told the crowd. “That door is still open.”


A lot of feedback has been coming in since the proposal met with approval at the ERCA board of directors, but Money noted the project is on pause right now while further information and public input is gathered. The news of the project being on pause met with applause from the audience.


Money said some of the feedback had to do with regeneration, which he said ERCA has been doing at the site for many years. 


“When we took over park management in 1987, only 21 per cent of the park was natural habitat,” Money said. “Since that time, we’ve planted trees and naturalized parcels so that habitat now measures 63 per cent.” 


In accordance with its management agreement with the Province of Ontario, ERCA said the park must also be managed for recreation.  


He refuted other comments that he saw on social media – including lighting, music, use of chemicals and the approval process – stating there are no lights or music planned for the disc golf course, chemicals are not used and are not planned at Holiday Beach and that it went to the board for approval.


The idea behind the disc golf course is to get more people in the grounds, as Holiday Beach needs to be self-sufficient.


“We don’t see this as a huge gold mine from our perspective,” said Money.


Angelica Haggert, communications director with the Ontario Disc Golf Association, said this wouldn’t be the first time disc golf and conservation co-existed. She said the sport doesn’t require manicured fairways or tree removal.


Haggert recalled being at disc golf tournaments in other parts of Ontario and using the experience to allow her young children to connect with nature and view wildlife.


“Disc golfers are loyal people,” said Haggert. “We care about the places that we play.”


Hugh Kent, president of the HBMO, said the group was opposed to the proposed disc golf course.


“Our current position is we strongly object to this disc golf proposal,” said Kent last Tuesday night. 


Kent noted Holiday Beach Conservation Area is an important birding area for the region and beyond. He said the HBMO is very familiar with the area and has counted up to 47 different species in one hour. He said many species are known to breed in the area and believed the disc golf course to be near nesting sites.


Holiday Beach’s location was touted by Kent as a busy area for migration and the HBMO does what it can to improve the area they live in.


“This area is like a truck stop for them,” said Kent. “As this is an IBA (International Birding Area), this is kind of a jewel in the crown.”


The HBMO has been in existence for over 50 years, he noted.


“We understand the flora and fauna of the area through and through,” said Kent.

Kent added the HBMO would be happy to work with ERCA to develop more eco-tourism strategies instead of disc golf. That could include more Spring bird festivals and information boards around the conservation area  to “enhance the quiet enjoyment of the area.” 


Greg Nemeth noted the nearby Big Creek watershed spans 2,500 acres, adding that Essex County has a very fragmented environment as it is.


Elizabeth Kent questioned the amount of trees that have been trimmed or cut in the area, noting the importance of the trees for migratory birds. ERCA CAO Tim Byrne said some trees were cut back as they manage growth in the area and also remove invasive species.


People came from around Windsor-Essex County to attend, including one woman who told the crowd she came to Amherstburg from Lakeshore via taxi. She promoted the need to protect habitat, as did Amherstburg resident Allison Baldwin.


“We need to preserve it for our children and grandchildren,” said Baldwin.


Baldwin also questioned why town council wasn’t looking at putting disc golf into some of its own parks.


Others in attendance indicated they were not against the sport of disc golf, just the location of it being in a conservation area.


Debby Pajot, another Amherstburg resident, said generations of her family have gone to Holiday Beach to enjoy nature.


“We don’t go there to watch sports,” she said. “We’re not into that.”


Pajot also encouraged ERCA to explore eco-tourism opportunities. Michelle Mastellotto, an HBMO member that lives in Tecumseh, added that people are welcome to enjoy nature there daily, but many might not be aware that it’s out there. She said there is more to do currently than just going there on festival weekends.


Haggert asked the audience about the traffic that could be generated through eco-tourism and wondered what the difference was between that and disc golf.

“Are we not talking about the same thing?” questioned Haggert.


Nearly 2,000 people signed a petition against a disc golf course going to Holiday Beach. 


Responding to a question about what happens if ERCA is unable to fulfill the management agreement, Byrne said he was fearful it could be taken back by the province and possibly sold.


Councillor Molly Allaire, the chair of the ERCA board of directors, said the conservation area has nothing to do with the town. She said the parks master plan meeting the town held the day before had 30 people and wondered why that didn’t generate the same level of interest as the disc golf open house.


Allaire noted she helps fundraise for ERCA, through such events as organizing the Super Santa Run, and said Holiday Beach is an area for everyone. She said it was important that more people come use the park.


In a press release issued last Wednesday, a day after the open house, Money stated: “We hosted this open house in order to hear what park users had to say. We’re now going to pause and re-evaluate if disc golf might be compatible in an alternative location, as it is quite clear that the majority of those in attendance at the meeting do not support the proposed location.” 


Money indicated that they would be reviewing comments received and will report back to the ERCA board of directors at its September meeting.


“Ultimately, we want to ensure that Holiday Beach Conservation Area is valued and visited by a wide variety of user groups who want to enjoy the park and its amenities,” Money added in the release. 


ERCA invited those in attendance to submit their suggestions for alternative recreational uses for consideration. An online comment card is available at https://essexregionconservation.ca/HBCA-comments.


HBMO issued a post-open house statement of their own, this one coming out last Thursday. 


“Following ERCA’s open house concerning the proposed disc golf course at Holiday Beach Conservation Area, HBMO’s position remains unchanged. We still strongly object to the proposal,” the statement reads. “It was very encouraging to see so many members of the public attend the open house, with the vast majority also objecting to the proposal. It is vital that we keep up the pressure with as many people as possible voicing their concerns, by submitting them to ERCA, via admin@ERCA.org or completing the ERCA online Form at https://www.essexregionconservation.ca/hbca-comments. Please encourage friends and family to also respond.”


The statement continued: “In the meantime, HBMO will be in contact with ERCA to look at options for eco-tourism within Holiday Beach including attracting more people to experience the wonderful migration in Spring and Fall. Also we would like to discuss ways of further improving the natural environment within the Conservation Area. We will also discuss with ERCA, ways that we can contribute to the Environmental Impact Assessment, given our over 50 years’ experience of observing and banding birds within Holiday Beach.”

Disc golf course at Holiday Beach draws vocal opposition from critics

By Ron Giofu


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