The Alberta Disc Golf Guestbook

What a wonderful letter, Craig. Did you get any feedback? I'd like to hear it.
If not, how can I help you force the issue?

I'm especially interested in the conflict of interest charge. Can you elaborate?

Thank you for providing a list of city politicians directly responsible and
accountable for this "fiscal insanity". I wonder if they're aware of this stain on their reputations.

Its not like we're not taxed enough as it is.
We don't need to pay for these "make work for my buddies" projects.

I will be notifying all of my friends of this website, this GROSS waste of money and particularly your letter.

Steve Hocevar

I would like directions on how to get to the Lethbridge Disc Golf course. Also, does anyone have a score card for that location?

reply to colin.norman@cnpl.enbridge.com

Thanks
Colin

Colin Norman

I Have recently gotten hooked on playing discgolf. I would like to get the town involved in making a cours to play on. The sport of discgolf is unheard of in this part of the country but I would like to change that. I am going into my second year of Recreation Management specializing in outdoor recreation. I would love to receive some advice as to how I can promote this sport and make this sport enjoyed by people around here.
Things that I would like to know:
1. What are the start up costs for all of the equipement?
2. Could I ask my local golf cours if they would allow the sport to be played there?
3. Can I get help financially with the start up costs from the federation of the sport?
These are all of the things that I can think of so far. If someone out there has some really good ideas please don't hesitate to call me by phone at (902) 542-1352

Peter Prescesky

December 11, 2000

Bill Morrison, Chairman
Land Use and Development Subcommittee,
Calgary River Valleys Committee
Suite 1745, 645-7 Ave. S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4G8
(403) 974-0751 Fax 403) 974-0758

Re: Pearce Estate Interpretive Wetland

Dear Mr. Morrison,

I am writing to you as both a taxpayer in the City of Calgary and a long time user of Pearce Estate Park. From 1995-2000 I was also the Coordinator of an Adopt-A-Park program at Pearce Estate, whose volunteers contributed over 4000 hours of labour to maintaining this regional park for use by all Calgarians.

Since April I have been monitoring the construction of the artificial wetland at Pearce Estate, and have observed the following:
a) The excavation of a large ditch through the park, estimated to be 3-4 meters deep, and 4-5 meters wide. This channel, six times larger than the size stated during the public presentations, now carries water from the Bow River at a point above the E.I.D. weir for ~300 yards to a point where it then joins the previously existing effluent outflow stream from the Fish Hatchery. The water in this quick running stream, the majority of which comes directly from the Bow River, will pass by any plants that grow in the bottom of the channel to quickly for them to remove any toxins from the effluent, which was one of the stated objectives of creating this 'wetland'.
b) To facilitate this excavation, large trucks and excavators were present in the park from April to late August, removing and hauling large amounts of earth and debris from the park entirely, or dumping it in other locations in Pearce Estate. Heavy compaction of the park site, which has been stated as a major concern for the sustainability of the Pearce Estate landscapes, was the inevitable outcome. The use of this equipment also created a great deal of noise, which frightening away much of the wildlife.
c) As part of this excavation and hauling, 122 trees and mature bushes of various species were cut down or removed from the park. These included spruce, balsam poplar, and mature redocier dogwood types. Several large balsam poplars were stripped of their branches and placed in certain areas of the excavated channel; other were removed entirely from the site. A number of uprooted dogwoods were left in the effluent ouflow stream, dead or dying. This degradation of the park reduced critical wildlife habitat, particularly for birds, and severely disrupted the nesting season at the park.
d) A number of temporary fences were erected in the park. These fences are still standing, apparently for the winter or until a more permanent fence is built. This has severely impaired the movement of wildlife through the park, especially whitetail deer.
e) Another large fence, constructed of chemically treated posts and poles was built around parts of the perimeter of the excavated area, and on both sides of a new pathway which now bisects the park. This has partly ruined the beauty of the park, and has also disrupted wildlife traffic.

On July 21, 1999, Alberta Environment presented the concept for the redevelopment of the park in the form of an interpretive wetland, with the aim of improving the quality of water discharged from the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery, and to provide a model of environmentally responsible water treatment, as well as expanding upon the educational/interpretive mandate of the fish hatchery. This project was initiated based on a 40 year old concept that was first proposed when the fish hatchery was constructed, not as a result of the public imput into the UPMP.
This 'wetlands' project was a major departure from the vision for the park presented publically in December 1993 (during the public hearings on UPMP), and later incorporated into the Urban Parks Masterplan. The new project included a six-fold increase in the cost of Program Funding as contained in the UPMP, see Figure VII, following pg. 57. This project, including the increased costs, was supported by the RVC at both Community and Protective Services and City Council, and has now proceeded through the first of four years of construction.

At the Pearce Estate Park Workshop, June 24, 1999, at which a member of your Committee was present, it was stated by City staff that throughout much of it's history, since it's bequeathal to the people of Calgary by William Pearce, the park has existed in a naturalized state. As someone who has spent thousands of hours in the park over the past ten years I can personally attest to this. Sightings of deer were common, especially in the early morning and evenings. It was also the home of many different types of bird species, and especially a very large colony of Yellow and Red-Shafted Flickers, who found a perfect habitat in the mature balsam poplars. Several areas of Pearce Estate had thriving communities of Richardson's Ground Squirrels, and these and the other rodents in the park, along with the many different types of song birds, (who found ample areas for nesting), also attracted predators such as weasels, raptors and owls, who hunted them throughout the trees in the park.
This view is supported, not just by my observation, but by the Urban Parks Masterplan, page 51, which in 1994 identified the park as a major staging area for wildlife.

Great damage was done to this park this past year, and to the wildlife in it. Excavations completely destroyed two ground squirrel communities that were located in their path. Old balsam poplars that were filled with holes and were known nesting sites for the Common Flickers were taken down, along with the other trees I have mentioned. As no biophysical assessment was done on site prior to the construction, we will never know how many nesting sites were destroyed last spring and summer, but it is clear, after the first year of construction of the artificial wetland, that not only have the effects on wildlife and vegetation in the park been devastating, but the entire project violates at least two major principles of the Urban Parks Masterplan.

This includes Principle 3, which states that the primary use of the River Valleys System will be passive, low intensity, informal, unstructured activities. It is very clear to any observer that the construction that has taken place this past 8 months cannot be considered passive, informal or unstructured. It is in fact the very opposite; a type of industrial 'terraplaning' of this landscape. This new landscape was not created by volunteers, as the public relations campaign suggests, but by machines.
Principle 12 of the UPMP also states that landscape features which contribute to the visual continuity and aesthetic quality of the River Parks System will be protected, maintained and enhanced where appropriate. The loss of trees, the excavation of major areas of the park, and the construction of fences which impede the flow of wildlife through this part of the River Valley System have, along with the noise and soil compaction associated with the use of heavy equipment in Pearce Estate, clearly violated these principles, and the intent of the individuals who helped form and supported naturalization as a concept in the Urban Parks Masterplan.

Unfortunately, I was among those present at the public hearing at Pearce Estate in December 1993 who expressed support for a further naturalization of Pearce Estate that was passive and unstructured. No mention of tree removal or major excavations was made at that hearing, and naturalization was understood by all present to mean the replacement of the domestic grasses with native species, and an end to mowing in the park. This was intended to save the City of Calgary money in maintenance costs, and support the regrowth of the mature forest, whose tree suckers were being mown down by the continued manicuring of the park.
The scope and nature of this 'naturalization' has changed dramatically from that which was promised in public in 1993. What has happened in fact has been similar to a 'shell game', where the original object is replaced, through sleight of hand, with another of lesser value.

The latest construction of the 'pole and post' fencing, (of inappropriate materials), creates a barrier to wildlife, is incredibly ugly, and also restricts the use of the park to those persons who are in wheelchairs, or who have other mobility challenges.. The Calgary Plan, the city's Municipal Development Plan states in Guiding Principle 2-1.4.1F that "the River Valley System will be accessible, usable and safe for all persons where practical and environmentally appropriate, bearing in mind the needs of persons with disabilities". This new fencing, along with the apparent instability of the very steep banks on the new channel, violates this principle, and if an accident occurs, clearly leaves the city vulnerable to litigation in the case of a fall and injury. I have spent thousands of hours in this park with a friend who is confined to a wheelchair, and he is almost completely restricted now from using and enjoying this park between the effluent stream and the bikepath.

Because of the temporary fencing, and the no trespassing signs, much of the damage to this point has been kept hidden from the public view, and is just now being fully comprehended. But it has been very disturbing to those who worked for years in this park as volunteers to now witness what has happened at Pearce Estate. One former volunteer commented to me that going to Pearce Estate now 'makes him weep', when he sees what has happened. This is far from being an isolated remark, and is quite common among those who live near Pearce Estate, or who were familar with the old features of this regional park.

If the need existed for an artificial wetland to teach children about nature, a dubious concept to begin with, surely it could have been accomplished at the Elbow Valley Constructed Wetland, which the River Valleys Committee was instrumental in creating, and not through the devastation of a successful, naturalized, multi-use park. Better yet would have been a commitment to take children to see real prairie wetlands, constructed by beavers, not heavy equipment.

It was also very upsetting to find out after the public meeting of April 26, 1999 that a member of your committee stands to benefit personally from the implementation and continuation of this project. This relationship should have been clearly stated (declared) at the public meeting which was held to present this project to the public. It is clear that the RVC's guidelines involving conflict of interest will need to be strengthened in the future, as this fact is now widely known., and has brought disrepute to the River Valley Committee.

Since it is clear that this project should never have proceeded, as it is so clearly in conflict with the UPMP, I would like to know exactly what process was followed when you, as chair of the Land Use Committee for RVC, conducted your evaluation of the "Interpretive Wetland" proposal prior to giving it your endorsement. Please forward any relevant documents to me on this issue, along with your justifications.

I would like to know what measures you and the Land Use Committee of the RVC will take to prevent any further damage to the trees and wildlife in this park.

I would also like to inform you that as a taxpayer and voter in this city I am completely outraged when I think that my tax dollars are aiding in any way the construction of this false vision of the park. I think that it is entirely possible that the entire "Interpretive Wetland Project", produced by contrivance, will eventually collapse under the weight of it's own contradictions, and those groups or individuals who have caused so much damage to Pearce Estate will be discredited.

I am also still waiting for a reply to a letter I sent you in November 1999.

Sincerely,


Craig Burrows-Johnson
144 Hartford road N.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2K 2A6

cc: Members of RVC, Mayor Al Duerr, Alds. Bob Hawkesworth, Bev Longstaff, Joe Ceci, Joanne Kerr, President Joe Bryant BP Amoco

Craig Burrows-Johnson

hi mike here im so glad you are here just moved from victoria bc were we have the finest corses
juan de fuca is my home course. but the islands is where its at
tommorow im going to play forest lawn baker park and centenary park
thanks for the site
oh wait can u list a place to buy discs or did i miss that in here somewhere ill look
thanks mike

mike mccomb

Hello all you Disc Golf enthusiasts...I would like to thank every one for the excellent time you all showed us! The Canadian Disc Golf championships and the Alberta Open were a real blast ! My eyes have been opened I see the light. The fun time has really motivated me in changing my own course.I was practicing on my new 9 disc golf holes and not using my 18 hoola hole course. After the tourney I thought I would go for 18 hoola holes and in doing so discovered that I actually created an 18 hole disc golf course using only nine disc chain holes. The way the layout works now makes it so no one is in any danger of getting conked on the head with a driver. Thanks to you I have an 18 hole hoola course for children and 18 disc pole chain holes. My new sign on my office trailer reads 'Buy a disc er two & golf free or rent a disc 17 & under $2.00 adults $3.00 Ya have yer own disc you golf free too...All of you are welcome to golf at Mur's Disc golf 18 disc hole course anytime.Bring your bathing suit and relax too. Our healing mineral waters will give you the feeling astronauts get in space. Good for body, mind and soul; lifting Spirits Naturally! Bring a tent or motor home, I have room for you with a beautiful valley view especially the extraordinary view this fall... Disc Golf rips... I have a plan for an ultimate and a disc golf fun rules tourney (double disc tournament) this fall or next summer. Whenever it would be good for all you disc golfers. Saturday night would feature an rock and roll -blues band at $10.00/head. Your input is welcome...Mur's Disc Golf one hour east of Saskatoon on # 16 the Yellowhead highway turn right at Highway # 2 junction and go to Watrous turn left on Highway 365 till you come to my course on the right 1 km before Manitou Beach. I am usually there or at the Spa. Cheers! Phone 1-866-391-2831 toll free or cell 1-306-946-7788.

Murray James Gordon (Mur the Blurr)

Will be out there next week, need directions from downtown Marriott Hotel. PGDA #3884

Len Zilinski

I just wanted to let you know of our new (temporary) web page that I hope you will add to your links. I am currently trying to learn web page development and until I refine my skills . . . much like my frolfing delivery . . . we will be staying with the page it is on . . . I will let you know when any url changes take place . . . I like your site . . . given me new ideas . . . hope to see any fellow frolfers on our course this year . . . thanks . . .

Rod Smith . . . Kamloops Disc Golf Club

Rod Smith