By EMERALD GILLERAN

The Billings Outpost

About 50 disc golf supporters gathered on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn before the Billings City Council meeting on Monday, and more than two dozen made public comments in favor of putting the sport back in Pioneer Park.

Their efforts paid off, as the council reversed an earlier decision and voted 6-3 to adopt a master plan for the park that includes the sport.

Six-year-old Jorrell Nagel came to the podium with his mom and folf disc in hand. “Mr. Mayor, if you take away disc golf, we won’t have any fun,” Jorrell said into the microphone. “If you keep it, we will have fun.”

An overwhelming majority of comments favored keeping disc golf in the park. Supporters said the sport is a fun way to get outside and exercise at a time when obesity is on the rise. They also said the sport appeals to all ages; is cheap, affordable and accessible; and it draws kids out of their basements playing video games.

Supporters also said the sport doesn’t conflict with other park users. The few comments that were against disc golf in Pioneer Park focused on the wear on the land, the cost of maintenance and the threat of injury with flying discs.

Jim Rott, chairman of Air Fairways disc golf club, thanked the council for reconsidering the issue and lifting the previous ban on disc golf in Pioneer Park. He said that if the council accepted the master plan allowing disc golf, then Air Fairways would focus on three main things: to implement the master plan as well as possible, to install tee pads and pin placements, and to repair damage to the park.

“The recommended tee pad would be 5 feet by 12 feet,” Mr. Rott said. “The pads don’t have to be cement either. There is a new developed rubber pad made out of recyclable tires that could be used instead.”

Mr. Rott said the rubber pads would be easy to install,

weighing about 100 pounds each. He also said they are permeable so rain would soak right through them.

Councilman Jim Ronquillo, Ward 2, mentioned in response to public comments that he is pushing for South Park to add some kind of disc golf course.

Mr. Rott said that having disc golf in Pioneer Park would be like getting a permission slip to try to make it work in other parks as well.

Councilman Mark Astle, Ward 5, agreed with this concept. He said the master plan, which Air Fairways and the parks department spent $86,000 developing, could be used as a guideline for other parks.

Councilman Dick Clark, Ward 5, said that even though he supports disc golf, he thought the master plan was a waste of $86,000. With 11 members present – Councilmen Denis Pitman and Jani McCall were absent – three voted against the master plan while six voted to keep it.

So disc golf will remain in Pioneer Park. With help from Air Fairways and the Parks and Recreation Department, the city should be able to work together with these organizations to better handle disc golf in the community, Councilman Angela Cimmino said.