We believe the NYC Parks Department made a thoughtful and impactful decision by including the disc golf course in Highland Park. It has brought recreation, safety, and community pride to our neighborhood. 

As neighbors of the park and as the Bulwer Pl. Block Association, we fully support the installation of this resource and advocate for it to remain beyond its one-year pilot. Let’s work together to keep this amazing community resource for generations to come!

Empowering Our Youth Through Recreation Programs

• The Highland Park Disc Golf Course has partnered with local schools such as PS65, PS7, and IS171 to teach students an alternative, inclusive form of recreation.
• Many students have embraced the sport, discovering a love for disc golf and even natural talent.
• With disc golf growing internationally—top professionals signing contracts worth $10 million—this course provides NYC with the opportunity to nurture future athletes and grow representation in this expanding sport.

Increased Safety and Cleanliness in Highland Park

• The presence of disc golfers has created a natural, rotating neighborhood watch, enhancing safety and security in the park.
• The National Recreation and Park Association highlights: "Where people use parks in a positive way and in substantial numbers, all people feel more secure." (Read the full report here).
• The course’s positive use has made the park a welcoming space for families and individuals.
• Disc golfers have already been doing recurring trash cleanups and we notice the positive difference they have made.

A Destination Park for NYC

• Highland Park is the only park in the five boroughs with a disc golf course, making it a trendsetter and a destination we can all be proud of.
• Disc golf enhances the park’s appeal, drawing visitors from across the city and beyond, while still being a welcoming place for neighbors like us. 

Engaging Our Community

• The course has been a hub for community engagement, hosting events with organizations such as: 127 Penn Youth Strategies Division, Jackie Robinson Block Watch, Brooklyn Community Board 5, Brooklyn Community Board 4, Office of Sandy Nurse, and the NYC Parks team
• These partnerships foster community spirit and provide opportunities for residents to come together.

Accessible and Affordable for All

• Disc golf is free to play and accessible to individuals of all ages and mobility levels.
• This inclusive sport ensures everyone in the community can participate and benefit from the course.

Low Environmental Impact

• The course occupies a minimal footprint within the park, ensuring that Highland Park’s natural beauty remains preserved. All that the course has is some baskets in the ground, some signage, and some turf tee pads.
• The footprint of the course is around 3.5 acres, in a park that has over 140 total acres, 37 acres in Upper Highland Park (10 of which is passive lawn space).

Economic Stimulation for Local Businesses

• Disc golf has the potential to bring new visitors to Highland Park, increasing foot traffic to local businesses.
• Nearby cafes, delis, and shops benefit from players and spectators stopping by for food, drinks, and supplies.

Promoting Health and Positive Park Use

• Disc golf has encouraged physical activity and brings positive utilization to a previously underserved area of the park.
• We residents love seeing more people enjoying the park, with frisbees flying and smiles all around.

Who is impacted?

The Highland Park disc golf course has become an essential resource for our community, positively affecting residents of all ages and backgrounds. Local students from schools like PS65, PS7, and IS171 have discovered a new passion through disc golf, with some showing natural talent in a sport that is rapidly growing nationwide. Families, friends, and neighbors have found a welcoming space for recreation, health, and connection. Disc golf’s presence has also enhanced park safety, creating a “rotating neighborhood watch” as more people engage in positive park use. This aligns with the National Park and Recreation Association’s principle: “Where people use parks in a positive way and in substantial numbers, all people feel more secure.”

What is at stake?

If the disc golf course is removed at the end of its one-year pilot, our community will lose a unique and accessible resource that is free to play and open to all mobility levels. Highland Park will no longer be the only one in NYC to feature this modern and inclusive recreation. Small businesses around the park will lose the potential economic stimulation brought by increased foot traffic from visitors. The momentum we have built through school partnerships, community days, and local outreach will be disrupted, and a vibrant, underserved area of the park will risk returning to disuse.

Why is now the time to act?

The one-year pilot program is nearing its conclusion, and decisions about the future of the course are being made now. As neighbors of Highland Park, we must show our support for this invaluable resource. The course’s benefits—health, safety, community engagement, economic growth, and environmental sustainability—far outweigh any concerns, most of which are sensationalized and not based on actual occurrences. We believe the NYC Parks Department made the right choice in installing the course, and we urge them to keep it as a permanent fixture in our community. Now is the time to act to ensure Highland Park continues to thrive as a destination and an example of inclusive recreation for all New Yorkers.