The future of the Stafford Woods Disc Golf Course is in jeopardy. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recently conducted a routine survey of the course property after receiving an anonymous complaint. Unfortunately, the findings of the report call for the Stafford Woods Disc Golf Course to be removed immediately, along with all accompanying structures at the property. This is a terribly disappointing decision, and one that failed to consider the best interests of all parties.

First installed in 2012, the Stafford Woods Disc Golf Course has served as a positive beacon for the local community throughout its existence. When we first arrived on property, vines suffocated trees, farm trash was abundant, and the park was very rarely used. Rather than a conservation area, the park was littered with potentially hazardous farm waste and used by local teens as a late night hangout. The installation of the disc golf course changed that almost immediately. After tens of thousands of volunteer hours and more than a decade of maintenance at the property, we have removed thousands of pounds of trash, saved hundreds of trees, and expertly installed a variety of soil compaction remediation structures throughout the course. As an environmental engineer, I could not be more proud of the work that our club has done to preserve and maintain the property at Stafford Woods. 

The course is undoubtedly one of the busiest parks in the state, recording in excess of 30,000 visits on UDisc in 2022. Individuals travel from across the globe to enjoy this course, while patronizing local eateries and lodging options. While the full economic impact of the course is difficult to quantify, removing it would surely harm local business who rely on the steady stream of players visiting Stafford Woods.

That being said, I can’t help but feel like this decision by the NJ DEP is antithetical to the mission of the department. Rather than be removed, Stafford Woods should serve as a shining example of how formerly unused green space can be converted into a positive and sustainable recreational outlet for the community. The most glaring example of the NJ DEP’s overreach is their mandate to have all structures removed at the property including the porta potties. Doing so would greatly disturb the natural environment, create harmful erosion, and leave the property in a state of disrepair. The trails would quickly become overgrown, and the park would largely return to the empty wasteland it was before we arrived. The park would no longer be used, and in removing even the porta potties, it is clear that NJ DEP has no intention of preserving this property in a way that would allow for public recreation. As a lifetime New Jersey resident and environmental activist, it greatly disturbs me to see our tax dollars used in such a heinous manner. The preservation of green space for recreation is extremely important in a state as crowded as New Jersey. However, preserving green space only to inhibit access is extremely wasteful, and deprives local residents of the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful property that Stafford Woods has become.

The DEP’s stated reasoning for this unnecessary ruling involves the original deed restrictions and the state definition of passive recreation. Given that Stafford Woods was purchased with state funds, these restrictions must be followed. However, upon a further inspection of DEP classifications, the distinction between active and passive recreation seems entirely arbitrary and capricious. Group picnics are considered active recreation, while cross country skiing is considered passive recreation. If you’ve participated in either of these activities, you will understand that this distinction could not possibly be further from the truth. Furthermore, the DEP conducted inspections of the property in 2014, 2017, and 2020 as a part of their green acres program. None of these inspections found any wrongdoing at the Stafford Woods property, indicating that the state had already acquiesced to the property’s use many years prior to the complaint. When the course was first installed in 2012, disc golf was considered passive recreation, hence the approval of the course. Given the nature of the initial approval and property acquiescence laws in New Jersey, it is our belief that the classification of disc golf as passive recreation should stand — as it is considered so in numerous other states.

In accordance with the NJ DEP’s stated principals of “Listen to all sides,” “Find the best balance,” and “be transparent and honest with the public,” I urge you to support the Stafford Woods Disc Golf Course, and overturn this shortsighted decision. Doing so would preserve a wonderful and financially accessible recreational outlet for generations to come. At the very least, the NJ DEP should meet with all stakeholders involved, and determine if we can find a reasonable solution that will satisfy all parties. 

The future of disc golf in South Jersey and the wonderful community that we’ve spent over a decade building is at serious risk as a result of this decision. We ask that the NJ DEP reconsider its hasty decision and promote a future in which Stafford Woods continues to be a shining example of conservation, sustainability, and public recreation for the residents of New Jersey.