Disc Golf in Blackstone? A New Proposal Aims to Revive Public Land

A nonprofit wants to bring disc golf to an overgrown corner of town. Could this be a chance to reimagine public space, promote outdoor recreation, and support local businesses?

A wooded, underused area in Blackstone might soon have a new purpose—and it starts with a flying disc.

At a Board of Selectmen meeting earlier this year, the Worcester Sports Foundation, represented by director and disc golf course designer Jeff Turgeon, proposed building a public disc golf course in town. The idea? Transform a property that has sat idle for more than 25 years into a space for recreation, community, and connection—and all without asking the town for funding.

But First… What Is Disc Golf?

Disc golf is a fast-growing sport where players throw specialized flying discs (think frisbees!) toward a target, usually a metal basket. Like traditional golf, the goal is to complete each hole in as few throws as possible.

• It’s low-cost and accessible to all ages
• Courses are typically open to the public
• The sport has exploded in popularity in recent years, with more than 13,000 courses worldwide
• Locally, new courses have drawn visitors and attention in places like Boylston and Franklin

Note: This is of course a professional disc golf course and NOT the one being proposed in town!

In fact, the Worcester Sports Foundation recently helped open Hillside Park Disc Golf Course in Boylston in 2023. That successful collaboration between town officials and volunteers can be seen in the video below.

Not all efforts have been approved, however—last year, the same group proposed a course at Cookson Park in Worcester, but that plan was ultimately declined.

What’s Being Proposed in Blackstone?

The Worcester Sports Foundation hopes to bring a disc golf course to town-owned land at Veteran’s Park, a space that’s been largely overgrown and unused for decades —once home to a soccer field, now hidden by brush. Their vision is to create a modest course that fits naturally into the landscape, offering new ways for residents to enjoy the outdoors. With the nearby Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT), the hope is that trail-goers might stop to explore, play a few holes, and discover a new reason to enjoy this tucked-away spot.

Original Image here

Proposed Location circled in Yellow, Red line is the SNETT

A Growing Trend, a Local Opportunity

Disc golf continues to gain popularity, with steady interest seen throughout the past year. It’s not just a national trend—local residents have voiced support during the February 25 Board of Selectmen meeting.

The proposal in Blackstone is for a modest, community-focused course—not a massive tournament destination. With limited parking available, the idea isn’t to attract crowds, but rather to provide a new recreational option for residents and visitors on foot or bike from the nearby SNETT trail.

It’s a chance for Blackstone to embrace an accessible, low-impact activity that gets people outdoors and makes good use of underutilized space—while adding our town to the growing map of New England disc golf stops.

More Than Just Disc Golf

While the focus has been on the disc golf course itself, the vision presented by the Worcester Sports Foundation goes beyond just one sport. According to director and course designer Jeff Turgeon, the plan includes:

• A maintained disc golf course and walking trail, both open to the public
• No cost to the town—the Foundation will seek grants and sponsorships to fund the project
• Volunteer-driven stewardship, including regular cleanup and course maintenance
• Respect for the land, with minimal disruption and a focus on revitalizing currently overgrown, unused town property

This isn’t a private takeover or commercial venture—it’s a community-forward effort built on passion and purpose.

That purpose is clear in Ken Allard, a Blackstone resident on Elm Street, who first brought the idea to the town. Ken volunteers with the Foundation and has spoken openly about the impact disc golf has had on his own life. After picking up the sport three years ago, he says the physical activity and welcoming community helped him beat diabetes.

Today, he plays at Dacey Field in Franklin (the closest one to Blackstone), a course also run entirely by volunteers. “We’ve become stewards of the land,” he says. “We make sure it’s clean, that the trees are protected. It’s not just a place to play—it’s a community.”

This proposal, at its heart, is about bringing underused space back to life, offering residents a low-cost way to stay active, and building community around care for public land.

In the April 22 Board of Selectmen meeting, it was confirmed that this project could legally move forward under a license agreement—which allows the town to retain full control of the land while permitting limited, revocable use. The agreement would spell out responsibilities like insurance, maintenance, and what happens if the project ends.

Community Questions & Conversations

As with any new idea, there are details to work through. Board of Selectmen members raised thoughtful questions during the last meeting:

• Will residents still have access if tournaments are held?
• Who’s responsible for cleanup, especially after events?
• Is parking for 15 cars enough for larger gatherings?
• Would the town’s Parks and Recreation team need to manage the area?
• How do we ensure it’s a safe, respectful space for everyone?

Selectman Mary Bulso noted that the town is awaiting results from a site prioritization study—a review of underused properties across Blackstone. This report may help guide decisions on whether disc golf is the best use of this land or whether other ideas (like sports fields) take precedence.

There were also broader conversations about how this space could serve the community best.

Selectman Gino Olaes voiced some skepticism, noting he would personally prefer to see the area developed into soccer or multipurpose fields—amenities he feels would directly benefit families and children in town. He also raised concerns about whether disc golf would bring meaningful economic activity or long-term value to the community.

Meanwhile, Selectman Ed Castonguay offered a more reflective take. He pointed out that while disc golf has been played in the U.S. for over 60 years, Blackstone has never had a course of its own. He expressed interest in seeing the results of the upcoming site prioritization study to better understand how the land could serve the town’s long-term goals.

These conversations reflect the heart of small-town decision-making: balancing possibilities, priorities, and perspectives.

What Happens Next?

The Board of Selectmen have asked the Town Administrator to reach out to the Worcester Sports Foundation to come back with a more detailed proposal—how they would fund the course, what the layout might look like, and how operations would be managed. In the meantime, town officials will review the prioritization study once it becomes available and think through long-term goals for public land use.

And that’s where you come in.

🗣️ What Do You Think?

Disc golf could bring:

• Low-cost recreation for all ages
• New reasons to explore our town’s trails and open spaces
• Visitors who might shop or eat locally
• A creative reuse of land that’s been dormant for decades

It also raises questions about:

• Parking and event logistics
• Ongoing upkeep
• Balancing priorities with other potential uses, like soccer or multipurpose fields

We want to hear from you, the community. Is this something you’d like to see? Are there other ideas you’d love to suggest for this space?

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Take Our Quick Poll:

Would you support bringing a disc golf course to Blackstone? Vote and tell us why in the comments below!

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Get Involved

Whether you’re for it, against it, or just curious—we encourage all residents to get involved:

• 📧 Reach out to your town officials and local committee members to share your thoughts
• 🗓️ Attend a meeting—hear the discussion and voice your perspective
• 🗨️ Share this article with your neighbors and start a conversation

This is your town. Your voice matters.

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📌 This article is part of our mission at Small Town Post to inform, connect, and spark conversations about the future of our town. As Blackstone considers new ways to use public land, we believe it’s vital that every voice has a chance to be heard. Whether it’s disc golf, parks, trails, or other ideas—you deserve to know what’s happening and how to get involved. If you have a story to share, a community project in mind, or a topic you’d like us to cover, we’re here for it. Drop us a line anytime at editor@smalltownpost.com.

Let’s shape the future of Blackstone—together.