Portland's Pier Park has become a beacon for disc golf enthusiasts, now ranked as the third most popular disc golf course in the nation. With the sport's surge in popularity comes an increased responsibility towards the preservation of the park's natural resources. As recent efforts have highlighted, even a game as seemingly benign as disc golf can leave its mark — literally — on the landscape.
Seeing the forest for the trees, local Park Tree Coordinator Joel Smith, alongside Horticulturist Dave Blado and Arborist Kilion Haas, has implemented protection devices around seven trees particularly vulnerable to the wear and tear of the sport. Given the species' varying abilities to withstand impact and the locational propensity for high-velocity hits, this measure strikes as a keen acknowledgment of the subtle yet significant strain disc golf can place on tree bark and soil alike. Installed a little shimmy and shake amidst the foliage, these devices aim to shield the trees from further damage while not hindering their growth.
Disc golf's low barrier to entry and the use of natural landscapes as courses might give the impression of a sport at one with nature. However, as usage intensifies, so does the potential for environmental wear-down. This initiative not only exemplifies Portland's proactive approach towards conservation but also serves as a model for other cities with similar disc golf courses, such as those found in Gresham, Vancouver, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and select state parks like Milo McIver, Dabney, and Champoeg.
Thanks to the joint forces of Portland Parks & Recreation and Urban Forestry’s Tree Maintenance Operations Team, the trees of Pier Park — while silently standing as sentinels to flying discs — receive the care they deserve. As golfers continue to flock to the course, cradling their discs with the anticipation of a perfect throw, they might notice these new arboreal guardians, a reminder of Portland's commitment to keeping its green spaces both activated and intact.
