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Mayor Calls for 'Balance' in Timber Creek Park

Mayor David Mayer stops short of calling for a halt to disc golf plans, but publicly asserts the project must be "done in the right way."

 

Mayor David Mayer addressed a group of residents' concerns over the development of a disc golf course in Timber Creek Park during Monday night's Township Council meeting.

"It has to be done in the right way," Mayer said of the project.

Timber Creek Park is a 128-acre property located off Chews Landing Road in Gloucester Township. The land is owned and maintained by Camden County.

Mayer recently walked the proposed disc golf course and wasn't thrilled with what he saw there.

"My concern was that it was really encroaching on a lot of the sensitive areas in that park," he said Monday night.

The mayor indicated he brought up his concerns with Freeholder Jeffrey L. Nash, liaison to both the Camden County Department of Parks and Camden County Division of Environmental Affairs, during a discussion earlier Monday.

"I think that we have to find a balance—a balance providing recreation here in Gloucester Township with protecting our environment," Mayer said.

Mayer remains optimistic something will be worked out that will both protect Timber Creek Park's natural environment and provide avid disc golfers with a second Camden County course—the first opened in Voorhees earlier this year.

He did note, though, that the decision ultimately will fall on county officials, since Camden County owns the property.

"It's not a decision that I or the township get to make," the mayor said.

Mayer told Timber Creek Park activist Chris Schillizzi, who attended Monday's meeting, that he will put the concerns he expressed to Nash into writing.

Schillizzi and a few others launched the "Save Timber Creek Park" Facebook page on Sept. 28 after Schillizzi and his wife, Joanne, discovered about 50 trees had been cut down to make way for the disc golf course.

Mayer and Council President Glen Bianchini, as councilmen in 2003, fought a developer's proposal to build some 800 homes on the land now known as Timber Creek Park, the officials said.

"It is a gem, and I'm glad it's preserved," Bianchini said.

Related Topics: Disc Golf Course, Gloucester Township, Mayor David Mayer, and Timber Creek Park

Joe

7:30 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Maybe it should be paid for by the few people who will actually use it. Not by most people who will never see it or even care to. It seems that in the grand view of things the money could be used wisely not tossed down the rat hole. Who will maintain it and what does it cost? Here's a new idea, how about fixing roads!
You won't have any hesitation in raising my taxes next year will you? Better think again about where you spend "OUR" money.

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Adam

10:06 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

as for maintenance, most disc golf courses are taken care of by the actual players - volunteering!!! That is one of the big advantages for the county/townships. Baseball fields require mowing, infield work, etc - and disc golf course traditionally get ALL or nearly all of the work done by the players/volunteers.

Laura Cressman

8:41 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Whats funny is nash says mayer did it an mayer says i had no idea. Nash apparently had no idea of how big the plans were. They cant maintain and protect what we have yet they have 18000$ to build this? We never had the opportunity to vote on it. The "golfers" most of them dont even live in nj yet alone camco. This is ridiculous!!

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Adam

10:04 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Actually a lot of golfers live here, which is kind of surprising since there have been no courses in the area until very recently. Many more residents will pick up the sport, and this will include families and children. Disc golf is the fastest growing sport in the country for the last 10 years. New Jersey is just way behind the times in regards to this sport.

Michael

8:53 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

If, as the Mayor asserts, we have no say in the matter as it is not a decision he or the Township gets to make, maybe we should pull our police coverage from the park.

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Charles

9:03 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Perhaps we should open the disc golf area to the dog walkers. This could solve two problems at once!

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Adam

10:09 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

disc golf areas are always open to dog walkers, I take my dog with me when I play often...

It amazes me the negativity towards something that is not understood, or unknown. But that is OK, as in time the disc golf community will show the benefits of having such a large group of people come to play, pick up trash, work on the continuing maintenance of the course, and even have tournaments to raise money for local food banks (we call them ice bowls, and its a disc golf winter time tradition going back 20 years - but NJ doesn't know about that yet as there have been no courses in the area), etc.

Mike Cassidy

4:21 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Joe is right. How many of our taxpayers are actually going to use this ? Roads around the township suck, fix them.

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Anonymous 4 CamCo

10:55 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Seems that after reading many comments on this article and the previous the disc golf people are a little pushy and hel bent on coming accross as wonderful people. We are sure that they are but this has become an all out jihad to quell any dissent to this project. On the Save Timber Creek Pary FaceBook page page the majority of the disc golf people are from out of state and honestly fanatical in their defence of the activity.

For the record we do not care if disc golf comes to Timber creek Park or not, what concerns us is how freeloader, DRPA vice chair and Sr. Partner of Cozen O'Connor refuses to take any responsibilty to the people of GT and CamCo on this issue. He shoved mayor Mayer under the bus and Mayer retorts with a lame excuse about having no control over the county projects. Myer and Nash are both power players in the CamCo democrat party or Norcrats.

What is further remarkable if you referrence the original article, Bill Fagen the GT Rec. Director was interviewed and seemed like a driving force behind this project because of his bad back. Maybe this is his payoff for some of the underhanded things he has done for the Norcrat machine in the past year.

The PEOPLE own these parks and it is the PEOPLE that politicians must answer to, not special interest groups and their online attack dogs. We are legion, We are watching.

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David Grube

6:37 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

I'm a tax payer in Camden County for 40years. Been playing Disc Golf for 25 yrs. I know I will be playing on Timber Creek just as I am playing on a completed 9 hole course at Stafford Words. KEY WORD here people is CORROBORATION . THINK ABOUT IT AND ENJOY UR DAY.

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David Grube

6:48 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

You say a lot for being anonymous. THE PEOPLE want to play DISC GOLF. Get your facts straight, 29 GOLFERS showed up at the County Freeholders Meeting for Oct and 28 of them where paying taxes and LIVING in Camden County. Put down your shield and go to Stafford Woods and give the game a try before you condemn it please. Again think about it and enjoy your day.

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Anonymous 4 CamCo

8:20 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Hey Dave, relax and stop being such a bully. In fact it is becoming curiouser and curiouser why the disc golf people are rallying so hard on this. I could not care less about disc golf one way or another. Never played it and never will based on the attitudes of those claiming to be avid players.

That said if the township or county wants to install a disc golf course I say bravo but when it seems at variance with other residents it becomes an issue. Jeff Nash said at the freeloader meeting that Dave Mayer contacted him about this project. The mayor denied this and Nash is walking back that comment. But he said it, check the tape on that.

CORROBERATION as you put it Dave is someone vouching for another, my guess is that you meant COOPERATION. So take your own advice and keep an open mind to those who disagree with the township and county...not you militant disc golfers. You seem far more organized than random individuals. Maybe their is a behind the scenes deal that is driving this media blitz by the disc golfers? We are legion, we are watching.

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Roger Delgado

9:30 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

What kind of deal could there be that involves disc golf? Did the Mayor or a Freeholder suddenly get hired for a no-show job to lobby for Red Bull or one of the sponsors of this? Does the Mayor have a stake in a disc golf semi-pro team? What?

Is this speculation or is there some kind of legitimate link between disc golf and Mayor Mayer?

David Grube

9:56 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

I believe it is you who needs to relax. I was just stating facts, something some people seem to have all mixed up. And as far as the bullying, you must be reading between the lines or something. Non of my statements where rude or offensive. Again please try and enjoy your day.

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Anonymous 4 CamCo

10:59 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

David, you are stating opinion, your opinion. And it's not the words that makes you a bully it is the tone and intent. You are among an organized group who are attempting to polish the image of disc golf to people who could not care less. Go play your little game to your hearts content but stop trying to convince the rest of us how great it is. This is a media campaign that has been organized for a specific purpose. We applaud the people at Save Timber Creek Park as good citizens and patriots. We are legion, we are watching.

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Adam

7:08 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Anonymous, yes, you are watching - and full of crap. Be a real man( or woman) and put your name up. I'm going to have to ASSUME who you are, since you have no courage to stand up with you name, and if I'm correct - have cencored most ocmments and what information is out there about this topic. No you just throw uninformed and incorrect statements about other people, and condemn volunteers. You have no idea what you are actually condemning, other than you want nobody else in the back of the back so you can have your dog off leash at will, out side of the designation 9 aces that is already fenced in. And IF you are indeed the same person I'm picturing, and by your tone, and personal attack of Dave - you proboaly are - then you are also the same person that removed the Boy Scout trail markers, twice; and cover over the high school cross county lines every meet. Now you have found another group to attack and try to push out of "your park" - Mr. De-Facto Ower. This is public park, not your private back yard. Learn to play well with others

Michael

7:59 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Personnally, I could care less if there is a disc golf course in the park. My concern is the cutting down of the trees. I want to walk through the park, yes, with my dog off leash, and enjoy the woods. I don't want to feel like I'm walking through a golf course. Can't they use the open space at the front of the park?

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Anonymous 4 CamCo

9:33 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Touchy much Adam? The last bation of the lost argument is to call names and vilify. You and your disc golf minions are laughable. You have no idea who WE are, we are Anonymous, we are legion and we are watching.

The point of our interest is that people are being bullied by an organized group and we will not stand by idle. I point to YOUR tirade against us as my evidence. Be careful throwing around incriminations deary, we are unafraid and watching.

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Michael

9:47 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Hmmmm...... would that be Mayor Mayer?

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Roger Delgado

10:18 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

I believe the disc golf people refer to him simply as "Dave".

Anonymous 4 CamCo

11:14 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

What is further remarkable is that freeloader Jeff Nash is on the record stating Mayor David Mayer of Gloucester Township was the man behind the disc golf course at Timber Creek Park. Now it is revealed that Mayer's employer Comcast profits from this activity as well al the Pro Disc Golfers of America. And by the way one if not more of the disc golf bullies is a member if said organization. Are we seeing the big picture unfolding. Greed, corruption and self aggrandizement at the expense of county taxpayers? Facts dear Adam, facts.

One other issue that seems to be overlooked is Gloucester Township councilwoman and running mate of freeloader Nash, Michelle Gentek, the local "green queen". Where is this staunch advocate of the environment in all of this? Is she silent because of her lack if backbone or is she just another green fraud? We are asking Michelle, we are waiting.

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Michael

11:34 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

She hasn't been given permission to speak yet. The puppet masters want to ensure she is properly trained before making comments in public.

Jack Straw

12:42 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Why ruin Timer Creek Park with metal baskets and guys in loud apparel running around throwing discs? It's one of the nicest parks in the area, with paths running along the creek in the woods and adjoining meadow.There's plenty of space available in Camden. Hell, that would make the game more interesting!

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Paul J. DiBartolo

12:49 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Kind of like a cross between Disc Golf and "The Game" (Michael Douglas & Sean Penn) or "Judgment Night" (Emilio Estevez & Cuba Gooding).

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Jack Straw

1:15 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Paul, "The Running Man," with Professor Toru Tanaka, Jim Brown, and Jesse Ventura trying to kill you while you run for your life.

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Darren Gladden

4:35 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Relax I'm training my boys in them woods ..............When the white Van is there we all are safe from Bullies " Now Disc Golf peeps ........Can I make Timber Creek Park into a paintball Zone when you are playing your Game ..........Just saying we can have some fun .......Now I am Darren Gladden and I watching all you Knuckleheads ..........Just care , I do
http://youtu.be/Iza1wMzJN_I

Christian Exley

8:59 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Mayor Mayer is not the "Dave" who brought this project to the Freeholders. Dave Myers, a Blackwood resident, is the one who has been asking for a disc golf course near us. Just another example of people using misinformation and jumping to conclusions.

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Dave Myers

10:47 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Yes misinformed conclusion jumpers, it is I, Dave Myers that has brought this wonderful recreational activity to Timber Creek Park. Not Freeholder Jeffery Nash, not Mayor David Mayer, not recreation supervisor Bill Fagen. Some where down the line, the names David Mayer & David Myers got confused (as you can witness, very easily done). 'Anonymous 4 Camco', your posts humor me to the extent of peeing my pants. Calling disc golfers "bullies", seriously!? I would think trying to keep others out of a PUBLIC park is a better definition of bullying. All this talk about $18,000 worth of tax payers money is also humurous. How do you know this wasn't a grant that wasn't received for recreational purposes?

I love how people always seem to jump on the bandwagon without knowing ALL the facts first. Opinions/stories get larger & larger when passed down from one to another. Mr. Schillizzi and his bandwagon of followers are just in some of their opinions and concerns but are also over inflated and sensationalized in others.

As for you Mr Anonymous 4 CamCo, you and your "Legion" can continue watching. You can watch me, and many others play disc golf within Timber Creek Park very soon.

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Anonymous 4 CamCo

11:55 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Threats and recriminations from the bully disc golfers again. Dave Myers of Blackwood, fraud alert. He is a hardcore disc golfer. His interests are personal and not for the good of the public. http://discgolfer.ning.com/m/profile?screenName=36rtqa4g2aq4w

And by the way Dave, government grants ARE TAX DOLLARS. We are legion and we will not be intimidated by politically connected frauds.

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Dave Myers

12:38 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

LOL, humorous to say the least. Nice detective skills Anonymous. Yes, I'm from Blackwood. Yes, I'm a hard core disc golfer. Fraud!? Pulling another falseification out of your... ? Don't you have the kahuna's to show your identity online? Not that I would care to know, but hiding behind the anonymous icon gives the perseption of a gutless wonder to others. Is this what you are all about?

Legion!? Here we go again. Another made up fantasy word that satisfies your own make believe importance.

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Sean McCullen

12:45 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

Let's add something new to the conversation, gents, or move on. Thanks.

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Michael

12:55 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

Maybe we could add a skeet range too! We wouldn't need clays, we could just shoot at the frisbees. :)

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Anonymous 4 CamCo

4:06 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

Hey Sean, it's not our fault Dave is all butt-hurt over this. Thin skinned with an attitude. Sounds like the current occupier of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He even has the press protecting him. Bwahahahaha!!!!

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Chris

8:44 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

your not so anonymous when you create this page on Facebook CHRIS SCHILLIZZI and are the only person to "Like" it. You are the person with an agenda who has a pompous attitude to anyone who disagrees with you.

JakeT

12:47 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Both sides need to relax a little here. Protecting the environment is indeed a worth cause, but having done a little research these frisbee golfers seem to do more good than harm in that regard. I am not a player, but I have seen trashed parks and underutilized public land revitalized by the inclusion of a frisbee golf course. Before retiring to NJ, I used to live in Dover, NH where there is a frisbee golf course in a public park. I walked my dog there before and after the course was installed, and I have nothing but good things to say about the golfers there. The land in question, Bellamy Park, was overgrown and unhealthy (not to mention full of beer cans) before the golfers came in. Like you all, I was initially concerned when I heard a course would be installed, thinking the land would be unavailable for me and my old beast. In fact, not only did the golfers clean up the weeds and trash, they would stop playing every time I came hobbling through (an exercise in patience as I am not young or fleet footed). It seems like there is a lot of confusion amongst opponents of this venture as to what is actually entailed in the creation of a course. Most of them appear to have very little impact on the natural land (unlike a paintball course as a previous commenter joked about) and use the natural landscape as opposed to altering it like a regular golf course. They want to keep as many trees as possible to make the course more challenging, not cut them all down to make an open lane.

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JakeT

12:47 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Some of the biggest conservationists I knew in NH played frisbee golf, and while not every golfer will be a positive factor for the course (just like not all hikers and dog walkers), the vast majority of them are a major boon to the land.

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Dennis Byrne

12:35 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012

Anonymous 4 CamCo is a hoot! He/she should write for Jay Leno or Letterman. Talk about drawing conclusions from thin air, and making ominous sounding implications based on NO FACTS at all. There is no money to be made from disc golf. Most players and especially promoters are spending money & time from their own pocket to provide a public service. Removal of trees on courses is almost always dead or invasive species. It doesn't stop dog walkers or anyone else from enjoying the property. In fact, it has been used successfully, many times, to drive unwanted illegal activites out of parks and return them to positive public use. Commcast can't possibly be making $$ from the disc golf tv show as the rating points are likely close to zero (only because most people are unfamiliar with the sport). Disc golf is an excellent "lifesport" that virtually anyone can play (even blind, visually impaired, and other special needs individuals), school age to golden age, with a simple, inexpensive piece of plastic. Just one will do. It takes a lot less time to play than ball-golf, and can be enjoyed by the entire family together (with their dog). I guess that if my logic and arguments where as weak as "Anonymous", I wouldn't show my name or face either!

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