Disc golf reps upbeat on Joe Davis at Lewiston Town Board session

by Terry Duffy

Lewiston Town Board members had a visit at their April 11 work session from two representatives of Niagara Region Disc Golf. The representatives were decidedly upbeat on Joseph Davis State Park and the town's recent takeover of the parklands from New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation.

Chad Adams, a PDGA-certified official with a background in course design who serves in project management, as tournament director and as a board member with Niagara Region Disc Golf, said the group has a decades-old connection to Joe Davis. We're committed as a small organization to use that park," said Adams. He said Niagara Region Disc Golf has been associated with Joe Davis since 1980 and that thousands of disc golfers have used the park over the years. He said Joe Davis has become one of the area's more popular destinations for disc golf enthusiasts, joining Beaver Island on Grand Island, Wilson-Tuscarora and Chestnut Ridge state parks as desired facilities. 

He made special mention of a Wednesday night league at Joe Davis that has grown in popularity, so much so that at times disc golfers had to be turned away. Another popular attraction, reports Adams, is the group's Labor Day luau at Joe Davis, which typically draws hundreds of participants each year.

Adams, joined that night by course designer Doug Opelia, told the board that Joe Davis is "one of the oldest in the world in disc golf circles," pointing out disc golf traces a basket design to a former state parks employee at Joe Davis, and that the design has gone on to be recognized at a disc golf national center in Augusta, Ga., and is still in use today.

The two spoke highly of Joe Davis, calling it "a wonderful training ground" with its distinctive flat terrain. "It makes the player take on his best game," said Adams.

"We want to help make it a better place," he added, saying Niagara Region Disc Golf looks forward to working with the town in the future.

Supervisor Steve Reiter, who has been instrumental in the park's takeover from state parks and in planning its future, told the two that disc golf is definitely in the town's plans at Joe Davis. "We want to enhance what you guys are already doing there. We look forward to working with you."

In other news from the brief work session:

•Town Board members recognized Dave Perreault for his efforts in running a youth basketball program for the town. Perreault, who worked as a volunteer coordinator with three Lewiston-Porter High School seniors in running the program for 70 youths, was praised for his value to the Lewiston community.

•The board unanimously approved a resolution by Councilman Al Bax to appoint Lewiston attorney George S. Adamson to serve as the new town prosecutor.

•The board approved a motion presented by Reiter for approval of a $24,937 low bid submitted by Fox Fence Co. to cover fencing needs on town property at the Lake Ontario Ordinance Works site. The fencing, described as being 6-feet-high and aluminized with barbed wire, is designed to prevent trespassers and ATVs in LOOW site areas. The fence project is being funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

•The board approved a Reiter request to seek bids for generators for the Lewiston Highway Department garage on Harold Road and the Lewiston Police Department headquarters on Creek Road.