Westpark Plan Faces Resident Opposition Over Disc Golf Proposal

By Valerie Cury

A proposed $29 million transformation of the former Westpark Golf Club is emerging as a key issue before county officials, with local residents voicing sustained opposition over public input, park design, and what constitutes a “passive” use of land.

At a March 10 meeting of the Finance, Government Operations and Economic Development Committee, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors weighed the future of the 134-acre Westpark property—a sweeping redevelopment plan that includes trails, boardwalks, water quality improvements, stream restoration, and the creation of 12 acres of wetlands.

But it was not the environmental features drawing the sharpest scrutiny.

Instead, debate centered on a proposed 18-hole disc golf course, a 57-space parking lot off Clubhouse Drive, and supporting amenities including restrooms and a pavilion—elements that nearby residents say would bring unwanted activity too close to their homes.

Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) made clear that community opposition has been both significant and sustained.

“I am sure all of you know there has been a lot of community concern for folks living along Clubhouse Drive and in Country Club and also Woodlea,” Umstattd said. “One of the things that I had hoped would get mentioned were the number of comments on the website on this project.

Over 100 expressing concerns. So, I am going to mention it now since it didn’t come up in the staff presentation.”

Those concerns, she said, are “mostly about disc golf and partly about parking lots [in close proximity to the neighborhood].”

Umstattd described a community meeting in early January where opposition appeared overwhelming.

“It was nearly unanimous in opposition to disc golf.”

At issue is proximity. Some disc golf stations, along with the restroom and pavilion, would sit near residential property lines—raising concerns about noise, safety, and increased foot traffic.

County staff said the closest disc golf hole would be 75 feet from the property line, measured from basket to boundary.

Umstattd suggested alternatives, noting potential cost savings if certain features were removed.

Eliminating the restroom and pavilion, she said, could reduce project costs by roughly $1 million.

Director of Parks Recreation & Community Services Steve Torpy sought to reassure supervisors about operational controls, particularly around restroom access.

“We have added automatic locks so when the park is closed, the restrooms are locked as well.”

Still, the restrooms would be open during park hours without supervision—another point of unease for nearby residents.

Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) raised a broader question—whether concerns about flying discs differ meaningfully from the property’s former use as a golf course.

“Is the threat from discs more substantial than when it was a golf course?”

Torpy responded, “I don’t think it is different.”

But Letourneau appeared unconvinced that the feature was necessary at all, noting that the Town of Leesburg is already developing a disc golf course at Ball’s Bluff Regional Park.

“It doesn’t seem like two is needed.”

Torpy countered that the Ball’s Bluff course is more heavily wooded, while other county parks—such as Franklin Park and Hanson Park—see steady disc golf use.

Letourneau then posed a critical hypothetical, one that underscored the uncertain political footing of the proposal—“If the residents aren’t supportive of this after the demonstration, which I expect will be the case, would it then be your intention to not move forward with it?”

Umstattd did not rule it out.

“If the community continues to oppose it after the demonstration, I’ll probably ask that it be removed at that point.”

For now, she emphasized, she is only requesting a public demonstration of the sport, scheduled for March 26.

Letourneau signaled deference, “I’m happy to follow your lead.”

Not all supervisors shared the same level of concern.

Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) voiced strong support for the design, framing disc golf as a low-impact recreational use aligned with the park’s passive designation.

“This is an appropriate use for a passive park. I am super supportive of this design.”

She emphasized the informal nature of the activity—drop-in rather than organized—and pointed to environmental benefits.

“Disc golf is a minimal environmental footprint, and there is less parking than before.”

Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) echoed that sentiment, describing the use as passive and noting there would be no tournaments.

Still, the volume of public feedback loomed large. When asked, staff reported receiving approximately 170 comments on the proposal.

As the discussion turned toward next steps, Umstattd introduced a motion to advance the project to the April 21 Board of Supervisors business meeting, with a recommendation that the Board—“take the community concern into consideration prior to endorsing the proposed major design elements.”

What followed was one of the meeting’s most pointed exchanges.

Board Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) took issue with the wording, interpreting it as a critique of the Board’s record.

“The implication is this Board and every member of this Board doesn’t always take community concerns into consideration. In some ways it’s insulting to think that we wouldn’t take into consideration … community concerns,” said Randall.

Umstattd pushed back, reframing the issue as one of perception rather than intent.

“There is a perception in the community that the outreach hasn’t been as extensive as some of us might think. There is a concern in the community that they have not been heard or listened to. I would like to reassure them that we will listen to them.”

Briskman, returning to her support for the project, offered a more philosophical closing note.

“God doesn’t always answer your prayers in the way you want him to answer your prayers.”

The fate of the disc golf course—and potentially other design elements—will depend on how county officials respond to sustained opposition from nearby residents.

Residents have consistently expressed that they prefer trails near their homes and oppose the addition of the disc golf course, parking lots, restrooms, and a pavilion in close proximity.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to revisit the Westpark proposal on April 21.