Odell Park trees cut for possible disc golf expansion

A Fredericton woman is alarmed the city is cutting down trees in Odell Park for what she's been told is the expansion of a disc-golf course in the park.

Disc golf is played with Frisbees and nine holes were created on a field on the edge of the park in recent years.

Penny Pacey says she was walking through the wooded hillside park recently and came across dozens of trees marked with pink ribbons.

When she asked a city official what was going on, she says she was told the disc golf course is being expanded.

Pacey says the park belongs to the people of Fredericton and was never meant for that kind of use.

"I still couldn't believe they're cutting that many trees but then as I kept walking, the trees started coming down over a matter of days and there were large bundles of trees down on the ground," said Pacey.

"And it's really very much changed the look of this part of the forest. It no longer looks like a natural forest, it now looks more like, you know, there are wide open areas.

"I've always thought of Odell as a natural trust, given by Jonathan Odell or at least his family to the citizens of Fredericton. It's one of the very best things about Fredericton."

Pacey is now demanding that city officials explain what's happening to the park.

She says the public was not consulted about expanding disc golf into the heart of Odell and she doubts there would be much support for the project.

Attempts by CBC News to reach city officials for an explanation have been so far unsuccessful.