Norwich – After hearing mixed comments from the public on a plan to create a disc golf course in Mohegan Park, the City Council voted 4-3 Monday in favor of establishing a committee to raise the estimated $10,000 needed for the project.

The Mohegan Park Improvements and Development Advisory Committee presented plans to the City Council Nov. 19 for a proposed nine-hole disc golf course in the section of Mohegan Park where the failed controversial Chelsea Gardens botanical gardens had been proposed. The defunct Chelsea Gardens Foundation stirred opposition when it cut six acres of trees in the area off Wilderness Road without having full funding for the project.

Abutting property owners on Butternut Drive, who led the effort to kill the Chelsea Gardens project, opposed the proposed disc golf course Monday, urging the council to leave Mohegan Park in its natural state.

Supporters of the disc golf course said the low-impact nine-hole course would attract visitors to the park with minimal construction needed to erect baskets and mark spots for players to toss discs. The course would amount to a half-mile walk for participants, said Beryl Fishbone, chairwoman of the Mohegan Park committee.

With the approval, the council authorized the Mohegan Park committee to name members to the subcommittee that will oversee fundraising for the project, using an account in the city Finance Department. Fishbone said the committee will set up the committee at its Jan. 10 meeting. She said the committee will organize fundraisers and approach possible sponsors.

Public Works Director Ryan Thompson said he strongly supported the project, but adamantly opposed using any of his department budget to pay for the project.

Thompson said the project would have minimal impact on the environment. He suggested a gravel parking lot for about 15 vehicles be created off Wilderness Road in what had been the proposed entrance to Chelsea Gardens.

The rest of the cost would be for concrete-anchored baskets and small tee pads – about four feet in diameter – with woodchips.

Mayor Peter Nystrom voted against the project, saying he felt the location and timing were wrong, and he was concerned that the Public Works Department already was stretched too thin.

Alderwoman Stacy Gould supported the project to attract more people to Norwich, engage in activities and maybe stay for lunch or to shop.

Aldermen Gould, Samuel Browning, Stephanie Burnham and Joseph DeLucia voted in favor of the project, while Nystrom, Alderwoman Joanne Philbrick and William Nash opposed it.

c.bessette@theday.com