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by Eugene Driscoll and Nina Leff | Jul 22, 2010 6:49 am

(8) Comments | Commenting has expired | Send link to a friend | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Derby

Does Derby need a dog park?

City officials are researching the question and will be talking about it Thursday.

Mayor Anthony Staffieri asked Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley to research the issue. She’s scheduled to talk about it tonight (Thursday, July 22) at a Derby Board of Aldermen meeting.

The discussion tonight is just that — a discussion.

City officials have no firm plans at the moment to move ahead.

“We’ll talk about it and see what people think. If people say ‘It’s a dumb idea, why waste your money on it,’ then we won’t do it,” Hughes said. “That’s how government works.”

O’Malley estimated a dog park would cost about $10,000. It appears that Derby already has the money in hand in the form of a specialized grant.

Most dog parks require at least an acre of land. That’s not easy to find in Derby. O’Malley said the area near O’Sullivan’s Island or in a field off the Derby Greenway is a possibility.

However, the dog park would most likely be less than an acre.

O’Sullivans Island is a field next to the Derby Greenway where the Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers meet.

Dogs pooping on the Greenway has been an issue in the past.

Having a dog park nearby might make sense, O’Malley said, by keeping dogs off the Greenway and into a dedicated area.

“We want to gauge everyone’s interest,” O’Malley said. “There’s been a lot of talk about keeping the Greenway clean. This might be killing two birds with one stone.”

In addition, dog parks are nice amenities for municipalities, O’Malley said.

Hughes said dogs, in general, have been a source of headaches on the Greenway. The walking path is narrow. Even dogs on leashes create problems there, at times.

Shelton Aldermen recently approved a dog park at the corner of Nells Rock Road and Route 108. They also allocated up to $16,000 in Local Capital Improvement Program (LOCIP) funds to pay for the necessary fencing.

Colleen Sadick, of Seymour, was one of the few people braving Wednesday’s heat to exercise on the Greenway. She likes the idea.

“Here on the . . . walk, some people with dogs are not responsible,” she said, alluding to the poop problem.

Sadick said having a designated park for dogs would make the Greenway better for non-dog walkers.

“It’s something we’ve been kicking around for the last four years, but it boils down to space and money,” Hughes said. “Now if the money’s there, we have to talk about space.”

The Board of Aldermen meeting starts at 7 p.m. on the second floor of Derby City Hall.

Click here to download tonight’s agenda.

Comments

posted by: jlilangel on July 21, 2010 2:10pm

you might want to clarify that Derby has the Greenway and Shelton has the Riverwalk. A lot of people get the two confused.

posted by: Eugene Driscoll on July 21, 2010 2:19pm

Thank you for catching that. I’m forever calling the Derby Greenway the Riverwalk.

posted by: Watchman on July 21, 2010 4:28pm

The $10,000. cost estimate, to build the dog park, is only a down-payment for the prohibitive cost it will take to maintain clean-up, and supervise the park. Haven’t we learned anything from the cost of tens of thousands of dollars, it takes, to clean-up dog poop on the Greenway. The dog-park, will not eliminate the cost of dog feces clean-up, on the Greenway. In this very bad economy, Derby City Government should not be looking for more ways, to spend taxpayer money, not available in the Derby City Treasury.

posted by: jlilangel on July 22, 2010 8:08am

Right now, the Greenway is turning into a wonderful reacreation area. Many people are fishing, picnic tables were installed by an Eagle Scout (and were replaced after some idiots threw them into the river). And how about a whole NEW boat launch? It’s a very small start to bringing back downtown, but no one will be happy until buildings are up and people are walking down Main Street, enjoying a NEW Derby. Let’s get going already. Enough of the fighting with developers, etc., and move on!

posted by: ucensor on July 22, 2010 10:21am

Signs that say “No animals allowed on the Greenway and Riverwalk are more fiscally responsible. This isn’t such an urban area that this is necessary.

posted by: wiseowl on July 25, 2010 10:39am

This is not a good idea. The bigger dogs do not mix well with the small ones. You do not have enough room to make this a true park where the dogs can run and roam. Also the cleanup costs are too high. Find another place where the size of area is large enough for this

posted by: rosiecaps on July 26, 2010 9:28am

I think a dog park is a good idea for Derby. I have been a resident for over 8 years and I find it offers very little to it’s residents than what other towns have to offer.I think a dog park is a good start in the right direction for this town.

posted by: Mona on July 28, 2010 8:04am

Why is Derby the only one that seems to have a problem with dogs? Other areas with walks allow owners to walk their dogs. Monroe has a wonderfuly walk for everyone. I have a problem with mothers walking 3 across with their carriages and children that I have no room walking the opposite way. I think we should ban carriages. Some mothers leave diapers. Shall we ban them. For the few that don’t obey the signs don’t punish those that are responsible

Valley Independent Sentinel