The Conservation Commission wants to create a dog park and kayak launch in the town’s 229-acre Keith Mitchell Forest.
The plans are very preliminary at this point, but with town support — and a little funding — the Conservation Commission hopes to start attracting grant money to get the project moving.
Chairman Peter Jezierny asked the Board of Selectmen Tuesday to give the commission $5,000 from the town’s Open Space Fund in order to hire an engineer to start working on plans for the recreation site.
The board unanimously agreed, saying the land has a lot of potential.
The Open Space Fund, which is designated for land purchases and improvements, had about $43,900 in it before the transfer was approved Tuesday.
“With commitment from the town, it will be much easier to get a grant,” First Selectman Paul Roy said.
The planned location is at the Great Hill Reservoir, off Squantick Road just before the round-about.
“The town purchased the forest property from the old Ansonia Derby Water Company at a cost of almost $2 million back in the 1990s,” the commission wrote in a letter to the Board of Selectmen. “It is high time that the people of Seymour get some return on their investment with the creation of lake access and a dog park.”
Plans
Jezierny said the commission wants to create a parking lot on land that was previously cleared, but has become overgrown.
The commission hopes to build a road leading to that parking lot. The proposed dog park will be located near the parking area.
The kayak and canoe launch would be part of a second phase to the proposal. That phase would include a walkway from the parking lot to the reservoir.
Jezierny said the materials for the project would likely cost about $33,000. The commission hopes to receive grant money to pay for that.
Selectman Phillip Wilhelmy said he wanted the Conservation Commission to try to address security around the dam as part of the plan. Currently, people jump off the dam into the reservoir, Jezierny said.
“If there’s a small problem and we do all this work to bring people in, are we creating a larger problem?” Wilhelmy asked.
Hooooooray!!! I’ve been trying to get this started and it finally is becoming a reality! Unfortunately, my pup Ezra is no longer alive to enjoy it, but, thanks to the hard working and savvy people of Seymour, CT, the dog park will be built!. There is a web-site and FB page created than can be updated, and I am happy to help, especially on the engineering side since, I am one of the few Cornell graduate, professionally-trained engineers in the Valley…plus I would love to have a dog park for everybuddy to enjoy (along with the 699+ other licensed Seymour dog owners). Thank you…Thank You…Thank you…pls call me at 203-954-7514 for help!Tx, Marc
Also, web-site is http://www.seymourdogpark.weebly.com and there also is a FB page called “Dog Park in Naugatuck Valley Dog Park” or sesoothingike that. Please like the page…Tx in advance, Marc
It’s about time Seymour and the entire Valley catch up with the rest of the state in offering open area recreation. As an avid hiker/kayaker i don’t want to drive far to find a peaceful body of water. There are people who appreciate and respect the outdoors that regularly use it–and they become protectors of it- willingly keeping it clean and reporting anyone that abuses it!
WE NEED THIS!
A nice dog park in much needed in the valley. The valley is a great place to live but we are definitely lacking outdoor recreation areas (trails, parks, bike paths, etc.) The O&G dog park in Southbury in great but too far away – having a park in Seymour will be convenient. Heck, take it one step further and light up the park with lamps that use the dog waste as a park in Cambridge, Massachusetts is doing – http://parksparkproject.com/home.html – put Seymour on the map for something positive and good for the earth!