By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN

BG Independent News

It looks like Bowling Green dog owners may need to bark up a different tree if they want a dog park in the city.

The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Board Tuesday evening listened to city residents, learned about a dog park in operation, and discussed the lack of space for a dog park in the existing city parks.

The board heard from Amy Bowman Moore, executive director of Erie Metroparks, about the Erie MetroBark Park which has been in operation for about 14 years. Bowman Moore talked about best practices and issues overcome at the dog park.

The facility started out charging for memberships, but is now open to everyone. According to Bowman Moore, no complaints have been received from neighbors of the park.

She suggested that a dog park be at least three acres, with separate areas for large and small dogs. 

But Bowman Moore also pointed out that a dog park is more than a fence and bench. Daily maintenance must be performed to make sure any holes dug by dogs are filled, to pick up trash, and to make sure “mutt mitts” are stocked.

“It’s a lot more labor intensive than you think it is,” Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley said.

The board took no action on the request for a dog park. Board President Jodi Anderson noted it would be difficult to find space for a dog park on the current park acreage.

But the unofficial citizens committee plans to pursue the idea, research other dog parks and come back with a proposal.

A committee has been formed for local citizens interested in the creation of the dog park. The link to sign up for updates from the committee is https://forms.gle/8LeMn4pmKp4HcMpA7

“Anybody who’s interested, we’d love to have them,” said City Council member Jeff Dennis. 

“Communities all over the U.S. have managed to figure this out,” Dennis said after the meeting. “We just need to take a look at what’s working in other communities.”

Jo Ascunce, who spoke with the parks and recreation board last month about dog parks, spoke again on behalf of the Citizens for BG Dog Parks Committee.

The committee is meeting regularly to research, and organize what is needed to create walkable dog parks for the community. 

“We have been visiting dog parks in other communities to see how they are put together,” Ascunce said.

“We strongly feel that creating these spaces would fit perfectly into Bowling Green’s plan to ‘embrace the numerous opportunities, partner together, and set realistic – yet aspirational – goals to continue moving Bowling Green forward,’” she said, using a quote from Mayor Mike Aspacher’s State of the City Address in March.

Ascunce addressed the concerns about creating dog parks on city park land that already has designated purposes.

“But the needs of the city change and the park board recognized that when they repurposed park space for a skate park, a skate rink, basketball courts, tennis courts, disc golf course, baseball diamonds and most recently pickle ball courts,” she said. “So park lands are repurposed regularly.”

“Conveniently located, walkable dog parks play an important role in socializing people and pets. They are used by people of all ages, from all walks of life and are a desired feature in growing communities,” Ascunce said. “With a Bowling Green dog population of over 3,400, we believe the park board should reconsider repurposing some park land to accommodate this valuable asset to our community.”

Also speaking at Tuesday’s meeting was former City Council member Sandy Rowland, who said she isn’t opposed to dog parks – but has some concerns about them.

Rowland referenced a New York Times article citing concerns that dog parks are unhealthy for dogs, not good places to socialize dogs, and can be places where dogs are harmed by other dogs.

She also noted that cities and counties in Ohio cannot regulate dog vaccinations including rabies. Governmental bodies do not have experts in dog behavior, animal illnesses and administrative staff to operate such parks, she added.

Rowland suggested the group of people who want a dog park become a non-profit organization and create their own park.  

Other residents at Tuesday’s meeting voiced support for a dog park, while others voiced reservations, saying there is no need, and the city parks should remain as they are.

While a recent community survey showed a lot of support for a dog park, the city’s parks and recreation board reminded that the existing city parks all have intended purposes. They also said creating a dog park would be a duplication of services since one is already operated by the Wood County Dog Shelter off East Gypsy Lane Road.

While city residents have requested a dog park that is walkable from their homes, park board members noted that a location that is walkable for some residents could be too far for others.

According to a recreational needs survey conducted in 2021, the number of people wanting a dog park was similar to those wanting outdoor pickleball courts. 

Pickleball courts are in the planning stages now, Otley said, but that is because the city already has a dog park on the outskirts of town – and local pickleball players are raising funds for the courts.

City Council member Bill Herald said after Tuesday’s meeting that the dog park effort is a true grassroots operation.

“Citizens are doing the heavy lifting,” he said.

Herald drew up a charter for a dog park committee, which states the following:

The intent of the following sections is to provide an explanation and way forward for researching the addition of a dog park in Bowling Green.

MOTIVATION

There is great interest in adding another dog park in Bowling Green.

The city of Bowling Green’s Park and Recreation Department and the Parks & Recreation Board both currently have heavy workloads and responsibilities.

Because of the need for a dog park and the Parks & Recreation organizations’ workload, it has been determined that the creation of an ad hoc, potentially temporary, committee to handle the research will help all parties and will move the project forward.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Dog Park Committee is to conduct the research needed to fashion a recommended proposal to add a dog park to serve the citizens of Bowling Green. The proposal will then be presented to the city of Bowling Green (e.g., Park & Recreation Board and/or City Council).

RESEARCH

Factors to include in the research and resulting recommendation will include:

(a) Funding, including potential use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds;

(b) Location, for example in a current park or existing city land;

(c) Impact on current facilities and mission, especially if location is in a current park;

(d) Impact on current staffing and other city resources;

(e) Potential partnerships with citizens and/or organizations;

(f) Maintenance plan for dog park;

(g) Liability issues;

(h) Membership options.

TIMING

There are at least five target milestones:

1. Advocating for designation of a prescribed amount of ARPA funds for potential use in setting up (not maintaining), the dog park;

2. Producing the recommendations and presenting the resulting document to the city;

3. Having the city consider, possibly revise, and ultimately adopt recommendations;

4. Implementing the recommendations resulting in an additional dog park in B.G.;

5. Maintaining the dog park.

COMMITTEE

The Dog Park Committee will consist of at least seven members. Membership will include:

* A citizen from each quadrant of the city (NW, NE, SE, SW);

* A volunteer representative from Bowling Green City Council;

* A representative from the Parks & Recreation Board (if there is interest);

If, for some reason, any of the slots cannot be filled, other interested citizens will be found to fill the membership on the Committee.

The Committee will be autonomous from the city and will establish its own governance rules. However, open meetings will be encouraged. Although it would be ideal for a member of the Parks & Recreation Department to be on the Committee; regardless of membership, close communication with the Parks & Recreation Department is very strongly encouraged.

Posted by: Jan Larson McLaughlin on April 28, 2022.