Cottonwood Park has been used unofficially as an off-leash dog park for years, and several residents at an Oct. 19 forum on improvements for the park said they want it to stay that way.
Town administrator Andrea Phillips said at the start of the forum that the town is applying for grant funding to add some amenities to Cottonwood Park, and since a fenced in-town dog park has been on the town’s radar for a while, she wanted to get some user feedback on a path forward.
“It’s not a huge grant, but it would help with basic amenities,” she said. Among them are trail improvements, more bear-proof trash cans, a walkway to the picnic area to increase accessibility, and a fenced in area for dog walkers to let their canines legally off-leash. Signs have recently been installed at the entrances to the park informing dog walkers of the town’s leash laws. If ticketed, violators can face a fine of around $100.
Nearly every resident in attendance at the Monday night forum expressed a desire to leave the park as it is, and maybe reinforce the park’s off-leash status with signage.
“I don’t think an enclosed dog park would really suit the needs of the people that use the park,” said resident Ian Mott, noting that incessant dog barking in town limits from fenced-in dogs is another problem that has not been addressed. “I think its important to allow dogs to socialize, and run free...(fencing Cottonwood) would punish responsible pet owners that take their dogs to the park to socialize and play.”
Not everyone was on board with the idea of an off-leash park. Barbara Schwartz of Montezuma Veterinary Clinic said that since the town has put leash laws on the books, she’s noticed a steep decline in the number of pets that have been hit by vehicles.
“I can’t get behind a totally off-leash dog park. I think you have to have limits,” she said.
Forum participants were able to vote on whether they’d like to see Cottonwood as a fenced-in park, an off-leash park, or an off-leash park only at certain hours.
Phillips said she is preparing to send the grant application this week.