Group Begins Planning

A Dog Park

By Kendra Bobowick

Pugs, poodles, retrievers, Dalmatians, Chihuahuas, and Great Danes.

They might play together all at once or just a few at a time when Newtown’s dog park is established. Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold said this week, “We are currently looking at a location.” She hopes to see the fenced-in park located near the proposed site for a new dog pound off of Trades Lane. Public response to establishing a park has been “overwhelming.” Ms Mangold added, “People have been really supportive,” especially since a boost in leash law enforcement has occurred at Fairfield Hills.

Since then, she said, “People have been coming forward asking where they can let their dogs run.” The recreation department hopes to solve that problem. “Our goal is to provide [a park],” Ms Mangold said.

The department already has raised $1,500 from the past Dog Days of Summer event in August, with more efforts to come. Monday, Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano organized the first meeting of residents who would like to be involved. Fundraising ideas and a boost in awareness through a website are two things she would like to see initially.

Along with Ms Reggiano and a small collection of residents, Ms Mangold also met as the group discussed goals, fundraising ideas, costs for fencing, parking, water features, and possible properties. “Many people favored the access to water, a stream, a pond, they all rave about Southbury.” Southbury’s dog park is bordered on one side by a rapidly running river where hundreds of tennis balls, Frisbees, and sticks are retrieved, over and over again by rambunctious dogs. “We have to examine the possibilities,” she said.

Residents involved with the dog park are Ruth and Robert Hutchinson, Monica Roberto from The Animal Center, Audrey Greenwood, Benay Yaffe, Al and Diana DiSabato, Debra Trillhaase, Diana Kruznak. With only their first meeting Tuesday, participants are looking ahead to the first Tuesday of next month, December 1, at 6 pm, at Town Hall South for their next meeting. They plan to discuss a possible logo contest, park naming contest, and search for volunteers to design pamphlets, etc, to assist the group. Contact Ms Reggiano at roseann.reggiano@newtown-ct.gov.