Dog Park Plans Enter New Year

With Momentum

By Kendra Bobowick

“I want ours to be ‘Wow! You’ve got to see Newtown’s dog park!’” said Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano Tuesday, speaking with a handful of Dog Park Subcommittee members.

Funding, location, and research regarding a proposed dog park topped their to-do list.

Money is out there, but the members discussed the possibility of establishing 501(c)(3) status to help them get it. Thinking first of town Finance Director Bob Tait, Chairman Kaia Fahrenholz said, “We’ll have to get him to bless it.”

Once established, the nonprofit status creates financial opportunity. Funds and grants are accessible, and donations are tax deductible, according to Ms Fahrenholz and member Monica Roberto. Animal Supply retailer PETCO has assured the chairman that funds are there, but not without the 501 designation.

The committee would like to see the park installed at the end of Trades Lane past Reed Intermediate School and below the horse guard where open fields wait. The site is adjacent to the area reserved for a new dog pound. Results of soil testing will in part determine if the site is suitable. Results should be in midmonth. If contamination eliminates the roughly two-acre site, Plan B is to approach the Fairfield Hills Authority and seek another areas on the former state hospital campus.

“What if we can’t use the first parcel?” asked Ms Fahrenholz, turning her attention to Michael Holmes, an authority member who had attended her committee’s meeting Monday. Unable to give her a precise answer, Mr Holmes explained that the Fairfield Hills property has reached a “juncture,” and is up for review. He is sure authority members will be open to listening to requests, however.

Is a two-acre plot going to be enough? “I have gotten comments that it’s not,” Ms Fahrenholz said. To Mr Holmes again she said, “There is a lot of land [in Fairfield Hills].”

“A lot of it is designated for open space, parking …” he answered.

Conversation moved to discussion of other dog parks throughout the state. Member Sue Thompson, along with Ms Fahrenholz, categorized a variety of parks, creating spreadsheets to see where and what the other locations offered. The intention is to complete research. “Volunteers can take a ride; I would like volunteers to visit Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan …” Ms Fahrenholz explained. She also circulated a list of questions the committee volunteers might ask other park coordinators. What were their hurdles? Who owns the park? How large is the area? Who maintains it? What fundraisers worked? These and other questions came to her mind.

The idea is to generate a history for the various locations. “What can we copy, what were the biggest challenges?” she asked. Points to consider also were ground cover. Mulch, wood chips, gravel, and grass all needed consideration. Which material sustained mold, disease, or mud?

The committee weighed additional questions. What about water, cleanup bags, benches, annual fees? As the committee moves ahead, Ms Fahrenholz said, “Try to get as thorough a picture as possible, the more information the better.”

Ms Thompson asked, “Is anything envisioned by Park and Rec?” Ms Reggiano replied, “We like the land where the dog pound is going [off Trades Lane]. We want a park where there are ramps … we want to be different, maybe an agility course.” The park’s spectrum depends on funding, the chairman noted. Regarding funding, the group could “put out penny jars in stores and this could take years and years, or we go to companies and get it paid for…” So far estimated costs for fencing are between $40,000 and $50,000. “Anyone with ties to a fencing provider will be rewarded [somehow],” Ms Fahrenholz suggested Thursday morning.

Also at the meeting were Kim Jaeckel, Benay Yaffe, Ruth Hutchinson, and Barb Kinzig, each offering their thoughts, support, and suggestions.

Visit the town website at www.Newtown-ct.gov for the Parks and Recreation Department’s page and link to the dog park committee. Minutes from past meetings are available, along with future meeting dates. Ms Roberto is currently preparing a website at NewtownParkAndBark.org. Contact the committee at Newtownparkandbark@gmail.com.