West Stockbridge — Following a November 18 public hearing, the West Stockbridge Planning Board agreed to visit the site of the town’s future dog park, 21 State Line Road, on November 23, at 9:30 a.m., and gather more information. The group is slated to reconvene on December 3, at 7:15 p.m., to discuss the matter further.
The public hearing—that included alternate member Sarah Thorne in place of member Andrew Fudge—began with a 15-minute presentation by Dog Park Advisory Committee Co-Chair Michael Bolognino. According to Bolognino, a dog park not only benefits society’s four-legged friends by providing canines with exercise and socialization but also their human owners, adding connections and friendships to their lives as well as offering an opportunity to exercise, be outside, and have access to mobility for those without personal yards. He said the space is a win for the community at large by patrons adding to the economy of nearby businesses, reducing waste on town streets with its dog excrement receptacles and making the municipality more attractive to future residents.
With its eight members, the Dog Park Advisory Committee scored a Stanton Foundation grant for up to $275,000, funding the construction of the park and its maintenance at a rate of three percent of the construction costs annually for three years. A $25,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act will fund the remaining 10 percent of design costs as the Stanton Foundation required a percentage buy-in from the town. That grant was approved by citizens at the May 6 Town Meeting.
At 1.15 acres, the fully fenced park will house a small-dog section and a large-dog section and, per Bolognino, will avoid encroaching on the existing sports fields, playground, and skate park adjacent to Town Hall. The park is also designed to be ADA-compliant and will serve as a nature respite for residents who don’t even have a dog.
Bolognino explained that the Town Hall tract was chosen out of four possible locales by the Select Board on March 25 and met all criteria set out by the dog park group. Board Chair Dana Bixby asked to see the contract between the town and committee as “documentation to support the [dog park] application,” a paper trail. Bolognino responded that the group will provide evidence of the town’s consent to the project.
At issue for the dais was the concern that the town would be liable for the park’s upkeep and maintenance expenses past its initial few years. However, Bolognino and Sax responded that a nonprofit organization, Friends of the West Stockbridge Dog Park, has been created to raise those fees and the town won’t be financially burdened by the project. Additionally, although liability issues that may impact the park fall under West Stockbridge’s insurance policy, the town’s insurance rates will not be raised by adding the park to its coverage.
Board members questioned the removal of trees to enable the project’s design to move forward under the guise of the Berkshire Design Group. Company Principal Jeffrey Squire assured members that the trees to be removed are already identified and were selected to provide larger open areas. According to Squire, the idea was to insert the park into the existing woodlands.
The park will be open from dawn to dusk and only allow dogs that are registered with the town. A list of dog park rules will be posted, including requiring that the dogs be at least six months old, spayed or neutered, not have parasites, and be leashed before entering the park according to West Stockbridge’s leash law. Children under 10 years old won’t be allowed in. However, as with other parks in the area, the dog park will not employ an individual to police those regulations.
Dogs from other towns will be allowed to use the park, but there will be a limit to the number of dogs permitted in the area at one time.
Molly Meador lives directly next door to the dog park site and, as a dog owner, addressed the Planning Board in favor of the project, stating that the plans were in line with other similar parks.
Kelly Bradbury voiced concern over the water and dog park fountain freezing, with Squire replying that this type of commercial dog fountain has “frost-free protection” and will be decommissioned before the first frost. During that time, dog owners will need to bring their own water to the park.
