Marilyn Sandidge, vice president of Friends of Westfield Dog Bark, refers to an aerial image of Papermill Playground Thursday evening at a public meeting staged by the city's Parks and Recreation Commission to discus the possibility of adding a playground for dogs to the city park. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – All the speakers a public meeting stated Thursday evening to discuss a proposal to locate a dog park at Papermill Playground said they supported a dog park in the city.
However, residents of that neighborhood who spoke questioned the wisdom of establishing it at the park.
At the meeting staged by the Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission, a representative of Westfield Little League, which has for decades used the ball fields at the park (which are maintained by Little League volunteers) also raised objections.
John Wheeler, the longtime president of the league, said that he had not realized how big the area for the proposed dog playground is and said that it would include an area currently used for batting cages.
In addition, he said that he has seen home runs and foul balls hit into the area proposed for the dogs.
He said that the fields are already used by dog walkers and said that children sometimes report finding dog droppings in the fields.
He also said that, since the league is expected to lose a baseball diamond now at Cross Street Playground due to planned construction, the Papermill fields will be more in demand.
Donna Vella, a Joseph Avenue resident, said that she is a dog lover but said that the park is not the place to locate a dog park.
She cited parking concerns saying that, during Little League games, the available parking at the playground and at the adjacent school are all filled.
Vella called a dog park “a luxury” and said that the park “must be for children.” She said that the limited space should be reserved “for people who really need to be there” and said that the presence of dogs in the area would make her concerned for the safety of children at the playground and the school.
She raised the issue of liability the city might be exposed to if a dog park was allowed to be located on city property and a dog injured a child.
She also said that abutters would be troubled, especially early in the morning, by the noise of dogs barking.
Marilyn Sandidge, the vice president of Friends of Westfield Dog Bark, said that, under Massachusetts law, the owner of a dog is solely responsible for its actions. She said that in researching the question she found that there has been no case to determine a precedent about an injury to a child at a dog park located near a playground.
When Wheeler questioned the accuracy of her information about the liability issue she cited the applicable chapter and section of Massachusetts General Laws, Ch. 140 Sect .155.
Edward Phillips, the founder and president of the group working to establish a dog park, said that he was inspired to organize the effort after visiting a dog park in Granby, Conn., which he said was the closest dog park to Westfield.
He said that the dog park there is located on public property in a park surrounded by baseball diamonds, soccer fields and people.
He said that the rules of the dog park there are enforced by the users who also maintain and service the dog park.
In response to Wheeler’s complaint of dog refuse on the ball fields, he said that there will be ample supplies of plastic bags to pick up after the dogs at the dog park. He, and other speakers, said that peer pressure will encourage users to follow the rules and said that there will probably be fewer incidents of dogs soiling the ball fields because the dogs will have less reason to use them with a doggie playground nearby.
He said that Papermill Playground is not an ideal place for the dog park he envisions but said that, once established, the supporters would be in position to move it to a better location if one is found.
He pointed out that other sites considered – Grandmothers Garden, Stanley Park, Whitney Playground and Arms Brook Park – have not worked out and said that Papermill Playground “seems to be the only place available right now.”
He also said that there are 3,900 dogs licensed in the city and said that the fees generated should benefit the dogs. “Where does that money go” he asked. “It should go to the dogs” he said.
Mariah Stratner, a member of the board of directors of Friends of Westfield Dog Bark, said that she has been to the Granby park often and said that “early comers” are unusual so abutters are unlikely to be troubled by barking dogs early in the morning. She, and others, also said that problem barking is not common at a dog park as the dogs attended and engaged.
Many of the speakers used the Granby park as an example and inspiration and all said that the park there is well policed and maintained by the users and that they have not seen any conflicts with other users of the park.
Katherine Butler said that on her visits to Granby she has not seen any dogs mingling with the children there and said that the dogs are well controlled by their owners.
Joan Corell of Western Circle said “I don’t have a dog but I’d really love to see a dog park in Westfield.” She said that on her frequent visits to New York City she likes to visit some of the many dog parks there because “It’s so joyful to see the dogs playing with each other.” She said that, although there is all sorts of activity around the dog parks, she has never seen a conflict.
Henry Weffing pointed out that a dog park would not only be a social outlet for the dogs but said it would also be an opportunity for their owners to socialize and make new friends.
Two city councilors in attendance also spoke.
Chris Crean, the representative of the Ward 6 where the playground is located, said that a recent meeting of the school’s PTO he was surprised to hear how much concern there was about the park. He said that the parents he spoke with support a dog park but don’t want it near the school. He said that some children are afraid of dogs and questioned if there was room enough at the park to add a dog park.
Crean offered to work with the organizers to find another location as well as funding for a dog park but said “I’d like to go back to the drawing board to find another place.”
Jim Adams, an at-large councilor and the City Council liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission, said “after tonight’s meeting we definitely do need a (dog) park.” He said that he would support a dog park at Papermill Playground if it was located there but he would like to see it located elsewhere. “We need a dog park (but) I’m not sure this is the best spot.”
Adams, who is also a member of the Little League Board of Directors, explained that the concern about balls hit into a dog park is that the incoming balls are “bombs” and said that users who are not paying attention to the ball games would not be looking out for foul balls so they, or the dogs, might be struck by the incoming missiles.
Several speakers including Margaret Hill, another Friends of the Westfield Dog Bark board member, said that she would not be likely to use the dog park when the park is crowded with baseball fans and doubts if others would patronize it when the Little League players are active on the fields so many of the concerns raised would not be an issue.
Michael Barnes, of Papermill Road, said that he also doesn’t think the park is a good place for a dog park both because it would impinge on Little League activities and would limit the options of educators who use the park for physical education classes, field days and other activities. He said that they already try to stay off the Little League diamonds to avoid wear on those fields and the dog park would further reduce the space available for them.
“I think it’s a bad move any way you want to look at it” and also said that, since the park is not effectively policed, additional use would increase graffiti and vandalism.
Joanne Barnes asked who would pay of the water and electrical service a dog park would need.
Stratner responded and said that “vandalism is going to go down” because there will be more responsible people at the park keeping an eye on the facilities at times when it is otherwise less frequented.
Phillips joined others who said that users of a dog park are likely to be responsible because scofflaws would not want to go to a park where they would be subject to rules. “Ninety nine per cent of the people who use a dog park are responsible” he said.
“I just hope Westfield is smart enough to put a dog park in somewhere” he said.
