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| Public feedback sought for townwide off-leash dog proposal |
 Those with an interest in Arlington's parks and open spaces or who have expressed an interest in the topic of off-leash areas for dogs in Arlington are looking for your feedback. Below is a draft proposal for a "Green Dog Pilot Program," which was presented to the Board of Selectmen for discussion July 16 by Clarissa Rowe. The board received the report and expressed support for moving forward with a public process to investigate the options.The goals are to collect facts and obtain a broad spectrum of community input over the next six to nine months. Distributing the proposal for comment to members of the community with an interest in this issue is the first step to begin the public dialogue, which those involved hope will result in a warrant article presented to Town Meeting next spring. Please review the enclosed information and provide comments, questions, edits, clarifications, suggestions and other general feedback. I have agreed to be the keeper of the feedback, so you can respond to me at
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, but also copy
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,
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, head of recreation;
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, animal-control officer;
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of the Conservation Commission, and
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, town health director.
You are encouraged to further distribute this information to Arlington friends, neighbors and others who you think would have an interest in providing feedback on off-leash areas in Arlington. It would be most helpful if you could respond by early September.
We will be holding public meetings on the topic and will notify you when they are scheduled.
{mospagebreak title=Draft of program}
DRAFT FOR REVIEW AND COMMENTSJuly 2007
Town of Arlington, Green Dog Pilot Program Fenced and Off-Leash Pilot Program, June 2008 to June 2009 Under supervision of the Arlington Board of Selectmen, and Arlington Parks and Recreation Commission and the Arlington Conservation Commission. Green Dog Pilot ProgramThe Green Dog Program is modeled after the successful program in the Town of Brookline. Green Dog off-leash and fenced dog areas will be established following three public meetings where citizens’ concerns will be heard.
To balance the needs of both dog owners and nondog owners, the Town will establish a Pilot Off-Leash Green Dog Program with designated parks and hours throughout the town. The program is being developed with the following considerations:
• Parks users/neighbors • Park size • Wildlife/historic areas/sensitive areas/ gardens • Passive and active uses of the parks • Athletic fields • Impact on schools, children and the elderly • Distribution of parks throughout the Town • Current use patterns of dog owners • Police reports of problematic dog issues The Green Dog Pilot Program is being put together by representatives of the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Health, the Dog Officer, the Police Department, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Conservation Commission and the Open Space Committee. The program will be reviewed by pediatricians, veterinarians, and dog trainers before it is presented to the general public. The pilot program is a town wide program so that no one park or open space will be severely affected. A warrant article with these proposed changes will be presented to Town Meeting for their vote in the Spring of 2008. The success of the Green Dog Program will depend upon compliance with the rules and regulations of the Pilot Program. Although the Arlington police will enforce a new bylaw, it will only succeed if participants self-police their parks. Dog owners and nondog owners alike need to build a culture of respect and cooperation. There are over ______ licensed dogs in Arlington. Please practice unconditional consideration of your fellow park users and dog owners. And remember, IT IS THE LAW! You must clean up after your dog whether on or off-leash. Help keep the parks clean so that dog waste does not have a negative affect on the public’s perception of the program. Arlington has access to beautiful ponds, rivers and lakes. Make sure that no dog waste ends up in any water body.
{mospagebreak title=Program evaluation}
How will the Pilot Program be evaluated?If accepted by the 2008 Town Meeting, the program will expire the following June 2009.The overall success of the program will be evaluated by: • Inspecting the parks to determine compliance • Seek input from the director of the DPW, the director of Natural Resources and the parks maintenance crews • Inspecting police reports • Completing a survey of abutters of the participating parks, dogs owners and park users • Scheduling public reports throughout the program’s duration The following are the preliminary recommendations of the Dog Committee. Exact locations and hours will result from a lengthy public process during the fall and winter months.
A. Arlington’s Fenced Dog Areas Subject to change Possible Fenced Dog Areas Poet’s Corner Thorndike Between Scannell and Spy Pond Reed’s Brook Hill’s Hill Each fenced dog area will have mulch as a groundcover, a four-foot chain link fence with one gate, trash barrel, appropriate signage and dog bags. The cost of the fenced dog parks maybe funded by a raise in the dog license fee. ALL HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE -- PLEASE CHECK SIGNAGE B. Arlington’s Off-Leash Dog Areas Subject to change Parks not listed do not have off-leash hours. Off-Leash Hours Dawn to 9 a.m., April through November Dawn to dusk, December through March
Turkey Hill Robbins Farm – Hillside only Menotomy Rocks Park – Woods only Ottoson Woods Mt. Gilboa Reservoir, Stump Dump only (This area to be phased in in 2008 after new planting is stabilized) Banks of the Mystic Noon to 1 p.m., weekdays only Designated area at Thorndike Dawn to 9 a.m., weekdays only Hurd Field Magnolia Field Spy Pond Park Each off-leash area will have a trash barrel, appropriate signage, and dog bags. ALL HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE -- PLEASE CHECK SIGNAGE This pilot program automatically expires June 2009 The Green Dog will be displayed in designated parks with program hours. We would like one “dog” advocate to volunteer to monitor each park or open space mentioned during this pilot program to give the town officials feedback on the progress. {mospagebreak title=Town rules, regulations}
For more information on the Town’s bylaws & Green Dog Program updates, see the town Web site >>
Rules and Regulations • Dogs are allowed off-leash in posted off-leash areas ONLY. Posted off-leash hours are suspended when the park is being used for a permitted or school-based special event. • Dogs must be leashed when the DPW crews are working in the parks. • Dog owners must maintain effective verbal control of their dogs and always be able to see their dogs off-leash. Dogs must not leave the off-leasharea and go onto private property. Dogs who show continued aggression towards people or dogs must be removed immediately. An owner is personally liable for any damage or injury his dog inflicts or sustains. • Always clean up after your dog and carry a disposal bag. • Dogs must wear a collar with identification at all times, be licensed and vaccinated, healthy (have no contagious conditions or diseases), and be parasite-free. • Dogs must be at least 4 months old to be allowed off-leash or in a fenced in dog area. • Each person is limited to three dogs. • Dogs in heat shall not be allowed off-leash or in fenced in dog areas. • Dogs are not allowed in playground areas, sand-boxes, tennis courts or basketball courts. They are also not allowed in cemeteries, in school-yards or on church land. • Dogs must not chase or disturb wildlife, or enter sensitive open spaces (such as gardens). These areas will be posted. • Dogs must be leased prior to entering and leaving the off-leash or fenced dog areas. Owners shall have a leash visible at all times. • Dog owners in groups need to be aware that their voices can carry to the abutters of the park. Please be quiet during the early morning hours. • Violators of these rules are subject to removal from the off-leash and fenced dog areas. They will have their off-leash privileges revoked. • These rules and regulations pertain to posted off-leash and fenced dogs areas ONLY and have no bearing on the present bylaw regulations concerning dogs on a leash in non off-leash areas. • The Town of Arlington has no jurisdiction over the adjacent land owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation or the Massachusetts Highway Department, but it is our hope that dog owners will follow these same rules in those locations. ALL HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE {mospagebreak title=Proposed Green Dog schedule}
Proposed Schedule for Pilot Green Dog ProgramAugust 2007: Town Manager, Chief of Police, and DPW Head, Revisions to the ProgramSeptember 2007: Initial Review by Regulating Boards, Parks and Recreation, Conservation Commission, Open Space Committee. Review by Pediatricians, Veterinarians, and Dog Trainers. Revisions to the Program November 2007 to mid-January 2008: Three public meetings with the General Public to resent the Pilot Green Dog Program, Revisions to the Program January 2008: Submission of the Warrant Articles for Pilot Green Dog Program May to June 2008: Vote of Town Meeting to initiate Pilot Green Dog Program May to June 2009: Report to Town Meeting on successes and failures of the Pilot Green Dog Program {mospagebreak title=Background about parks, open spaces}
Share Our Parks and Open Spaces With Thousands of Park Users Arlington is the third densest municipality in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are proud of our parks and open spaces. We want to insure that dog owners have safe options for exercising their dogs while other park users are not disturbed by the presence of dogs. Not all people welcome a dog approaching them, their children or their leashed dog. Because many dog owners consider themselves responsible citizens, they have asked the Town to establish off-leash and fenced dog areas so owners can legally run their dog off-leash or in a safe fenced area so that they do not affect other park users. Being a responsible dog owner means ensuring that your dog is licensed, healthy, safe, well cared for, and does not cause property damage or create a nuisance to other members of your community. Arlington is proud of its many beautiful parks and open spaces. Remember that you are sharing these parks with: • 42,000 citizens • ____ athletic team participants • School leagues & teams • Neighbors & abutters • Walkers • Leaf peepers • Sun bathers • Bicyclists • Boaters • Readers • Sledders • Wildlife |
| Last Updated ( Monday, 27 September 2010 15:35 ) |
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