The full City Council may be asked to help effort to create a Westfield Dog Park.
WESTFIELD – City Councilors Christopher M. Crean and James R. Adams agree with residents of the Paper Mill Recreation Area neighborhood is not a good place for creation of a dog park.
But, they have offered their assistance to the Friends of Westfield Dog Bark in finding a suitable location for dogs to run and play. And, Crean expects to expand that effort to include others in the form of a special advisory committee.
“It is obvious that Westfield needs a dog park and we will work with that organization to try and find a suitable location,” Adams, an at-large councilor, said following a public hearing on the proposal conducted by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Crean, who represents the Paper Mill Road neighborhood, questioned whether placement of the dog park at Paper Mill “creates another hazard for the neighborhood. I am not totally convinced we are not putting another hazard there, adding to existing public safety and traffic issues that already exist.”
To that end Crean offered his assistance, along with Adams, to “take a hard look at this issue and work with the commission and friends group to launch a serious search for a better location.”
Crean said the City Council has never been asked for funding for a dog park project but indicated it is something that will receive consideration. He said Friday he will ask the City Council at its Feb. 16 meeting to support the search effort. Joseph Avenue resident Donna Vella cited concerns with “safety for children and parking” if the dog park is created. “I am an animal lover but I am not able to support this as a place for a dog park,” she said.
Paper Mill Recreation Area, located adjacent to Paper Mill Elementary School, serves as the city’s Northside location for Westfield Little League baseball.
Little League President John Wheeler said “baseball is for kids and I understand dogs need to run” but disagreed with mixing both activities.
Friends officers Edward J. Phillips and Marilyn Sandidge said the group proposed the Paper Mill because it is the only current available public place. Other recreational areas and playgrounds are not suitable because of location in a flood plain or other issues, they said.
The Friends group wants to build the fenced-in park, police and maintain it free of charge to the city.
Phillips said there are specific rules for use of the facility by dog owners. He and Sandidge said there will be no charge to users of the facility, indicating financial support will come from fund raising activities and donations.
“Dog owners will be responsible for their dogs when using the park,” Phillips said.
The Park and Recreation Commission is expected to consider allowing the project to proceed at a Feb. 27 meeting.