ANN ARBOR, MI– Does Ann Arbor’s west side require a dog park or a minimum of devoted off-leash hours someplace?
That concern has actually shown up in current months and city park authorities have actually considered it, acknowledging there are 3 fenced dog parks in the city today, however none on the west side.
There’s one at Olson Park on the city’s far north side, one at Broadway Park in main Ann Arbor and the Swift Run Dog Park in far southeast Ann Arbor.
However where to put brand-new dog parks– or simply let pets run leash– can be a questionable problem, as next-door neighbors are not constantly on board, city authorities acknowledge.
The city’s prepare for a dog park at West Park was ditched almost a years earlier due to issues raised by a surrounding church, leading to the city rather developing the one at Broadway Park, and there hasn’t been a prepare for a dog park on the city’s west side considering that.
City Parks Supervisor Josh Landefeld talked about the problem with the city’s Park Advisory Commission at a conference in late September, when there was talk of possibly upgrading a dog park expediency research study from a number of years ago to think about brand-new choices.
” Every couple of years, we appear to have demands or devoted interest in advancement of a dog park in a particular area, in addition to the 3 that we presently have,” Landefeld stated, discussing the collective effort by a group of Ward 4 and 5 locals who desire a dog park at Allmendinger Park.
A dog and an individual walk through Allmendinger Park in Ann Arbor, where some locals wish to see a brand-new city dog park, on Nov. 16, 2022. Ryan Stanton|The Ann Arbor News
Homeowners should not need to drive throughout town to get to a dog park when there’s appropriate area to have one within strolling range, Pauline Boulevard resident Daniela Kister informed park authorities at a July conference, keeping in mind the ecological effects of driving run counter to the city’s carbon-neutrality objectives.
There has actually been an increase of pets in the area considering that the start of the pandemic, Kister stated, arguing there’s adequate space for a lap dog park at the southwest corner of Allmendinger Park without interfering with other park usages.
There were comparable discussions a number of years ago about developing a dog park at Buhr Park, Landefeld stated.
At a number of city parks without fenced locations for pets, consisting of Allmendinger and other west side parks, pets currently frequently run around and play off leash, though it’s unlawful.
Julie Grand, an outbound City board agent on PAC, stated there has actually been conversation of developing off-leash hours that would not need to suggest developing a brand-new fenced dog park.
” Possibly as more individuals have pets, that may be something that a group may ultimately wish to think about piloting that would not need the exact same type of resources a minimum of,” she stated. “And as one may anticipate, it’s a shockingly polarizing problem … however it does not suggest that it may not deserve attempting some other choices besides a physical dog park that we need to keep.”
Other commissioners concurred it deserves thinking about, though it’s amusing Grand is drifting that now as she’s leaving council, joked Erica Briggs, another City board agent on PAC who concurred it is among the more polarizing problems.
Tucker, striped pitbull mix, sees as Zuma, Jersey and Obie dip into Swift Run Dog Park in Ann Arbor on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Jacob Hamilton|The Ann Arbor News
” Individuals truly do have rather strong sensations on this and I believe for excellent factors,” she stated. “There’s a great deal of excellent perspectives and crucial perspectives on both sides of the problem, however clearly there are neighborhoods all throughout the United States that have off-leash times and it most likely is something that may be worth checking out prior even to considering a dog park.”
As much as any area like Allmendinger Park may be seen by some as a fantastic area for a brand-new dog park, Briggs stated she can picture as lots of countering issues about having a dog park in the middle of a greatly house.
” This is something crucial to be considering,” she stated. “And clearly the more we’re increasing density in our neighborhood, that is likewise increasing animal density in our neighborhood, therefore I believe we truly do require to be considering where are those leisure opportunities for animals.”
If the city chooses to have actually committed off-leash hours at parks, possibly the city might step up enforcement throughout times when it’s not permitted, Briggs stated.
” It likewise may make it better for the schools to be able to state that we certainly do not enable pets off leash on school homes,” stated PAC Vice Chair Anne Marsan, keeping in mind pets running leash has actually been a persistent problem behind Slauson Intermediate school.
Prior to making any choices about a brand-new dog park, Landefeld stated the strategy is to complete upgrading the city’s parks master strategy, which requires to be sent by Feb. 1. The upgraded strategy will supply a chance to determine the more comprehensive neighborhood desires, requires and worries for parks and help PAC and parks staff identify top priorities for the coming years, he stated.
If after conclusion of the strategy PAC suggests checking out extra dog parks, staff will follow a procedure laid out in a 2013-14 report by PAC’s Dog Park Subcommittee, examining websites utilizing the recognized requirements, Landefeld stated.
The city is still attempting to keep the 3 existing dog parks and there are some enhancements required, he stated, keeping in mind the parks department has a great deal of capital requirements and minimal resources.
That stated, Landefeld acknowledged the absence of a dog park on the west side and stated staff can believe additional about the problem.
” I likewise think that individuals like pets, the pandemic brought a great deal of pets back into the neighborhood, so it’s simply looking for that balance of how we start to progress with it,” he stated.
Among the objectives with the brand-new parks strategy is to determine how to focus on resources and there’s going to be interest from individuals in a west side dog park, PAC Chair Lauren London stated, including the concern will be, when taking a look at the general park system, what are the top priorities to put financing towards.
In regards to future park centers locals desire, a city study discovered the most-requested feature is a splash pad or spray park, and other regular demands consist of pickleball courts, dog parks and runs, and routes. In addition, there’s been a push by some for a bike pump track, which the city is thinking about.
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