As downtown flats have opened and stuffed up, the town’s canine inhabitants has additionally grown, prompting a brand new effort to open a canine park in Hartford.
“There’s over 100 dogs in my building alone in downtown Hartford. I confirmed that with my landlord,” stated Micah Kerr, who just lately began a Facebook group to advocate for a canine park within the metropolis. “As more people move into the city, more dogs are also making Hartford their home, and I think there is a real need for a dog park. Walking around downtown, there’s so much dog poop everywhere. People don’t know where to take their dogs. I think it’s something we really need.”
Some Hartford residents head to Wethersfield or West Hartford to permit their furry canines to roam off-leash for an opportunity to play, socialize, and get some train.
Kerr would really like one thing nearer. He stated that he envisions a place the place residents can go to deliver their dogs that creates a “community for pet owners” within the metropolis. The Facebook group, which was created just a few weeks in the past, now has a pair dozen members.
Kerr’s plan targets a small vacant lot over the I-84 tunnel throughout from Heaven Skate Park. The plot of land, proper off Main Street, has some benches however is a largely vacant house devoid of any monuments.
To notice his plan, Kerr should build a coalition of supporters to kind a “friends group,” earlier than he can current a press release of intent to the town. A mates group should include a board of administrators and bylaws that oversee the usage of the park. Each of the town’s main parks has a mates group comprised of devoted volunteers.
“My goal is to build a community first and then get a friends group together, since that’s the process,” Kerr stated. “To me it’s about building a close-knit community, so that if one of us moves away, it’s still sustainable. I want this to be persistent and long lasting. I know downtown is transient and people tend to come and go. But I want the dog park to stay.”
Dog parks are sometimes free and depend on a devoted group of volunteers. Kerr stated he wish to see the cost of the park paid for both by donations, company sponsors or constructed into the cost of acquiring a canine license within the metropolis. In addition, he envisions the house as an area gathering place for canine homeowners to get sources, native veterinarian teams to carry free vaccine days and clinics to supply companies all year long.
“Why not have a Travelers Dog Park? Everything today has a sponsor, why not a dog park?” Kerr stated. “Or why not have the cost built into getting your dog licensed? I think there are several different funding avenues to consider. But we should make the park available to everybody.”
But Kerr admits that if he can’t build a robust coalition, the concept may disintegrate.
A History of Failure
The concept of a canine park has been floated in Hartford for almost a decade, however these plans have by no means materialized as a result of a scarcity of widespread help.
“Parks and recreation has held many community outreach meetings with residents about what they desire in our parks — dog parks just do not come up,” stated Donna Swarr, Hartford’s parks and recreation advisory commissioner. “There is just not a good fit in our existing park infrastructure for one.”
Swarr stated that she personally checked out all choices for a canine park downtown, however couldn’t discover something viable. Hartford’s historic Bushnell Park, which is closely trafficked, wouldn’t be candidate as a result of it’s already at capability, in keeping with Swarr. Other areas are thought-about harmful or unsafe as a result of visitors quantity.
“Keney Park in the North End makes the most sense to put a dog park, but that’s nowhere near downtown. Do I think you can find a space at Keney? Sure. But the people who live around there have not asked for one,” Swarr stated. “Pope Park I also thought was a good option, but people screamed against a dog park a few years back. They planted flowers there instead on the western end of the park. Time and again, a dog park just doesn’t gain traction.”
Former Hartford resident Robert Marshall, who owned the pet provide retailer Naturally Dogs and Cats on Trumbull Street, tried for years to build a coalition for a canine park. But Marshall, who closed his business in 2022 and has since moved out of the town, was not profitable.
“There’s a whole lot of chatter out there about wanting a park, but it’s another thing to actually get people on board,” Marshall stated. “We tried two times to organize a dog park friends group. We first held a meeting for all of my customers who claimed they wanted one, but no one came. We had one meeting where two people showed up. That completely failed. We had another one a year later and no one showed up again. The problem is that the downtown is extremely transient and most people aren’t really attached to the idea of a dog park.”
Marshall, who now resides in Enfield, sits on the board of director’s for Enfield’s Dog Park Action Committee. He helped set up a canine park within the city a couple of years again. The committee rents the house from the city for $1 per yr with all of the funds to take care of the park coming from non-public donations. The park is run solely by volunteers.
“In Enfield last year, we actually had to close the park for a week, because we had no volunteers to help maintain it,” Marshall stated. “We had over 40 people who first volunteered to help, but now we’re down to less than 20. It’s a real challenge getting volunteers. The problem with Hartford is that most people downtown are just not there long enough to really commit to taking care of a dog park. Over my 10 years as a business owner in Hartford, I just didn’t see the commitment to put a dog park together.”
Fraught with controversy
Dog parks, whereas touted by some for his or her social advantages to dogs, are labeled as harmful liabilities by critics.
“A dog significantly increases exposure to disease due to the dog waste, it is a biohazard. Dogs become infected through their feet. This is one of my main concerns.”
Swarr stated it could be nearly unimaginable to make sure that all dogs getting into the canine park are correctly vaccinated and licensed, rising well being dangers for each the dogs and the handlers. In addition, dogs could develop into violent or anxious and may trigger a legal responsibility if the park is on metropolis property.
“The area that Micah is referencing is loud and noisy. It can cause anxiety in dogs. If you look at Hartford, most of the dogs here are rescues with a history of previous trauma,” Swarr stated. “So what if a dog becomes agitated and is now in a confined area? Also, what if a dog escapes and runs out into busy traffic or even onto the highway below? The city would have to contend with this.”
According to the CT Humane Societydogs must be spayed or neutered, up-to-date on all vaccines, over 6 months old and wholesome with none signs to enter a canine park. In addition, dogs displaying any indicators of stress must be eliminated instantly. But Marshall stated these guidelines could not at all times be adopted, leaving some dogs vulnerable. In cities like Hartford, many dogs don’t have correct vaccination data, additional complicating suggestions.
“There’s plenty of dogs in Hartford, but if you take a look, there’s only a few hundred actually licensed,” Marshall stated. “I’ve had dog owners come up to me and say they didn’t license their dog. A dog park relies on good faith. No one is really checking to see what dogs are vaccinated or licensed. I’m not against dog parks at all. But personally, I don’t take my dogs to one for this reason.”
In a social media put up on Hartford Dwellers, many residents stated they need to see the town give attention to larger points comparable to homelessness and crime.
“To those worried about building a damn dog park instead of handling the real issue out here, I don’t want to hear no crying about homeless people seeking shelter there … Because instead of helping them we built a dog park,” stated one Hartford resident.
Others criticized the concept of a canine park as serving to to additional gentrification within the metropolis.
“A dog park will attract suburbanites and gentrification,” stated Ivelisse Correa with Black Lives Matter 860. “Invest in current residents, families and housing inspectors in the city before a dog park. The last thing people need is a place for their pit bulls to fight.”
But regardless of the blowback Kerr has confronted, he stated he intends to push forward together with his imaginative and prescient.
“To some degree it’s correct, but to some degree incorrect, to look at a dog park as a nonvalid use of space, time and energy. While that’s all fine and good, I can’t solve homelessness, mental health issues, income disparity or racial inequality. But I can affect something that matters to me personally and I’m going to try to. While I do that, if I can incorporate some social good, then I’m doing some good in the community. It may not be the good that someone else wants, but it’s still doing good. I think any good in the community is a net positive.”
Stephen Underwood may be reached at [email protected]
