Parks and recreation commission to consider dog-free park at next meeting

One of the concerns raised in 1997 was pet owners and handlers not controlling their animals. That same concerned was raised in a survey conducted this year. (pxhere.com)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

A recent survey on whether the City of Wyoming should have at least one city park be dog-free during the summer came in with very close results, 56 percent opposed and 44 percent in favor.

The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Commission is set to review the dog survey results at its meeting set for Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.

The results, which can bee seen on the Parks and Recreation page of the City of Wyoming’s website. A total of 628 responses were collected of which 565 were Wyoming residents.

City of Wyoming Community Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt said during a recent Marquette Park master plan discussing that the results were close especially given the current climate of acceptance of people having pets at events, restaurants, and stores.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission will consider two questions: whether the city should keep one park dog free from May 1 to Oct. 1 and which city park that would be. Rynbrandt noted that the second question of which park will only be considered if the commission moves forward with maintaining one park as dog free.

From the survey results, Pinery Park was the first choice of both Wyoming and area residents to have the dog restriction. For the past 24 years, Pinery Park has been the designated dog-free park for the city. At the time the restriction was put in place, there were concerns over certain breeds being perceived as aggressive, allergies to dogs and dander, pet owners who allow dogs to run off leash and were not controlled by their handlers, and frustration with pet owners who did not pick up after their dogs.

From the survey, those same reasons were given as to why the city should maintain at least one dog free park during the summer months. Many picked Pinery Park for that designation because of its has had the restriction and also because of its one-mile trail and the number of student activities that take place at Pinery Park.

The city does have a designated dog park at Marquette Park. The dog park does have a membership requirement. Also in the master plan for Battjes Park, also located on the northland of the city at at 1655 Blandford SW, there are plans to include a dog park/area.

Engagement is a key component for the Parks and Recreation, Rynbrandt said, adding she encourages people to attend the park and recreation meeting to express their thoughts. The parks department also has had several surveys about program offerings and the future design of Marquette Park.

For more information about the Parks and Recreation programs and other acitivites, visit www.wyomingmi.gov, call 616-530-3164, or email parks _info@wyomingmi.gov.