By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Walk around in a public area such as a park or outdoor mall and you are bound to come across a dog or two.
There is no doubt that attitudes toward dogs are much different than they were in the late 1990s, which has the City of Wyoming asking whether it should continue its restrictions on dogs at Pinery Park.
“About 24 years ago, we instituted a ban on dogs at Pinery Park,” said Wyoming’s Director of Community Services Rebeca Rynbrandt. “The history at the time was there were concerns over specific breeds perceived to be aggressive and people were fearful that dogs at a park would do something.”
Other dog-related concerns were allergies to dogs and the dander, pet owners who allow dogs to run off leash and were not under control by their handlers, and frustration with pet owners who did not pick up after their dogs. These concerns promoted the Parks and Recreation Commission to have public hearings that resulted in Pinery Park being pet free from May to October.
Flash forward to today, where people tend to bring their dogs just about everywhere, parks, hotels, restaurants, etc. They can even be seen at Pinery Park.
“There is the challenge of enforcement,” Rynbrandt said. “We have park rangers who would remind people and then we have to get public safety officers to help with enforcement. Still residents just don’t know the regulations or just don’t want to recognize it.”
So the Parks and Recreation Commission decided it would ask its residents through a survey on whether to lift the ban on dogs at Pinery Park. Residents have until Aug. 30 to fill out the survey with results being posted on the city website the week of Sept. 20. The Parks and Recreation Commission will have a public hearing on the matter Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW.
“We take pride in our parks and value the input of our community,” Rynbrandt said. “It’s important that we hear directly from people who visit our parks and care about our community on whether the need for a ban is still necessary.”
Engagement is a key component for the Parks and Recreation, Rynbrandt said. It was surveys and community engagement that was instrumental in the redevelopment of Gezon Park with the city planning to seek community input on Marquette Park next. Recently, the Parks and Recreation surveyed its residents about program offerings.
For more information about the Parks and Recreation programs and other activities, visit www.wyomingmi.gov, call 616-530-3164, or email parks_info@wyomingmi.gov.
