North Adams Commission Approves Dog Park
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A dog park is finally becoming a reality in the city after several years of work.
The Parks & Recreation Commission on Monday unanimously approved locating the park at the Houghton Street playground.
The North Adams park appears to be only the second in the county, with the first being French Park Dog Park in Egremont.
It's been under discussion for four or five years and, during that time, it's proposed location has shifted around the city. More recently, the North Adams Community Dog Park group spearheaded by Tara Jacobs and Christa Abel has been advocating for not just a park but a more dog-friendly city overall.
Jacobs said the Houghton Street playground has been a "top choice" for a long time.
"It's central, it's walkable," she said. "But when we first suggested it four years ago, it wasn't open to us because of football practice."
Now that that has been moved, the large grassy area is open for use as the dog park. It has parking, it's near downtown and neighborhoods and a fenced-in play area for children.
Commissioners expressed some concern over the proximity of children and the adjacent Porches Inn.
"There are a lot of kids that play there and I've seen a lot of things that happened there," said Commissioner George Canales.
But Jacobs said both those were a plus. Families will be able to bring their children and dogs to safely play at the same time, she said. And Abel noted that she gets a lot of questions in her store, Bark 'N Cat, about dog-friendly areas from out-of-town visitors.
"People are always coming in and asking if there's a dog park in town," she said, with Jacobs adding, "people travel with their dogs so it would be super convenient."
The 6,000 square foot park will be divided into two fenced areas, one for small dogs and the other for large. There will be an "airlock" entry — a smaller gated area for the dog and owner to enter one at a time before entering the fenced-in parks. This would be to ensure that dogs are under control prior to being unleashed.
Policing would be by the owners and through good modeling of best practices.
"We're going to be community role models ... as a volunteer organization that is just very supportive and pro-enjoyment and putting it to good use," said Jacobs.
"We plan to bring dog trainers and behaviorists to show what it is to be a good dog behavior," Abel said, with the goal of park usage as being "a good one and a happy one."
The park will not be a "playpen" where owners drop off their pets, she said. They will be expected to stay with and monitor their dogs.
Two dispensers with poop bags have been donated and there will be signs informing owners to pick up after their pets. The city will pick up and dispose of the bags.
"The second your dog something, clean it up right away. It should be immediately ... that is the top thing to model," Jacobs said. "You as an owner ... that is your No. 1 to get on it ... if you don't bring your own bags we're providing bags."
The city is installing the fencing, including fixing the chain-link fencing on the perimeter that was damaged by a small rock slide on the steep embankment.
The women pointed out that people are already using the grassy area to play with their dogs off-leash. The dog park will encourage better and safer play for everyone.
In other business, the commission also approved the serving of beer at the North Adams Levitt AMP Music Series, set to start this Sunday. Bright Ideas Brewing had already received one-day licenses from the License Commission. Approval was also needed from Parks & Recreation because the concerts are being held at Colegrove Park, which falls under the commission's purview.
The series will run for 10 Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. beginning Aug. 14. The one exception is Sept. 18, when the concert will begin at 10 a.m. because of a conflict with FreshGrass at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art; no alcohol will be served at that Levitt AMP performance since it is so early in the day.
Tags: dogs, parks & rec, parks commission, public parks,
