PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Recommendations regarding a dog park are expected to be presented to the mayor next month.

 

Animal Control Commissioner Earl Persip III has been sitting on a dog park committee and said the group should wrap up its work after another meeting or two. 

 

"We are suggesting a few different places in order of what we felt, we all looked at the city-owned property and there are pluses and minuses for each one, so we will give them an order of three solid ideas," Persip told the Animal Control Commission on Wednesday.

 

The idea has been kicked around for some time in Pittsfield with many advocating for a dog park for years. It picked up steam last year and the working committee was formed and has been coming up with location options, regulations, and more.

 

Funding to construct the park is still unknown but there are grants available and could also be funded through the Community Preservation Act. But right now, the committee is really honing in on the details of such an operation. It will then present its ideas to the mayor to move to the next step.

 

"Is there anything specific we want to be addressed in the creation of this dog park and rules and things like that? We're talking about the dogs having licenses and vaccinations to go to the park," said Animal Control Commissioner Renee DeRagon, who also sits on the working committee.

 

DeRagon brought the topic before the commission on Wednesday to gain input on what it envision its role to be.

 

Chairman John Reynolds says the commission's expertise can help weigh in on the rules as well as serve as a forum for public input moving forward.

 

"We should probably be signing off on the rules on behalf of the city and the council. I feel like that is an area we have more expertise than other departments. We don't necessarily have to create the rules but I think it would make sense for them to be brought to us as an agenda item, put it out there for public comment, you can use this as the forum for public comments," Reynolds said.

 

The dog park committee is looking at city-owned space, particularly in public parks. The maintenance of it would then fall under the Parks Commission and the Department of Parks and Open Spaces. 

 

DeRagon, however, added that the committee has discussed forming a friends group of volunteers to help out. Reynolds questioned who would be there to monitor it on a day-to-day basis and how issues are addressed.

 

Persip said it would be more of an "honor-based" system of following the rules. If an issue does arise, then Animal Control would then be called. There would not be a city employee monitoring it all day.

 

"It can't be that hard to come up with the rules because other communities have parks," Reynolds said.

 

North Adams just opened a dog park in September that could serve as a model for Pittsfield as it moves forward with its plans. The park was spearheaded by a local group and the site and fencing was provided by the city.

 

There is a demand in Pittsfield for an area for dog owners to allow their pets to roam off-leash, so much so that some parks have become known as "unofficial dog parks." While dogs aren't allowed off leashes in city parks, many have allowed their dogs to roam free in certain areas.

 

But the bottom line is, the issue may have been some quiet recently but it hasn't been forgotten. The committee has been looking into the issue and a more detailed report on the possibilities is expected to be on the mayor's desk sooner rather than later.