How Much Do You Want a Dog Park – Or Not? 

by | May 25, 2022

Above: Entrance to the South Kingstown Dog Park. Credit: containmydog.com

A group trying to make one happen asks for residents to speak up

East Greenwich doesn’t have a dog park (no, Scalloptown Park and Frenchtown Park are not town dog parks). Some residents have decided to try to make it happen. In truth, this isn’t the first time, but perhaps the moment has arrived. 

According to Kristie Stark, who is spearheading this latest dog park effort along with Matthew Bodoff, the town is willing to help but wants to make sure residents are truly supportive. Dog parks can sound easy in theory but even if a location is found and money is raised to build one, there are still the ongoing aspects of both upkeep and management. 

In particular, who enforces rules at a dog park? Who makes sure the park is kept clean and owners are respectful? At some successful dog parks, there is a strong volunteer component.

In an effort to show town officials there is widespread support for an EG dog park, Stark and Bodoff have created a survey and they are looking for everyone to take a couple minutes to fill it out. 

The goal is to understand the interest level of town residents in putting an official dog park in the town limits and to understand the wants/concerns of residents if we do so,” said Bodoff.  

Here’s a link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LC69GND. It will be open for the next few weeks.

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Ray Riccio
Ray Riccio
May 26, 2022 7:20 am

The charge for building a dog park should exclusively be put upon those who want one. Also an annual fee for a permit for usage and upkeep and one which protects the town against any legal action which possibly could arise. A wandering child just may find it an attractive nuisance.

CM
CM
May 26, 2022 12:17 pm
Reply to  Ray Riccio

There are plenty of services that the town offers that are not used by every single resident of the town, but make it a nice place to live, and attract other people who think it’s a nice place to live.

If you don’t like it, I suggest you voice your opinion to your town representatives. But the argument that everything in a town should be fee-based is pretty ridiculous.

Paul Hoffman
Paul Hoffman
May 26, 2022 9:28 am

It’s a good idea; maybe the town will finally start enforcing leash laws at Scalloptown and Frenchtown Parks!

Jay
Jay
May 26, 2022 8:34 pm
Reply to  Paul Hoffman

Yes x 1000. Use to love going to Scalloptown. Now its overrun by offleash dogs and landmines from people not cleaning up after them.

Leash larry
Leash larry
May 26, 2022 11:06 am

Enforce the leash laws for the countless folks who don’t think it applies to them and then use that funding to make the park. 😂

Ru
Ru
May 26, 2022 1:38 pm

Do Not need dog park ….
Survey is not really a yes or no question if you want park or not !!

Greg Dubell
Greg Dubell
May 26, 2022 4:34 pm

Yes, very much needed. The Towns of Uxbridge and Dartmouth, Mass., each both have not-for-profit organizations that partner with their respective towns to fundraise and oversee the day to day operations of each park. Worth using as a model for EG.

Local
Local
May 26, 2022 9:32 pm

Well, looks like a debate for the future. Now that we have a full time ACO I’m sure the command staff will instruct the new appointment to patrol the areas as mentioned above for the privileged who believe the leash law doesn’t apply to them. Yes I have walked my dog in Scalloptown park on a leash but no longer because the area is full of dog #&$*

Joe P
Joe P
May 27, 2022 11:20 am

Whether or not EG needs a dog park, this survey is awful (and perhaps a little biased).
Question 1 asks if you own a dog,
Question 2 then asks for your dogs weight (ignoring if you answered no to the above, or have multiple dogs)
Question 3 asks which dog park you currently use and lists a few dog parks as well as included scalloptown…which isn’t a dog park
The rest of the survey asks about the dogs you may or may not have, as well as where it should be

Also I agree with the other commenter, hopefully the new animal control officer can visit scalloptown from time to time

Jay
Jay
May 27, 2022 3:58 pm

Yes we do need a dog park! We need a lot of things in this town that we don’t have, but many folks got a dog during COVID and it makes sense to have a designated safe area for dogs and their owners to go. Consider it a “safe space” for pet owners. It’s nice to have an ACO but does a town this size really need one? The EGPD have been dealing with animal complaints so I would prefer we put on a school resource officer honestly or an extra patrol to curb speeding!

Patrick
Patrick
May 27, 2022 5:08 pm

Love Scalloptown, leash my dog, no problem with unleashed dogs, pick up his piles, no problem with there being some piles and have never seen it overflowing with them.

Haven’t heard of any issues but 1 in recent years there.

Good town with good people who seem to all be level headed with their dogs mostly.

But it’s understandable how unleashed dogs would prevent runners, kids, elderly, etc, so a dog park with fencing would be welcomed.

Would like to see it on Scalloptown grounds rather than in Goddard.

Jules
Jules
May 28, 2022 8:05 am
Reply to  Patrick

Yes! Please! Dog owners would benefit socially and non dog owners may get benefit from the ability to use these open spaces where dogs run free. Maybe more patrolling of places where dogs run free is a good start? Or multiple fenced areas at popular spots where dogs are already running unleaded? Just because we build a dog park doesn’t mean people will take their dogs there -build places where dog owners already enjoy?! Form an association-residents who own dogs may be willing to contribute funds. Non dog owning residents may be willing to contribute funds.

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