Proposed Dog Park Neighbors: 'Not In My Backyard'

Plans to build a dog park at face serious setbacks as neighborhood residents voiced their concerns about traffic, noise, dog waste, and several other issues at the public hearing on Monday night. Most of the residents who spoke at the hearing said they were in favor of a dog park, but several residents said they were against the proposed location.

The current proposal developed by the Melrose Park Department and the Melrose Dog Society details plans to build a dog park near First Pond along Stillman Road. Nearby residents along Phillips Circle, Stillman Road and Slayton Road said they were most concerned about noise from dog barking, as well as dog waste, trespassing, and a surge in traffic in a residential area.

Members of the Melrose Dog Society have evaluated several sites since they first proposed a dog park in February 2009, but it has been challenging to identify a location that is convenient for dog owners without creating issues for local residents.

"I do not think this is an appropriate location for a dog park," said Ward 6 Alderman Peter Mortimer, whose ward includes Mount Hood. "The right to enjoy peace and quiet in the home is tantamount ... it's not fair to force this upon someone."

Mortimer said he is in favor of a dog park in Melrose, but said that the current proposal at First Pond will face setbacks, even if the Board of Aldermen approve the project. Mortimer suggested that legal challenges "could dwell on for years."

Mortimer suggested several locations where a dog park could be built, including two sites on Mount Hood property: one between the 18th tee of the and a service garage, and another near Slayton Tower. The location he favors the most is the land between the East Knoll field and Ell Pond. It would offer parking and the convenience of a central location, Mortimer said.

"No residents would be disturbed [at the East Knoll fields]," Mortimer said. "Pick one of these three sites I've mentioned and it will get done a lot faster."

Several dog owners spoke at the meeting about why the proposed dog park is so important to them. Greg Penta, president of the Melrose Dog Society, said that he wanted to create an option where residents can "socialize in a legal place, where the dogs can run." Jen Montgomery, a resident who recently moved to Melrose from South Boston said that "the dog park [in South Boston] was the single best thing about the community."

Penta said the city asked the Melrose Dog Society to propose some options for building a dog park. He said the proposed site "minimized the number of issues," adding that the Melrose Dog Society had explored several other locations without success.

Melrose resident Dan Jewell said that he guesses that there "is a need for a dog park," because he sees piles of dog waste throughout Mount Hood Park in the winter time. "There area a couple of dozen people who use the cemetery as a dog park," Jewell said.

Park Superintendent Joan Bell said that if the proposed project moves forward, she will work to "keep nature at its best." She said that the park would have at least 50 feet of buffer zone between First Pond and the park, to deal with drainage and runoff issues. The current proposal also only has two entrances to reduce the chances of dogs escaping the the park. To deal with resident concerns, Bell said the current plans take advantage of the existing trail system and use vegetation including rhododendron and elderberry bushes to minimize pollution and noise.

Mortimer said that some of his fellow aldermen have concerns about the project. In order for the project to proceed, it would have to be approved by the Melrose Board of Aldermen. Mortimer said that he has also heard from local residents that they will take legal action and possibly approach the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection if the project is approved.

"We may or may not follow this [proposal]," Park Commission Chairman Mike Interbartolo said. "We're here to gather input at this meeting." Interbartolo said the Park Commission would likely make recommendations to the Board of Aldermen "in the next meeting or the meeting after."