There are many dog owners in town who think Bauer Park is a great place to let their pooches run off leash. The owners might like it, and the dogs might like it, but it's not really allowed.
But town officials and volunteers are working to come up with a dog park where that will be allowed, right across Copse Road from the main part of Bauer Park, said Scot Erskine, director of the Madison Beach & Recreation Department.
Erskine, appearing before the town's Board of Selectmen during a meeting Monday night with Holly Johnson, vice chairman of the Bauer Park Committee, said that the area is now overgrown, but a group of volunteers intend to reclaim it and turn it into a dog park at no cost to the town.
The intention of the group is to raise money through donations and by seeking grants, he said. He said following the meeting that anyone who wants to get involved, and or provide donations, can contact him at 203.245.5623.
He told the board that there currently is a "dog problem" at Bauer Park, which includes about 64 acres of open fields, forest, and wetland on the west side of Copse Road, and about 24 acroes on the east side, north of Hunter's Trail.
"Many dog owners believe it's ok to let their dogs off leash there," he said. "But it's not." He said the recreation department is working to educate dog owners and, working with police, are also enforcing the prohibition against off-leash dogs there. So he said the recreation department is all in favor of a dog park.
He said the current plan is to separate the park into two areas, one area for small dogs, and one area for big dogs and small dogs who like to hang out with big dogs.
Not only will the park be good for the dogs, he said, it also will be good for the dog owners.
"It'll be a way for dog owners to socialize, and for the dogs to run free," he said.
The current plan, which is still being developed, calls for a chain link fence that will be about four to five feet high, he said.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted in favor of endorsing the creation of a park, to be located on the east side of Copse Road, to be developed without using town funds.
Following the meeting, he and Johnson said the ballpark estimate for the cost of such a park is $20,000 to $40,000. They said the range was so large because plans are still being developed. Now that the plan has the endorsement of the selectmen, they said, planning and fundraising can begin in earnest.
Erskine said the Beach & Recreation Commission also has endorsed the creation of a dog park on the east side of Copse Road at Bauer Park.
The designated area is on the east side of Bauer Park there are some ponds there but I don't think they are included in the dog park currently. Since there are classes for school children that use the ponds it may not be a good mix. I believe there is a map at the town campus that shows the plan for the dog park.
Again I confronted an off leash dog owner who told me their dog was o.k. and friendly, I said I didn't care, it wasn't good for my dog to be jumped on. These people just don't get it. And I'm not a gardener so dont call me a ****ing gardener. Keep your dogs on a leash or at your side please. I don't want your loose dog around me. I hope the dog park starts soon.
saw a dog walker lady with dog off leash, dog pooped, lady picked it up, good lady! then she was talking on her cell phone and the dog pooped again in a vegetable garden, she didn't even see him do it, he could have been half way to New Haven or hit by a car, she was lost in conversation. Now about dog feces pathogens, they DO NOT just biodegrade, they can stick around for a long time in the soil and over winter. So what if the gardens are not growing now, they are no place for dog feces. That is really a safety issue.
I hope the Board of Selectmen can get the dog park going before someone gets hurt. Saw more dogs off leash and lots of piles of feces, stepped in some. If dogs were on a leash you would know when they pooped. Use the poop bags please.
Given that 4 in 10 households owns a dog, there is clearly a very big unmet need in this community. That this practice has collided with the comfort of other park users is undeniable as is the charge that there has been a disregard for responsible control of dogs and for waste pick up. A note to the gentleman who likely penned the above comment under the name 'Ann.' I am the one who asked if you if you had been drinking, because I drove into Bauer to find you sitting in your car alone at 7AM and you aggressively approached me as I got out of my car. You drove erratically away and then drove backwards to return to continue what seemed to be an angry tirade about unleashed dogs. If we are to address these problems, and I think we should, we need to do so in an appropriate setting. Dog owners need to be responsible and work to get an acceptable space, but it is equally important that people do not stalk, harass or fan the flames of discord. We are part of a community, not separate camps of Dog Walkers V. Gardeners and I hope we can find a way to respect and support each other in reaching mutually satisfying outcomes.
Why can't we get a dog park at Constitution Park? It's in the construction phase right now, and there is plenty of water for those dog owners who want their dogs to swim. I would like that better than a Bauer dog park. Why does it have to be at Bauer?
I would love a dog park there. Three acres is enough space to let dogs run, especially if you have them fetch. Is there going to be a beach at Constitution Park? Maybe we could have a small dog beach. When is the next Constitution Park meeting? Does any one know? Who is in charge of making the plans?
Thank you Lee for your insight. I love the idea of dogs and their owners walking together, I think it is preferable to small fenced in areas. Some people like those kind of dog parks if they are disabled and can't walk long distances with their pets. I am no expert on what dogs need in the way of socialization or exercise, the ASPCA has two good articles, "Socializing the Adult Dog" and also "Socializing Your Puppy". I was surprised to read that many adult dogs do not enjoy mixing with large groups of other adult dogs, but there is much written on the subject and most of it is not true scientific research, sadly to say. If one includes the whole shoreline there are many thousands of dogs around Madison, a lot of them have yards of their own and good fences etc. Certainly not all of them would use a dog park. Many pet owners keep their dogs on a leash and take long walks daily, that's the catagory I fall into (except when my dog sneaks out and runs into the neighbors yard). The proposed area at Bauer for a fenced in dog park has a beautiful wood land trail around it and a large field where ownerd could walk on leash after the dogs had off leash time in the fenced in area. It may not be perfect for all dogs and owners. It is a solution to a growing series of problems that have had a negative impact on Bauer Park.
I actually raised a guide dog puppy for Fidelco and ended up doing a fair amount of research around dog behavior during that time and later. There is a growing body of scientific literature around dogs and dog behavior and a number of experts, such as veterinarian Dr. Ian Dunar and Dr. Patricia McConnell, who leverage that research to provide advice to the average dog owner. Dogs are descended from wolves. They are highly social, pack animals. If given an early opportunity as puppies to socialize with other dogs, the great majority will retain that sociability into adulthood. It’s true that there are adult dogs that have limited interest in other dogs, but many of these might have different proclivities if socialized safely, early and regularly. I too have a small breed dog who is shy with limited exercise needs. But I also have a larger breed dog that is highly social and benefits greatly from interaction from other dogs – of the two, he is better balanced, happier and far more typical of the species. Consistent with what most experts say, my backyard, though large and fenced, does not meet my larger dogs exercise and social needs, so there may be a greater need in the community for off-leash areas than we actually are assuming. Also, I'm unsure just how many elderly/disabled folks have active dogs, but I do know that my 70 year old mother benefits more from walking her dog in an open area than she would sitting/standing at a dog park.
What about Rockland Park for a dog trail? I think Fran Fellows rocks! She should be given a medal for all she's done. Only 40 percent use dog bags? yuck! They're free! I love well behaved dogs even unleashed but MOST are not trained. I can't deal with dogs running up to my kid. Screaming at a dog 10 times to come back is not a trained dog.
Visitor from out of town. I'm a runner. Loose dogs, big problem, groups of loose dogs bigger problem. I ran at the park in question. Four big dogs ran to me, owners out of sight. One had a leash dragging behind it. Saw 3 more dogs in a pond. I carry pepper spray. Recomend it for protection,, dogs and people.
Pepper spray is legal in Ct per the internet. In response to Debra Santos. I am very much a woman and the incident occured over the 4th July and unless your a teenage boy it wasn't me. And I resent all the dog owners who disregard the leash law, and they do act like they want to take over the whole park because that is what they are doing letting their dogs run everywhere, No one is stopping you from walking with your dog on a leash. Your unmet needs can be met other places, or start helping with a dog park.. So if your needs can't be met it is OK to break the law? WOW
check out the you tube FENTON dog video, does the park have deer? LOL
Lee, I think it was you who suggested having dogs be certified to be off leash at Bauer Park. It came up at one of the Committee meetings. I've mentioned to walkers about having specific times available to dog walkers for off leash walking also. Some problems I forsee have to do with validation of what dogs are actually voice trained/hand signals etc and how to enforce it. If we had specific hours for off leash dogs, there would always be a walker who couldn't come at that time, or as happens now new people would see dogs off leash and expect to be able to be off leash anytime. We only have volunteers at Bauer. I worry that some people whose dogs couldn't follow commands or pass "a test" would just wait and walk them off leash when whoever is in charge has left, that's what happens now. Also, we would have to change the existing ordinance, then get a new ordinance followed to be effective. People either don't read or follow the signs that are posted now. I don't want to sound negative because I really do think Madison needs some kind of off leash area and I agree that a walking area is ideal. I'm not sure that Bauer is the right fit. There must be somewhere in Madison. Are you familiar with Rockland? I know kids go there from the schools. I believe Bluff Head in Guilford has an off leash area but I'm not certain. I think you can walk dogs on water company property with written permission, I'll have to look into this. Let me know if anyone knows.
I just watched the suggested video "Fenton". It is quite funny. I have seen deer at Bauer Park, not in that quantity thank goodness.
I appreciate the thoughtful post and creative ideas. I did make the above suggestion a couple of years ago, but didn’t get the opportunity to present a plan to the committee. Off-leash hours have been shown to work in communities across the US, including New York city. Designated hours coincide with less traffic in the park (sunrise to 8AM and 1-2 hours before sunset) and reduce the time that the dog warden would need to patrol. Clear signage could help everyone understand the rules – compliance may increase as we create smart policies to shape behavior rather than just forbidding a practice outright. Another option could be simply a larger area across copse road that is NOT fully enclosed but has just enough fencing to keep dogs away from the road. Any solution will require clear owner education. For Madison, perhaps we would need to have folks sign up for the privilege, agree to the terms, pay yearly dues and commit to service hours/clean up. I do worry that a conventional dog park design will not necessarily solve the current problem – it may not get used or it may get used by the different residents and do nothing to reign in some of the practices that many of us would like to change at Bauer.
I was at Bluff Head today in North Guilford, it is an area owned by the Guilford Land Trust, which includes a large hay field (8 acres?)that has no signs saying dogs need to be leashed, only a sign saying that dogs need to be "in control". It is a beautiful place to walk a dog or to have them fetch etc. It's not 2 minutes from downtown Madison but it was worth the drive..
Bluff Head has a gradual incline and a very steep incline, I take the gradual incline, many dogs off leash but are well trained. Happened to drive by Bauer a number of time over the long weekend. Many dogs off leash and in the gardens. Stupid dog owners. I'm starting to favor NO DOGS on OR off leash. The stupid owners have ruined it for the trained ones and the trained ones have encouraged the stupid ones by showing them its OK by setting an example. As Ann said, can't fix stupid, but you can ticket stupid. Maybe the animal control lady should set up permanent shop there.
I agree that it is a safety issue. When there are children and especially such a wide open space, dogs spot people and animals from a long distance and run to them, this happened to me twice this weekend at Bauer, the dogs just bolted from across the field when they saw me and ran to me. I had no way of knowing if it was nice or not and the owners were not in control, calling them back did not work. One dog had a leash dragging behind him, as if that did any good. I'm thinking about a kind of protective spray are there any specific for dogs?
my neighbor said Constitution park won't have a dog park. I like Bluff Head, lot of space for dogs and no classes or events going on. I would never spray a dog with pepper spray but I've seen people carry sticks, some mailmen do that. A dog park is different from open space for dogs to run but it is better than nothing. I support a dog park at Bauer maybe they can find an off-leash solutionsomewhere else. With classes and people doing all different projects at the park it seems inappropriate to let dogs off leash, IMO.
Bauer can get crowded during the warmer months. However, that's true of all of the parks across the US that have adopted off-leash hours. Central Park, for example, has lots of activity, so there are off-leash hours in the early morning and later in the evening, when it is underused. There are not a lot of folks using the parks at 6:30 AM in December - that's true for Bauer as well.
Thank you Lee for you thoughtful and thorough presentation last evening. It's important to have a dialog going.