Lynn board to set rules for dog park

LYNN – The City Council Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing Tuesday to establish the rules and regulations for the Barkland Avenue Dog Park to be situated on Parkland Avenue.”We’re hoping to open this spring,” said Community Development Director James Marsh, who along with mayoral aide Mary Chalmers has spearheaded the project. “We have no date yet but it will be this spring.”According to the proposed rules, all dogs entering the park must be 6 months old, accompanied by a guardian who is at least 18 years old and be spayed or neutered. The dogs must also sport a valid dog park tag, vaccination tag and a Lynn dog license. The rules also state that owners are responsible and liable for the action of their dogs, and guardians must have voice control over the dogs and clean up after them while they are in the park.Anyone who violates the rules and regulations will be subject to a $25 fine for the first offense and $50 fine thereafter, and could be banned from the park indefinitely.Neither Marsh nor Chalmers are expecting heavy opposition to the park or the regulations.Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi said he has some reservations about the plan but admits dog parks have become a bit of a social phenomenon.”People are gravitating toward dog parks because of the leash laws and it’s become a social event,” he said.Lozzi said his main concern is that there will be dogs that don’t get along. He also has questions about who maintains and cleans the park and if there is any personnel required.”I’m not talking about someone sitting there for eight hours,” he said. “But if the DPW has to go by weekly to pick up barrels that still requires personnel.”The proposal prohibits any dog deemed dangerous via an ordinance pertaining to vicious dogs and animals, and states that dogs displaying aggressive behavior may be immediately removed from the park by the dog officer, police or fire.A website for the park, which will contain all rules and regulations once they are approved, is under construction but can be found via the city’s website under outside attractions. Like the website, Marsh said the park isn’t quite ready for visitors yet. The fence is up but a parking area, access to water, benches, trees and even a fake hydrant, still need to be installed, he said.Chalmers said they have asked RawArts students to paint the hydrant to add a splash of color to the park.”A lot of residents are getting excited,” she added. “I’ve been getting calls.”Chalmers said she has also received feedback closer to home.”My whole neighborhood is excited because they all have dogs,” she said.Tuesday’s meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in Room 402 at Lynn City Hall.Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].