Dogs may have their day every day in Sparta

Sparta — The stuff of doggie dreams—a happy place to romp and play and run with other dogs—came one step closer to reality for Sparta dogs at Tuesday’s council meeting. The Sparta Dog Park Committee gave a presentation outlining the need for such a facility in Sparta and describing the overall benefits and potential amenities it could provide for the community at large. Committee leaders, Bill Monier and Wendy Weiler described their initiative, which began with a few interested dog owners in 2003 and has grown to an organized committee of six, with as many as 52 residents who have signed on to support their efforts in the past two weeks. A 2005 petition drive yielded 200+ residents who supported the idea of a Sparta dog park. Sparta has 1,835 registered dogs and leash laws that prevent energetic canines from running and exercising in open areas in the community. As per national averages, for every two registered dogs there is likely one more that is not. This statistic potentially ups the need for a safe place in Sparta where the rules for doggie do’s and don’ts can be relaxed and furry friends can be themselves. Monier said the Dog Park Committee has encountered “compelling support from the community.” He said many Sparta dog owners travel more than 20 miles to the Wantage dog park to let their dogs exercise and run free. “Why?” he asked, “Because it’s very rewarding. I meet my neighbors there.” Monier added, “I swear it makes my dog smile.” New Jersey currently has 49 dog parks with 23 of those in the northern part of the state, including parks in Morristown, Mahwah, Montville, Randolph, and Wantage. Vernon recently approved an area of 15 acres for a new dog park. Dog parks are part of a growing national trend with 600 parks currently nationwide. The National Parks and Recreation Association strongly endorses dog parks as part of “good park planning.” Committee member John Phillips said in an interview, “There’s a growing population in Sparta and a growing number of dog-owners who want to find a place to let their dogs run. We’re at a point now where we need to take the next step.” That next step is what the Dog Park Committee hopes will happen after their presentation. Their proposal to the council is threefold: that the town will dedicate a parcel of land for specific use as a dog park, that leash laws will be lifted in this designated area, and that the town council and Dog Park Committee enter into an agreement for building and maintaining the facility. In her presentation, Weiler described the proposed facility as “a fenced-in, double-gated area where dogs are permitted to run off the leash. It is a venue for socialization and exercise for dogs and their owners.” She explained the needed land would be 1-5 acres and that it should be divided into two areas, “a small, timid dog area and a main area where any dog may enter.” Weiler said that socialized dogs “bark less and are less aggressive,” and exercised dogs “are healthier and live longer.” She also described a variety of events that could take place at the dog park to benefit pets, owners, and the community at large. The dog park could host such events as Dog Licensing Day, andopt-a-Dog Day, vaccination clinics, etiquette training, and dog training. Weiler also mentioned possible workshops to teach children how to approach dogs safely and dog exercise services for seniors. Weiler described potential locations currently under consideration for the proposed dog park. The contender for top-spot for Sparta’s top-dogs is Station Park according to citizen feedback received by the committee. The area would be the meadow behind the equipment building near the sledding hill. Other possible sites include Sparta Glen, Lafayette Road (between Hilltop School and Skyview), Prices Lane by DPW, and Route 94 (across from Sussex Technical School). Considerations for the park include fencing, drainage and grading of the land, waste cans, benches for owners, signage posting rules and proper usage of the facility, and maintenance of the grounds. The estimated cost for setting up such a facility is $24,000. Councilman Manny Goldberg complimented Monier and Weiler on their presentation and assured them they would have the support of the council. He said, “You’ve stated your case well. The question to be addressed now is where?” The next step for the committee is to meet with Sparta Parks and Recreation Director Virginia Mohr and Township Manager Henry Underhill to further discuss potential locations. Weiler said the Dog Park Committee will apply for non-profit standing and will work on setting up fund-raising activities. Weiler said, “It’s really important to us to hear from the community at this point. We really want to know their thoughts about our ideas and we want to hear their concerns. We especially want their feedback on where they would like the dog park to be.” She encourages citizens to email the committee at SpartaDogPark@gmail.com with comments, questions, or ideas. In other council news: Deputy Mayor Brian Brady gave a presentation in which he refuted the accusations made against him on the Web site, spartarecall.com. Councilman Manny Goldberg also refuted accusations made against him on the Web site in an 8-page statement which he submitted to the press and the township clerk to be entered into the council minutes. He read only the conclusion to the public. More about the recall and the response next week.