Tails wag the park, now set for fancy fences, close watch

The arfs have it.

Peters Park in the South End will become home to the first officially sanctioned dog park on city land, after the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve setting aside part of the park for dogs.

It's a hard-fought victory for the Friends of Peters Park, a volunteer group that spearheaded the effort.

"The process has been an arduous one," said Randi Cohen, who chairs the Friends' dog park committee, of the two-year struggle to get the park off the ground after the City of Boston passed an ordinance in 2004 to allow for the development of dog parks within city limits. "But we're all better for it. It's a wonderful thing for the neighborhood."

Though dog owners have been informally using a dusty, fenced-off section of Peters Park for off-leash romping for several years now, the move now clears the way for a privately funded overhaul to the dog park that will coincide with the city's $975,000 renovation of the entire park that begins next month.

The dog recreational area will be built and maintained entirely by private funds, said Cohen. The Friends of Peters Park organization has already raised $134,000 toward its $250,000 goal, with several more fund-raising events planned over the next few months, she said.

"For the most part, parks are community builders. We don't see a lot of division," said Antonia Pollak, the city's parks commissioner. "We want people to view this as one park, not just a dog recreation area.

"We are looking forward to the success of this dog park," she said.

"It's a big reason people live in the neighborhood," said Doug Lester, who also serves on the committee. Lester said he moved into his Washington Street home in anticipation of getting Annie, his rescue dog, and being able to use the park with her.

Cohen hopes the park will become a model for other neighborhoods and community groups thinking about starting play spaces for dogs.

The city estimates there are nearly 40,000 dogs in Boston.

But not everyone in the neighborhood is excited about canine cavorting.

Some, like Rolf Carlson , object to dogs in the park and say dog owners have not done a good job keeping their pets from barking late at night or from soiling sidewalks, doorways, and flowerpots on side streets leading to the park.

Carlson, who lives near the park, said park organizers have a "history of mismanagement" and failed to properly notify abutters during the application process.

He said he also worries the upgrade will entice dog owners from across the city to come to the park at the same time a new playground being installed across the park will likely attract children from several nearby day-care centers.

Kwong Lim, whose backyard faces the park, said he has collected 600 signatures over the last two years from people who don't want the dog park. "You can't open the windows in summertime" because of the noise and odor, said Lim, who blames dog owners who spend more time chatting on their cellphones than closely monitoring unruly pets.

"If this thing is going to be there, it's in everyone's interest to make sure it's an asset and not a detriment," said Ellen Payzant, a dog owner who has lived in the neighborhood for 11 years and says the area is safer than ever because of the presence of dog owners. "It's a small group of people that don't adhere to rules."

Several major upgrades will improve the experience for both dog owners and abutters, organizers say, including:

Shrubs, a garden, and other greenery planted as a visual buffer along the outer edges of the park;

Improved drainage and a cleaner, low-dust play surface;

More attractive exterior fences that will keep dogs from accidentally escaping into the main park and interior fences that will separate play areas for large and small dogs;

Workers who will pick up trash, rake, water plants, and do general upkeep every week;

More trash barrels, new benches and lighting, and a doggie water fountain.

New rules limiting the hours and number of dogs that can be brought into the park at one time should also help keep peace with neighbors, organizers say.

The city permits the dog park to stay open as late as 11 p.m., but Cohen said the Friends will keep to a 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. schedule out of courtesy to neighbors.

Lester said the Friends hope all dog owners will support their efforts by pitching in to clean up and by joining the group , which will set aside a portion of its annual membership dues for upkeep of the dog park.

Just in case that's not enough, the city will be keeping a close eye on things. "It's going to be incumbent on the Parks Department to monitor this," Pollak told dog park supporters last week. "We'll have inspections on occasion."

Christina Pazzanese's e-mail is cpazzanese@globe.com.