No new dog parks expected this summer

By Calvin Hennick, Globe Correspondent

Newton won’t see any new off-leash dog parks until at least September, says the chairwoman of a panel that met Thursday to discuss a number of options for new parks in the city.

“That’s our best guess,” said Amy Koel, chairwoman of the Off-Leash Dog Park Task Force.

The panel met Thursday to discuss options for new parks including parts of Norumbega Park, Nahanton Park, Hunnewell Park, Braceland Park, and Newton Centre Playground.

Because the city lacks the resources to patrol numerous dog parks, the off-leash task force is accepting applications from citizen groups interested in dog parks at specific sites around the city.

The task force is working with the citizen groups to ensure that the plans are workable, meaning the dog parks won’t interfere with other park uses, there will be ample parking at the sites, and — all importantly — that users will clean up after their dogs.

Koel said citizen groups have already applied for dog parks at two of the sites discussed Thursday, and she expects applications for the other sites soon. But the applications must be heard by the city’s Parks & Recreation Commission at an informational meeting and then approved or denied at a subsequent public hearing. Because the commission only has one meeting scheduled this summer, they probably couldn’t hold any public hearings on the parks until September, Koel said.

So far, the city has only approved one off-leash dog park, on part of Cold Spring Park. The off-leash park opened in March, and neighbors have complained that dog owners have taken over their neighborhood, clogging up parking and letting dogs run through their yards.

Dog owners, who face $50 tickets for letting their dogs run unleashed anywhere else in the city, say they crave more sanctioned space.

“I have rights to enjoy land in the city of Newton, too,” said Newton Corner resident Diane Cotting, who owns three dogs.

Just because new parks won’t open until at least the fall doesn’t mean neighbors of Cold Spring Park won’t see any relief until then, Koel said. Dog owners are already showing more compliance with the rules, she said, and a second animal control officer was recently deployed to help make sure dogs stay leashed until they’re in the designated off-leash area.

“It’s already better,” Koel said.

Koel said the task force will continue to work with citizen groups on new parks, with the eventual goal of numerous neighborhood dog parks around the city.

“We’ll work on whatever people are able to come up with,” Koel said. “This is a movement that needs to be driven by the citizens.”