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Dog-park effort gets new legs in Pepper Pike
(by Sali McSherry - December 16, 2009)
Dog-park effort gets new legs in Pepper Pike
By SALI McSHERRY
Fido and Spot need a place to run around and play in Pepper Pike, according to dog lovers who want to install a dog park.
Last week, Howard Sperber asked City Council to consider approving the installation of a fenced in, off-leash dog park, run by volunteers, with a majority of the cost to be paid for by private donations.
It was not the first time Dr. Sperber made the request. Earlier this year, he spoke with council and Mayor Bruce H. Akers about the prospect of installing a park at the grassy area at Brainard Circle near Village Hall.
The cost had been estimated at $50,000 to $60,000, and the city was not in a position to pay for it, Mr. Akers said.
Dr. Sperber said further research showed they could install a fence with gates for about $14,000.
However, that is not a fair estimate, because a location has not yet been identified, so even the cost of the fencing is unknown, and the sum doesn't include the total cost for the project, according to city Engineer Donald Sheehy, who said he is a dog lover.
The city could be obligated to perform the project with a public bid, which would require prevailing wage rates, performance and maintenance bonds, and insurance. There also would be access issues, drainage, sanitation, trash cans, landscaping and overall appearance issues, he said. And, the project would need to be properly designed and planned, and maintenance issues would need to be considered, he said.
Dr. Sperber said he viewed the park, which would be comprised of two areas, one for large dogs and one for small dogs and would be fenced with black vinyl-coated chain link, as a community project in partnership with the city. He said it would be a tremendous benefit to residents and attractive to potential residents.
Mr. Akers, who said he is a dog lover, expressed concerns that the area at Brainard Circle would not be large enough and that joggers and walkers who use the space would not appreciate a dog park built in the grassy area.
Trails and benches had been installed within the circle's wooded area, and he questioned whether a dog park would be proper use of the land. The aesthetics could be compromised with the advent of a large fenced-in area, Mr. Akers said.
Council members agreed a dog park at that location might diminish the circle green space as it was meant to be, but were amiable to other potential locations.
Councilman Clevis Svetlik asked if there might be room at the Creekside waste-water treatment plant at Creekside Drive and SOM Center Road (Route 91).
Mr. Sheehy said that could be a possibility. Another suggestion for a dog park was the south side of the detention basin located in the median on Shaker Boulevard west of Brainard Circle and east of Brainard Road.
Mr. Akers and Mr. Sheehy were to visit the proposed locations and report back to council.
Mr. Akers said he had asked Orange School District representatives if they would be interested in installing a dog park behind the senior center on Chagrin Boulevard, but school officials told him they had other future plans for the space. Mr. Akers also asked Park Synagogue officials if property south of the temple would be plausible for the project but did not get much feedback.
Mr. Akers visited Stow's seven-plus-acre dog park, in addition to parks in Twinsburg and South Euclid, and said he was impressed with the volunteer-run parks. He also spoke with mayors who reiterated that the parks were assets to the communities and were maintained responsibly.
Councilwoman Gail Mayland said she was on board with the installation of a dog park and that it would great for the community. If it did not work for some reason, she said, it could be undone. She said she would like the city to help fund the installation of the park as an equalizer to the money Pepper Pike spends for half the cost of deer traps used by individual residents.
Councilwoman Paulette Morganstern asked about liability issues. While users of the park would enter at their own risk and be responsible for adhering to posted regulations, city Law Director Christopher Gibbon said because it is city property, Pepper Pike would need to have insurance.
Mr. Akers said he had concerns over enforcement of park regulations because he did not want to overtax the police department with small issues that could come up at the park.
Dr. Sperber said that pet owners who use dog parks are typically very responsible and the proof is in how well the parks work in Stow, Twinsburg and South Euclid.
Mr. Akers asked Dr. Sperber to do a little more homework before they meet again and explain how each regulation, which he had listed on a handout he provided to council, would be enforced.
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