Kevin SullivanThe new year was supposed to bring a new policy for allowing dogs to run off-leash in Belmont. Instead, dog owners are still waiting to learn how much access unleashed dogs will have to town parks.
The Belmont Recreation Commission voted in December to recommend replacing the current off-leash dog program with a “Paws in the Parks” pilot program starting in January. The Select Board and Health Department need to approve the plan, but that hasn’t happened yet.
According to Recreation Department Director Brandon Fitts, people can continue letting their dogs use the parks with their 2023 off-leash dog tags.
Fitts presented the Paws in the Parks plan to the Select Board during a Jan. 8 joint session with the Health Board.
The proposal would continue the tradition of allowing dogs to run freely in four Belmont fields: Grove Street Field, Winn Brook Elementary, Pequossette (PQ) Park, and Town Field. However, Fitts said, there would be stricter oversight and enforcement, more clearly defined hours, an online registration process, and increased park signage, among other changes.
The Recreation Commission considered banning off-leash dogs altogether last year due to concerns that animals were digging holes in the park, leaving droppings, and having run-ins with residents, sometimes leading to injuries. Instead, the commission formed a working group of recreation and health department staff, commission members, and residents, who devised the pilot program idea.
Designated Dog Park
During the meeting, Select Board members said they needed more time to study the issue and seemed to be leaning in a different direction. Select Board Chair Roy Epstein floated the idea of creating a designated dog park instead of opening multiple town fields to dogs.
“I’ve learned only in the last couple of days that there are potential funding sources, for example, to create fenced areas,” said Epstein.
He acknowledged that finding the space in Belmont for such a park could take time.
Some community members expressed support for the idea.
“I walk a lot, but I’m also elderly, and if a dog jumps on me, knocks me over, I’m very prone to break a bone,” said Nancy Reppucci.
She said a fenced-in area could be a good idea but wondered who would assume liability if a dog injured someone.
Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Michael McNamara also liked the idea and suggested creating a nonprofit group of dog owners to police themselves.
“It could be a really big asset to the town and help to enforce [dog park rules],” he said.
According to Fitts, the Select Board plans to discuss the proposal in March.
How do you think Belmont should deal with off-leash dogs? Send a letter to the editor (250 words or less). Our email address is letters@belmontvoice.org.
