Kevin Sullivan
Belmont dog owners are celebrating after the Select Board approved a new program that will allow them to continue running their dogs off-leash in town fields.
“The new program is good for owners, their dogs, and for the community,” said Ira Morgenstern, a member of the Recreation Commission working group that helped draft the new policy.
In a 3-0 vote on Monday, the Select Board approved the Paws in the Parks program. The new program will allow dogs to continue to run freely in four Belmont fields: Grove Street Field, Winn Brook Elementary, Pequossette (PQ) Park, and Town Field. However, one of the biggest changes is that Winn Brook field will be off-limits to all dogs, leashed or unleashed, on school days from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The dog park is more important than ever because it helps break us out of our isolation,” said Morgenstern, who brings his Catahoula leopard dog, Khusi, to Grove Street field most mornings. “It’s something we all look forward to. You talk to people, and that becomes an integral part of our connections.”
The Recreation Commission had considered banning off-leash dogs altogether last summer due to concerns that animals were digging holes in parks, leaving droppings, and having run-ins with residents, sometimes leading to injuries.
Instead, the Commission formed a working group, which spent several months designing the new program.
After consulting with other town departments and stakeholders, the Select Board tweaked the Commission’s proposal. The Commission voted to approve those changes.
“The goal was to have something in place for the spring sports season, which is upon us,” said Select Board Chair Roy Epstein.
Paws in the Parks will run as a pilot program from April 1 to Dec. 31, so the town can adjust it as needed. Dog owners should check the Recreation Department’s website for information on how to apply for permits.
The new program is similar to the town’s old off-leash dog policy, but comes with restricted hours, more enforcement, and an online registration process. There is no limit to the number of dogs that can register.
One of the biggest complaints of previous off-leash programs is that people didn’t know the rules.
The Recreation Department is expected to post the schedule at town fields and on its website. As a general rule, dogs should remain leashed if there’s a permitted sporting or social event, or work being done on the field.
The exact hours are still being developed since sports schedules are in flux.
The Select Board noted that the program will only succeed if dog owners police themselves and each other.
“The only way that something like this works is voluntary compliance, and voluntary compliance only happens if there’s buy-in,” said Vice Chair Elizabeth Dionne. She added that the program has wide support because there was broad participation in drafting the policy.
If problems do arise, residents can issue a complaint about “dangerous dogs.” If that happens, the pet’s permit will be suspended until the Board of Health holds a hearing to decide a permanent outcome.
In order to get an off-leash permit, dog owners must first get a license from the town clerk.
They can then apply for an off-leash permit by attending a 15-minute online orientation and signing a code of conduct.
The cost to register a dog is $75 for Belmont residents and $125 for non-residents, with discounts for additional dogs.
