Stonington Considers Leaving Dog Park Gates Open

It’s been months since the town’s Waterfront Commission ruled to continue to in the park in Stonington Borough, but the controversy over the unofficial dog run remains.

Recently, locks placed on the park entrances kept the gates open, effectively preventing the area from being a secure off-leash spot for dogs.

“I have been there and seen the gates open,” said Gleanna Doyle, who helped establish the Groton Dog Park.  

Doyle said she believes it is important for dogs to be trained to go off-leash.

“That way deeper relationship develops between dog and person,” Doyle said.

While many town residents may agree with Doyle not everyone agrees the park next to the wastewater treatment facility is the right spot for owners and their four-legged companions to develop those connections.

Several residents who live near the park say the way the park is being used is interfering with their and would like to see something done to ensure the park is being used as originally intended.

“We remain big fans of a dog park in Stonington,” said park neighbor Angela Abele-Gora. “However, a legally zoned dog park in an area that does not abut the homes and yards of the folks who live here.”

Tony Izzario who lives near the park, but not with a home abutting said the park is suppose to be a passive recreation area and that for years that was how it was used with people walking to view the water, sometimes with dogs but on leashes.

“It doesn’t effect us that much, but draws quite a few more dogs and people,” Izzario said.

Stonington resident Shari Rosenthal and her canine companion are frequent visitors to the park although she said they haven’t been there much over the summer due to traveling.

“I love the dog park and go there about five times a week usually though,” Rosenthal said.

Officially, the town owned park is a passive recreation area meaning it is open for residents to use how they wish whether to toss the Frisbee, have a picnic or walk a dog.

“Now, it’s been turned into an unofficial dog park,” Izzario said, adding that a sign posted near the front entrance stating "Leash, curb and clean up after your dog. It's required by law!" has been there for 10 or 15 years.

It’s not clear if the town or a resident originally posted the sign, and on Monday afternoon the gates to park entrances were closed with no visible locks to keep the gates open.

Abele-Gora said she knows the town approved locking the gates open, but that on at least three occasions locks were cut down.

First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., said locks were being tried out, and had been put up several times. Ultimately, he said, he felt the decision should be left up to the Waterfront Commission, which oversees the park, and the town attorney.

The next scheduled meeting of the Waterfront Commission is September 12 at 7 p.m. in the town docks meeting room.