Suffield Looks Elsewhere For Proposed Dog Park

SUFFIELD, CT — Town officials are looking for a new location for Suffield’s proposed dog park after deciding not to move forward with the original plan at Stony Brooke Park.

The change followed a meeting with the Conservation Commission, according to minutes from the Sept. 17 Economic Development Commission meeting.

Officials determined they would “pivot and consider other locations rather than Stony Brooke Park,” the minutes state. No potential sites or timeline for selecting a new location were identified.

The original proposal called for a fenced area measuring approximately 150 feet by 50 feet near the park’s Route 75 entrance. Separate sections were planned for large and small dogs, along with a waste station and trash receptacle.

Picnic tables and a manual water pump could have been added later.

During an August review, Conservation Commission members raised questions about the site’s proximity to Stony Brook and the potential effect on turtles, mussels and other wildlife. Members also wanted more information about deed restrictions, maintenance responsibilities and the views of nearby residents.

The commission voted at that time to take no action on the plan. Park Superintendent and Economic Development Specialist Chad Kuzontkoski had said the project would be funded primarily through existing donations, with additional money potentially available for maintenance.

The Economic Development Commission is now turning its attention to fencing and display signs at Suffield’s fire stations and improvements around the south green, according to the September minutes.

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