Hinsdale Plans Crackdown On Dog Violations At Park

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale is looking at stricter rules for dogs in the off-leash areas of Katherine Legge Memorial Park.

Since June, Hinsdale police have issued 25 dog-relatedtickets in the park.

The citations have been for such things as exceeding the limit of two dogs per person, unleashing dogs outside permitted times and incidents involving unleashed dogs interacting with patrons on paths and near playgrounds, according to a village memo late last month.

About 80 percent of the violations were committed by nonresidents, the village said.

Now, off-leash dogs are allowed north of the creek during certain hours. That's as long as restrictions are followed, including keeping the dog on a leash until reaching the designated area, maintaining voice control, limiting the handler to two dogs and ensuring the dog has proper identification, including rabies tags.

The village is considering several changes, including:

• All off-leash dogs would be required to have Hinsdale annual permits, free for residents and costing $50 per dog for nonresidents. This rule would not affect leashed dogs in the park.
• Dog owners would be required to always carry a leash and leash their dog at the first sign of aggression.
• Dogs would be required to be at least 4 months old and up to date on vaccinations, with rabies tags displayed on their collars.
• Bringing sick dogs or dogs in heat would be barred from the park.

"The purpose of these regulations is to reduce the number of off-leash violations and ensure that KLM Park remains safe for all users," Michael Hayes, the parks and recreation superintendent, said in the memo.

Hayes said the proposed system is similar to those in other towns with off-leash parks.

On Tuesday, the village's Parks and Recreation Commission plans to discuss the issue and make a recommendation to the Village Board.

The park is bordered on two sides by Burr Ridge.