Stratford Dog Park Denied Roosevelt Forest

If there is to be a dog park in Stratford, it does not look like it will be at Roosevelt Forest.

Although the town body that controls the 250-acre property has not officially turned down the idea, the Stratford man campaigning for the park says it's been a "tough sell" and some town officials have recommended to look elsewhere.

"They don't see where we fit in with their forest plan," Matt DeBernardo said of the Roosevelt Forest Commission (RFC). "They don't know how it'd change the dynamic of the forest."

Peter Mariconda is vice chairman of the RFC.

"My take is the commission is for it -- we just need more information," said the seven-year member of the commission. "This is something completely new."

He said there have been proposals to use the land in the past, but never something "that would require disturbing or breaking ground on the forest."

DeBernardo has said the dog park would operate on 1.5 to 2 acres of land, be enclosed by a fence and wood chips would cover the ground.

Meanwhile, a town official outside the RFC, who DeBernardo declined to name, said to come up with a list of 12 other locations where the dog park could exist.

And he's mulling the options. "They're not as serene or large as Roosevelt Forest [but] they're away from main roads and known by the community."

DeBernardo said. "We just need the town to find a place for us," he added.

Note: RFC Chairman Robert David did not return a call for comment last week.