Dog Park Would Fill a Need in Town, Supporters Say

Supporters of bringing a dog park to Stratford all agree on one thing: If the town had a place where dogs could roam freely, it would be used.

Out of the town’s 41 identified parks, there is not one designated area where canines can mingle alongside humans without the restraint of a leash.

That leaves more than 2,000 registered dog owners in town stuck without a place their pups can call their own outside of the home.

Stratford Animal Control Officer and dog owner Rachel Solveira said there are no plans to construct a park in the near future, and cited location as the major hurdle.

“I think the biggest challenge is finding a piece of land to put the park on,” Solveira said. However, she said she would support the construction of a dog park in Stratford.

“I think they’re great for socialization and exercise.”

Brian Gallagher, owner of Murphy’s Paw, a dog grooming facility on East Main Street, agreed.

“It wouldn’t just be a nice place for the dogs,” he said. “It’d be a nice place for people to congregate with their pets.”

Stratford remains one of the few towns in the region without a dog park. Milford, Westport, Trumbull, Shelton, West Haven and Hamden all have dog parks.

“People just love it,” said Shelton resident Karen Morretti of her town’s facility, which has been in operation for under a year. “It’s always crowded,” she added.

“If there was a dog park, people would use it,” said Gallagher.

But without a piece of land to construct it on, estimating a cost for a park is difficult. And it’s the cost that ultimately might deter some residents from supporting a dog park coming to Stratford.

Stratford resident Fred Wills said he would endorse a dog park coming to town “as long as it’s not costing me too much as a taxpayer.”

The price tag would depend on the amount of amenities the park would be supplied with. A facility with just a fenced-in area, for example, would cost less than a park with watering holes, benches and wood chips. Then there are always grants that could be pursued by the town to pay for the project.

[The new handicapped-accessible playground at Second Hill Lane Elementary School was almost entirely paid for with grants.]

Stratford resident Danielle Erickson said the local interest is there and a dog park would be a popular spot in town for dogs and dog owners alike.

 “I feel like we take advantage of other towns’ dog parks, so why not have one of our own?”

Would you support a dog park coming to Stratford? Tell us in the comments section below.