Resident Carissa Mason will soon present to Stratford town officials a petition that supports within the town’s borders.
Mason’s campaign has already garnered more than 500 people in support of a place for the pups.
A booth set up at the recent held at Paradise Green collected the signatures of 285 Stratford residents, Mason said. And in the virtual world, an online petition on a website called change.org has the John Hancocks of 275.
Now Mason is trying to get those who signed the online petition to sign the written one so that she can present the latter to the Town Council, possibly at its .
Mason said she anticipates a welcome response from the Council.
“There are a few members from town that are supporting this like Rachel Solveira, our animal control officer, and , our Town Council member,” Mason said. “They have been incredibly helpful and I think the concept is really catching on.”
Fuller (D-6) said though the would-be dog park is still in the “very infant stages in terms of town policy,” he supports the movement, as does five or six of his Council colleagues.
The councilman said he likes the idea of a nonprofit agency managing the finances of the potential dog park. That way it eases the burden on the taxpayer, he said, adding that the town would come into play by leasing out the land, which would require Town Council approval.
As for a location, Mason said people have suggested , and the area behind the new animal shelter, which Mason said was an idea she received from someone on the town’s zoning commission.
“I imagine the next Council elected in will address it straight on,” Fuller said. “It has to be introduced to the Council before we can act on anything. We could see Council activity as early as December.”
Do you think Stratford needs a dog park? Vote in our poll and tell us why or why not in the comments section below.
I had once heard that property was going to be used for a soccer field but don't know the status of that plan. By the way, thank you for using the picture with our dog, Hope, to accompany this article! She was rescued 3 weeks ago and a dog park would be a great welcome to her new forever home in Stratford!
Or Roosevelt Forest or the Great Salt Marsh? (Kidding about the Halls - make up your own punch line) However, don't the other sites make sense?
I suggest near the beach (engine plant). The abandoned parking lots have the fences and you can lay about a foot of woodchips or recycled rubber down so the dogs do not get hurt.
I seriously don't think "all of Stratford" would utilize the park, particularly all at the same time. I am sure we will see a lot of people who "won't want it in their back yard" whether or not they paid a premium for the home (expensive homes are found in Lordship too by the way so they won't want it either and paying a premium gives you privileges because??). Dog parks have become quite popular and promote community. People get to know their fellow residents/neighbors and they get people (children) outside enjoying the fresh air. The biggest challenge will be finding a location the majority can agree upon. Good luck!
You are missing the point. People buy homes for reasons. If they want a quite area with more land in Stratford they have to pay a little more. It has nothing to do with being better than the next person. However, if all of a sudden there are 100's of cars and dogs where one bought thinking it would be quite, you can see the issue. If you live in a 50K house or a 1M dollar house, you should have the right to say what you feel. Stop the abbrasive comments. I would love to see a park. But not near my house or as you said the river! =)
Those cars are parked in the BACK of the property, away from the houses -- there should be no difference in the number of cars you see on a daily basis. I can understand where you are coming from, but you willingly bought a home next to public land.. the public land could be used for anything and everything, as the community sees fit. Plus, on any given day, i doubt you would have to worry about 100 cars or 100 dogs. Thanks
Which would you rather have a dog park or a 20 Mil rate, allowing residents & businesses to pay 40 % less taxes to the Town? - Realistically wouldn't every neighborhood want a place for recreation, rather than piling puppies in the car to then walk their dawg? Wouldn't that draw NIMBYs? What is the purpose of a dog park? Will there be requirements to fence in or pave areas? Will there be a need for toilet facilities, for pet owners? Will there be Town Ordinace doggy toilet diapers? Will there needs for constructed items for a dog shelter or dog run, like at a dawg show? . The WW II Memorial raised funds and didn't use public money. The WW II Memorial is in a Public Park. Bunnell Band, Stratford Volley ball and all kinds of organizations raise funds, separate from Tax money. If a private individual donates land for a dog park, then placement is a moot issue, isn't it? I have good friends who care more about animals than people. I think it is wonderful that people have passions they act on. I am not against a dog park, cat park, skate board park, or a private walkway for turtles, snails, or clams. .
as for location- no dogs allowed at the beach. that will (should) never change. The area behind the pound? Has anyone lived in the town long enough to know what is beneath that surface? If you want your dog growing another leg, put it there. great idea.
In regards to town liability, the umbrella policy would cover potential claims. People bringing dogs to the dog park understand that they are ultimately responsible for their pets. Signs will clearly post that aggressive dogs/unsocialized dogs are prohibited, and that they are responsible for the actions of their pets. This helps share liability. Maintenance can be funded by donations, volunteering, as well as revenues from fundraising. The nice thing about dog parks is that they only require wood chips. This can easily be obtained from the town or from local landscaping companies, as the Town collects sticks/leaves/lawnclippings every month. There are several beaches (much nicer than stratfords) that allow dogs during certain hours. A dog park at short beach, or behind the animal shelter would not disrupt natural habitat or surrounding properties. Thx.
If the town is so mismanaged as you claim, why would our town leaders spend money on a dog park. Isn't it enough that the same leaders built a multimillion dollar animal control facility?
When I'm elected Mayor, we will have referendums in every election year. - Like: 1. Should each District have Dawg Parks? 2. Should Stratford's "PUBLIC INITIATIVE" be sacrosanct? 3. Should Stratford have Referendums: A) Town Budget B) BoE Budget C) Bonding D) Contract Ratification 4) Should Town Attorney be full time Employee, with 3 pt assistents, 2-3 contract paralegals and Secretary. - $ 120,000 Salary, with Health Insurance, 10 vacation, 7 sick & 3 personal Days in a flexible 40 hour work week. - Guarentee Paycheck. - No overhead for office, staff, utilities/rent, law library, or liability insurance, all paid by the town. Town pays court cost, too. - All outside Council must openly Bid Hourly rate and per job fees. - 9 year term limit, for transitional purposes. - Set (discounted rate) for Consulting to Town or BoE 5) Should Mayor be 2 year terms? 6 years, total years term limit? 6) Should Stratford have an assistant Mayor, at 2/3rd salary for succession? 7) Should Stratford have total of 6 years (combined) on Town Council, Bored of Education, & Zoning? Follow the money 8) Should antinepotism be enforced to include spouses, children, grand children, 1st cousins, & spouse per each? 9) Should 5 year moritorium of being hired after the end of any elected position? 10) Should Stratford have rotating "breeds of the year" for Dogs, Cats, Birds, Fish, & animals as Stratford's official "_______?" - See Jeze-I post in wrong blog here too!