By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A group of Bowling Green citizens is doggedly pursuing the creation of dog parks in the city.
Letters are being mailed out to licensed dog owners in the city, inviting them to the first of three public community focus groups to collect citizen input, dog park advocate Jo Ascunce told City Council on Monday evening.
The first meeting will be held Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., in the meeting room at Simpson Garden Park. Dr. Shannon Orr will serve as facilitator for the focus group, which is part of a larger study being conducted by graduate students in BGSU’s Masters of Public Administration program on the issue of community dog parks in Bowling Green.
The Citizens for BG Dog Parks Committee formed in April with the goal of advocating for more centrally located dog parks in Bowling Green.
The committee has grown to 19 members, Ascunce said.
“Our varied personnel is our strength and our love of dogs, with our commitment to their well-being, is our passion,” she said.
Ascunce thanked City Council members for their support and shared progress made by the committee so far.
- A logo has been created by committee member Mary Dawson.
- The website, BGdogparks.org, has been set up by Lona Leck, to list upcoming events, committee meetings and opportunities for citizens to become involved in the organization’s efforts. The website will also feature a “top dog” of the month.
- A Facebook page, Citizens for BG Dog Parks, has been set up.
- Letters will be mailed to licensed dog owners in Bowling Green, inviting them to the first of three public community focus group meetings.
- The committee has partnered with BGSU PAWS, a group of campus volunteers and certified therapy dogs.
In May, council voted 5-1 to add language to the city Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year master plan about potential dog parks. The amendment asks that the parks and recreation administration consider opportunities to repurpose public land for off-leash dog parks, and work with citizens to establish walkable dog parks in the city.
While the amendment does not state that a dog park must be created, it does establish such a park as a priority, and asks that the process begin to identify challenges and overcome them.
A dog park already exists inside city limits, but some citizens feel the location – next to the county dog shelter off East Gypsy Lane Road – is too far from neighborhoods and not walkable.
At a meeting in May, Ascunce talked of the growing interest.
“There has been an outcry from BG residents to create a space for dogs and their owners to exercise, socialize and enjoy public land within our beautiful city,” Ascunce said.
The newly formed Citizens for BG Dog Parks Committee understands the maintenance commitment of dog parks, and plans to research ways to help, she said.
Ascunce noted that the dog park idea is not new.
“It got squashed,” in past discussions, she said. “We’re back and we’re here to stay.”
“Dog parks are a highly desirable city facility for dog-owning young families, young professionals, prospective residents, and those living across town in need of an off-leash area to exercise their dogs,” Ascunce said.
