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Dog Politics

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  • No politics could be more local than the question before Newton's Parks and Recreation Commission last night. Since before 2005, the city has been struggling with how to offer the city's dogs a place to run around without leashes. Until two months ago, there was no public place in Newton where this was allowed.

    No politics could be more local than the question before Newton's Parks and Recreation Commission last night. Since before 2005, the city has been struggling with how to offer the city's dogs a place to run around without leashes. Until two months ago, there was no public place in Newton where this was allowed.

  • In 2005, the commission began to consider designating some places as off-leash dog parks. The process moved extremely slowly, but eventually led to a trial period in Cold Spring Park. A field was chosen, signs were posted, a waste bag dispenser installed. A nine month trial period started in March.

    In 2005, the commission began to consider designating some places as off-leash dog parks. The process moved extremely slowly, but eventually led to a trial period in Cold Spring Park. A field was chosen, signs were posted, a waste bag dispenser installed. A nine month trial period started in March.

  • The whole process has been extremely contentious. Home owners in the neighborhood of the park ("the abutters") have opposed the idea from the start. They are well represented on the Parks and Recreation Commission, a fact which slowed approval.

    The whole process has been extremely contentious. Home owners in the neighborhood of the park ("the abutters") have opposed the idea from the start. They are well represented on the Parks and Recreation Commission, a fact which slowed approval.

  • The neighbors of the park are incensed and have been demanding an immediate end to the off-leash trial. They complain about a marked increase in incidents of dogs trespassing on their property, dog owner's being rude to them, and streets crowded with parked cars. They say their neighborhood has been ruined and that "park wasn't broken before; now it's broken."

    The neighbors of the park are incensed and have been demanding an immediate end to the off-leash trial. They complain about a marked increase in incidents of dogs trespassing on their property, dog owner's being rude to them, and streets crowded with parked cars. They say their neighborhood has been ruined and that "park wasn't broken before; now it's broken."

  • Last night the status of the dog run was on The Park and Recreation Commission's agenda. The meeting was very well attended and had to be moved from its normal room to the War Memorial auditorium.

    Last night the status of the dog run was on The Park and Recreation Commission's agenda. The meeting was very well attended and had to be moved from its normal room to the War Memorial auditorium.

  • In the end, the commission took no action (predictably) much to the frustration of some of the abutters. This issue isn't going away any time soon. The issue is a contentious as a supreme court nomination, if somewhat less momentous. For now issue is tabled at least until the next committee meeting, a month from now.

    In the end, the commission took no action (predictably) much to the frustration of some of the abutters. This issue isn't going away any time soon. The issue is a contentious as a supreme court nomination, if somewhat less momentous. For now issue is tabled at least until the next committee meeting, a month from now.

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    The whole process has been extremely contentious. Home owners in the neighborhood of the park ("the abutters") have opposed the idea from the start. They are well represented on the Parks and Recreation Commission, a fact which slowed approval.
    The neighbors of the park are incensed and have been demanding an immediate end to the off-leash trial. They complain about a marked increase in incidents of dogs trespassing on their property, dog owner's being rude to them, and streets crowded with parked cars. They say their neighborhood has been ruined and that "park wasn't broken before; now it's broken."
    Last night the status of the dog run was on The Park and Recreation Commission's agenda. The meeting was very well attended and had to be moved from its normal room to the War Memorial auditorium.