Five residents attended the September 2005 meeting of the City's Dog Owners Task Force and spoke with Carlene Campbell, Community Relations Manager and the City's liaison to the Task Force, about options for off-leash recreation in Somerville.

At the regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen on July 14, the Aldermen voted unanimously (10-0) to amend the Municipal Ordinances, section 12-51, Dogs in Parks and Playgrounds, to give the Commissioner of Public Works authority to designate off-leash recreational areas (OLRAs). The Task Force is advising the Commissioner on options for safe and legal off-leash recreation. The process involves raising money to install fencing, a hygeinic surface treatment and waste management systems, as well as working with the local community to ensure that an OLRA serves the needs of all park users. Campbell announced that we have raised over $3,000 in contributions to Somerville Unleashed, the City's fund for off-leash recreational areas. The evening's discussion centered on a proposal to present to the public at a community meeting.

We voiced our support for recreational activities that do not include dogs and agreed that our proposal will benefit all users—including those who enjoy the park without dogs. A fenced-in area will give families with dogs a place where they can safely and legally exercise their dogs off-leash and will effectively keep dogs out of the main area, which accommodates many non-dog uses.

Campbell reported on her meeting with Commissioner Stan Koty and a representative from the City's fencing contractor to discuss fencing needs for the proposed OLRA. Four-foot-high black vinyl chainlink fencing is required to match the existing fencing in the park and will cost about $8,000.

A resident reported that she had visited the OLRA in Peters Park in Boston's South end and submitted a sample of the surface treatment—a fine gravel (rice gravel?) the consistency of cat litter. She spoke with dog owners in the park about the surface treatment and learned that they are especially happy with the drainage benefits: the surface does not get muddy or collect standing pools of water in wet weather. She reported that the OLRA in Peters Park is exceptionally clean and that she and her Somerville dog fit right in with the Peters Park regulars: there was a lot of healthy chasing and wrestling as well as inter-species play (fetch!).

We reviewed the rules that were presented at the Community Meeting on March 30.

Residents inquired about options to raise money for off-leash recreational areas. Campbell confirmed that we may publicly recognize the sponsorship of corporate donors on a sign or plaque at the park. The need for a concrete sponsorship proposal for soliciting corporate sponsors was stressed. A resident offered to research the possibility of "selling" engraved bricks in a park wall or walkway to raise money.