With dog behavior in Hubbard Park once again provoking passion, I’ll offer a bit of background and suggest a few ways to turn this discussion toward harmony and solutions in the park. But I'll point out that because I am only one of five elected members of the Montpelier Parks Commission, these views are my own. The Commission hasn’t yet met to discuss these new concerns about dogs in the park, but I suspect commissioners generally shares my perspective.

First, as many of you know, this debate about dog behavior in the park is not new, having most recently arisen in 2012 and 2013. After a community survey about dogs in parks, and after policy work by a volunteer citizen advisory committee, the Parks Commission in 2013 adopted a Canine Code of Conduct. It is designed to make our parks safe and accessible. To summarize the relevant points of the policy, which incorporates the Montpelier city ordinance on dogs:

- HUBBARD PARK: Dogs are allowed off-leash in Hubbard Park and must be under the “voice control” of their companion. Carry a leash for each dog you walk, and leash your dog if it is making someone uncomfortable.
- NORTH BRANCH RIVER PARK: Dogs must be on a leash at all times, due in part to the vibrant wildlife corridor along the river.

The Montpelier Parks Commission wants to allow our policy to work. (You can read the complete policy online at: http://www.montpelier-vt.org/page/391/Policies.html). As Marilyn Mode and others have wisely pointed out here on Front Porch Forum, the policy will succeed if people comply with it and are reasonable. “The freedom to have our dogs run free in the park,” Marilyn writes, “depends on our collective responsible behavior.”

Although online comments are illuminating, the Montpelier Parks Commission can’t evaluate our policy — or make new policy — based solely on postings here to Front Porch Forum. Commissioners also rely on our own observations (we’re in the parks a lot) and on formal reports of canine misconduct to our parks director, Geoff Beyer, or to the Montpelier Police Department. Incident reporting forms are available at the Hubbard Park office or on the city parks website at: http://www.montpelier-vt.org/upload/groups/66/files/parks_incident_reporting_form_draft_oct_[...]pdf

Here’s what we see and hear and believe: The majority of dog companions are responsible and follow the code of conduct. Some do not. We are acutely aware that many people who walk dogs in Hubbard Park prefer to do so off-leash. We also observe dogs off-leash — and therefore in violation of the code — at North Branch River Park and, for that matter, at North Branch Nature Center, which also requires dogs to be on-leash at all times. We also know that when people fear dogs off-leash in Hubbard Park, or in North Branch River Park, then we all need to collaborate on a solution.

I urge everyone to express their views without invective or accusation. If our policy isn’t working, let’s make it work together. Bring your concerns to us. You can email the commission at: Parks-Commission@montpelier-vt.org. Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 8, at 7PM, at the Montpelier Police Station (a week earlier than our normally scheduled third Tuesday of the month). We’ve put dogs in parks on our agenda. Thanks!

Bryan Pfeiffer
A member of the Montpelier Parks Commission

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