The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Madison approves dog park site after four-year search
MADISON — The town’s furry four-legged friends will have a place to romp and play with pals now that the dog park has an approved location.
“I’m very excited,” said Austin Hall, director of Beach, Recreation and Senior Services. “It’s something we’ve talked about for a while now and having it at Salt Meadow is a great location.”
Ruthanna Terreri was involved with the proposal when the dog park was proposed at Bauer Park back in 2017. “The location was always the issue,” the Madison resident said. “It wasn’t that the town didn’t support it or the people in the community didn’t support it, it was definitely the location.”
Now, work begins to design and build the park. It will be located to the immediate left of the entrance of the park in a grassy area that abuts Route 1. “We’re mowing down the area and getting the area marked so we know exactly the space we’re working with,” said Hall.
While the park will be built with some funds from the town, “there’s already a couple thousand dollars that the town has collected for this,” First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons said, referring to prior fundraising efforts. The town will be responsible for maintaining the area.
“We’re going to finalize the design of it, and then put a budget together, and then probably start a fundraising campaign,” Lyons said. “Then I may try to see if there is some town funding that we can jump start it with.”
Lyons is looking forward to bringing Dash, her Labrador Retriever mix, to play at the park.
“We want to make sure people are using appropriate locations to exercise their pets, versus going to places that they shouldn’t be turning their dogs loose,” she said. “This encourages people to do it in a safe environment that is contained, and where people are amendable to that.”
“It’s a nice amenity for the community and for dog owners,” she added. “We’ve seen a rise in dog ownership. Pets are a part of the family these days, so it’s nice to offer a location for this.”
The proposed park is a joint effort between the Salt Meadow Marsh Advisory Committee and Beach & Recreation Department.
Salt Meadow Park offers sports fields, a walking path,
hiking trails in the coastal forest, natural amphitheater, picnic area, and now, the dog park.
“There are so many people in Madison that have dogs,” Terreri said, a dog owner. “There’s really no place that a dog can run free without a leash, and do what dogs do.”
“It’s a way to socialize them,” she added. “It’s a way to give them exercise. It’s a really nice way for people to get to know each other and build a community.”
At this point there is no set date for opening.
Hall looks forward to bringing his two dogs, Walter, a Bassett hound, and Stella, a bloodhound/ coon hound mix, to socialize there. “I’ll be great to have them hang out with other dogs in town and do it right in our own backyard.”
“I think it’s great,” he added. “We don’t have a dog park and we have lots of dog owners in town. It’s a great project for the town and will get a lot of use.”