Dog park near Laconia industrial area to take shape this summer

LACONIA — People who yearn for a park where dogs can run off leash and socialize with their kind are on the verge of having their wish come true.

The City Council on Monday took the initial step of accepting a donation of $100,000 made on behalf of the Lezama family of Laconia for construction of a dog park on city property at 55 Growtth Road.

The plan calls for a 250-foot by 100-foot fenced enclosure for large dogs, an adjacent and similarly sized area for small dogs and a 20-foot by 60-foot puppy area.

The park will be on two acres of a 25-acre rectangular tract between the end of Spruce Street and Growtth Road. The city acquired the land in 1976 with a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, established by Congress in 1965, which restricts the property to recreational uses.

The park will be reached from the end of Growtth Road near the southern entrance to the Lakes Business Park, where a 20-foot gravel driveway would lead to a graveled parking lot with spaces for 20 vehicles.

A nonprofit organization will run, maintain and insure the park.

Kevin Dunleavy, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, said such parks have been successful elsewhere, but this will be the first one in this area.

“We're excited about it,” he said. “It should be a great amenity for the community and should be a very popular and nice facility.”

He said construction could begin in about a month, including building the road, the parking lot and drainage features. Land will be leveled and commercial fencing will be installed.

The park will be open during daylight hours and will likely be closed over the winter.

Designs for the park previously went through the Planning Board process, with abutters given an opportunity to testify.

“The location is good,” Dunleavy said. “There is some residential nearby, but there is quite a buffer.”

Noise should not be a big problem, he said.

“The research I did indicated that typically when dogs are in a social setting with other dogs, barking is not an issue,” Dunleavy said. “It's not a situation where you will have 20 dogs barking in unison when they are there. There could be more barking from a dog unsupervised in a backyard.”

He said posted rules will include that dogs using the park need to be vaccinated, aggressive dogs are not welcome and people have to pick up after their pets.

“We have to trust in the public that they will abide by the rules,” Dunleavy said. “The hope is that somebody doesn't show up with an aggressive dog. Generally, dogs in social situations tend to make it work.”

Ginny Martin, president of the nonprofit group behind the park, said there has been a great demand for such a place.

“People have been champing at the bit for it,” she said. “It's very good for the dogs and the owners, who will be able to meet other dog owners. These people have a lot in common. It's also important for dogs to socialize and get their energy worn off.”

Some dog trainers urge caution.

Dee Ganley, of East Andover, a certified animal behavior consultant with more than 30 years’ experience, said dog parks can have drawbacks.

“I don't usually suggest for my clients to go to them for a couple different reasons,” she said. “There can be contagious things, worms, virus.

“Also, people don't generally understand what good play is and don't know when to stop play.”

Dog fights can break out during rough play, or even when one dog runs up to play and another dog reacts aggressively. She said people who use the park need to play close attention to their animals.

“If they're drinking coffee, looking at cell phones, talking, not paying attention, by the time they interrupt, there's already a fight going on. Play can turn to prey very quickly.

“A list of rules is only good when people are abiding by them. Sometimes it's hard enough to just get them to pick up the poop.”

On the other hand, a fenced area for dogs can be good for training pets, she said.

She said adolescent dogs are particularly good about playing with one another. Sometimes, older dogs aren't interested in that kind of behavior.

“It's good that the town is providing the park,” she said. “Hopefully, it will be fine and people will be attentive and respectful of others.”