BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J.—Local dog owners will have their day in the park in 2019.
The long-discussed plans for a dog park, actually two adjacent dog parks to be used by small and large dogs, got a final airing on Dec. 4 when council members decided to move forward with a $50,000 proposal by Borough Engineer Andrew Hipolit.
In 2017, council members set aside $50,000 in capital funds for building a dog park but were not able to agree on specifics during 2018 discussions.
In addition, several residents of Foster Road—a road running parallel to the proposed dog parks—showed up in August to oppose the park, citing noise, increased traffic, predicted parking woes, and vehicle congestion.
Doggedly opposed
Other Foster Road residents questioned how much research council members did before deciding on the park’s location, that dogs might “escape” and create liability concerns, and that dogs’ barking only adds to all the area noise from soccer fields and nearby emergency vehicles and sirens.
Mayor Peter Rustin told the opponents Aug. 13 that he would work with them to resolve any issues related to the new dog parks.
The proposal includes construction of two adjoining enclosures for dogs on a grassed area under large trees directly opposite borough facilities on Riveredge Road.
The two fenced-in areas—a 40-foot-by-40-foot area for small dogs and an 80-foot-by-80-foot area for larger dogs—will both be bounded by a 4-foot-high chain link fence.
Members again debated what fence height was best for the dog parks, noting that 4 feet should suffice to prevent dogs from leaping the fence, as well as look attractive.
“You don’t want to have a [dog] park where people feel there is a lack of ambiance in a town like Tenafly,” said Rustin Dec. 4, strongly advocating for 4-foot-high fences.
Rustin noted that most residents may not even be 6 feet tall and a 6-foot-high fence would make park users “feel that you’re locked in.”
Council members Maxim Basch and Lauren Dayton wondered whether a base of pea gravel—recommended by Hipolit—was the best choice. Dayton said she heard larger dogs get the pea gravel stuck in their paws. When another discussion ensued over whether pea gravel or mulch was best for use with bigger dogs, Hipolit recommended mulch.
‘We’ve been talking’
Discussion continued over what type of base material was more sanitary.
“We’ve been talking about this longer than the average dog’s life,” observed Rustin, adding he hoped his dogs Sam and Max “get to see this done.”
When Rustin suggested that maybe a solid fence could block views from the Foster Road side, Dayton suggested adding plantings “so they’re not staring at it.”
The mayor noted he and Chamber of Commerce President Christine Evron will commence fundraising for amenities such as benches, removed from the park plans to save funds.
Evron has long advocated a dog park, hosting a website for years that promotes the values of such a park.
She has offered repeatedly to work with borough officials to raise additional funds for future park upgrades including trash cans, signage, landscaping designed to decrease barking noise, a covered area for inclement weather, maintenance sheds and a wash station.
Efforts to reach Hipolit for more project details were not returned by press time.