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Council sets off-leash privilege hours
By Tom Munds
Englewood City Council unanimously approved limiting the hours owners could let their dogs off the leash in four of the city parks at the Oct. 19 meeting while acknowledging it wasn’t a long-term solution to the issue.
Even though no one was completely satisfied with the the decision, council members agreed to the compromise proposal that established times when owners can exercise their animals off the leash and hours people can pay a visit knowing all dogs in the park had to be on a leash.
During the discussion of the proposal, several councilmembers said establishing hours demanded that signs be put up explaining the rules, created the problem of enforcement and wasn’t a long-term solution. After the vote, those who want to see dogs in the parks on a leash at all time said the hours weren’t fair and off-leash proponents would have preferred longer hours for the privileges.
Owners are allowed to exercise their dogs off the leash in Centennial, Duncan and Jason parks and in the Northwest Greenbelt. The Oct. 19 decision allows dogs to be off the leash from 6 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. for March through the end of October. At all other times, a dog in those locations must be on a leash. During the winter defined as Nov. 1 through the end of February, owners can let the dog off the leash at any time. The hours become effective Jan. 1.
The debate about whether or not dogs should be allowed off the leash in four of the city’s parks almost as soon as the rules were established eight years ago.
Most recently, Englewood resident Martha Griego raised concerns about off-leash dogs being in the Jason Park picnic area and also being aggressive toward her grandchildren and other children in the playground. She said there was dog waste left in the playground, dogs often took food off tables during picnics and she was concerned about the safety of children with off-leash dogs around. She urged the council to require dogs be on a leash whenever they are in the parks.
She said she was definitely not satisfied with the Oct. 19 council decision because it clearly favors the proponents of off-leash privileges.
“The hours are not right. They establish 10 hours for the off-leash people and only seven hours for children and families,” she said. “That isn’t fair. Parks are made for kids not dogs. I also am disappointed because we trusted the city council to make a decision to protect families. That didn’t happen so I guess I’ll just use parks other than Jason from now on.”
Kim Love, president of the all volunteer Englewood Unleashed organization that has supported the off-leash privileges, said he felt the hours were OK but he wished there was a longer winter season.
“However, we respect the council decision and we can work with it,” he said.
During the council’s discussion, Councilmember Joe Jefferson stated he felt the hours were too restrictive and favored keeping the status quo with owners able to let their dogs off the leash at any time.
Wayne Oakley, District 2 representative, didn’t agree with the hours and restated that two years ago he favored requiring dogs be on a leash all the time at Jason Park and still felt that was the best way to go.
“However, I always try to represent all the residents and there are people who want to keep at least some off-leash privilege times at Jason Park,” he said. “So, I feel establishing off-leash hours in the summer is a compromise and I’ll vote for it because I feel it is the best way to represent the point of view of all our residents.
There was a lot of discussion about what were the best hours for the compromise and what months should be considered winter months. Eventually, a majority of councilmembers supported the resolution in its final form.
Councilmembers also agreed to discuss the issues of additional and better signs and better enforcement at an upcoming study session. No date was set for the sign and enforcement discussion.
Even though no one was completely satisfied with the the decision, council members agreed to the compromise proposal that established times when owners can exercise their animals off the leash and hours people can pay a visit knowing all dogs in the park had to be on a leash.
During the discussion of the proposal, several councilmembers said establishing hours demanded that signs be put up explaining the rules, created the problem of enforcement and wasn’t a long-term solution. After the vote, those who want to see dogs in the parks on a leash at all time said the hours weren’t fair and off-leash proponents would have preferred longer hours for the privileges.
Owners are allowed to exercise their dogs off the leash in Centennial, Duncan and Jason parks and in the Northwest Greenbelt. The Oct. 19 decision allows dogs to be off the leash from 6 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. for March through the end of October. At all other times, a dog in those locations must be on a leash. During the winter defined as Nov. 1 through the end of February, owners can let the dog off the leash at any time. The hours become effective Jan. 1.
The debate about whether or not dogs should be allowed off the leash in four of the city’s parks almost as soon as the rules were established eight years ago.
Most recently, Englewood resident Martha Griego raised concerns about off-leash dogs being in the Jason Park picnic area and also being aggressive toward her grandchildren and other children in the playground. She said there was dog waste left in the playground, dogs often took food off tables during picnics and she was concerned about the safety of children with off-leash dogs around. She urged the council to require dogs be on a leash whenever they are in the parks.
She said she was definitely not satisfied with the Oct. 19 council decision because it clearly favors the proponents of off-leash privileges.
“The hours are not right. They establish 10 hours for the off-leash people and only seven hours for children and families,” she said. “That isn’t fair. Parks are made for kids not dogs. I also am disappointed because we trusted the city council to make a decision to protect families. That didn’t happen so I guess I’ll just use parks other than Jason from now on.”
Kim Love, president of the all volunteer Englewood Unleashed organization that has supported the off-leash privileges, said he felt the hours were OK but he wished there was a longer winter season.
“However, we respect the council decision and we can work with it,” he said.
During the council’s discussion, Councilmember Joe Jefferson stated he felt the hours were too restrictive and favored keeping the status quo with owners able to let their dogs off the leash at any time.
Wayne Oakley, District 2 representative, didn’t agree with the hours and restated that two years ago he favored requiring dogs be on a leash all the time at Jason Park and still felt that was the best way to go.
“However, I always try to represent all the residents and there are people who want to keep at least some off-leash privilege times at Jason Park,” he said. “So, I feel establishing off-leash hours in the summer is a compromise and I’ll vote for it because I feel it is the best way to represent the point of view of all our residents.
There was a lot of discussion about what were the best hours for the compromise and what months should be considered winter months. Eventually, a majority of councilmembers supported the resolution in its final form.
Councilmembers also agreed to discuss the issues of additional and better signs and better enforcement at an upcoming study session. No date was set for the sign and enforcement discussion.
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