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The dog run planned for Library Square Park has been a subject of controversy at the last few council meetings. And although the park is approved for a one-year trial program, the issue shows no signs of cooling off.

Locals took to the microphone on during the public comment session of Wednesday night’s meeting to voice their concerns, which included the community’s ability to use the area; possible noise and dog waste; and a perceived lack of communication between the city and nearby residents.

Sony Augustin, of the First United Methodist Church located near the park, said a “large segment of [the church] community” is unhappy with the plan.

“The park is small and it’s a beauty,” Augustin said. Children use it for recreation, as do the four nearby churches and the Hope Academy Charter School, he said.

“There are a lot of things we can do to make sure people going to the park are safe,” Augustin said, “but we do not need to have dogs replacing children to have security in this community.”

Dog park proponents have cited increased safety as a benefit of the dog park, saying the presence of dogs and their owners could cut down on some of the vandalism and crime at the park.

Angela Ahbez-Anderson, who lives across the street from the park, said her children also made use of the park when they were younger. And now, children from the nearby pre-school and other area schools use the park, she said.

“We’ve asked on numerous occasions to have that area patrolled and have more lights,” she said. “It fell on deaf ears … I have a bull mastiff and two maltipoos. I love them, but their needs should not take precedent over the children’s needs.”

She also cited concerns pet owners may not clean up their dogs’ waste, and that the park would be loud due to dogs barking.

Both Ahbez-Anderson and another area resident, John McCarthy, said they were not informed of the dog park plan before the city council voted on it. Residents making similar changes to their property would be legally required to notify their neighbors first, McCarthy said.

City manager Terence Reidy agreed.

“If there was one breakdown in this process, it was not notifying the residents,” he said.

The governing body passed the resolution  establishing the dog park for a one-year pilot program without prior notice because they needed to secure some time-sensitive funding, Reidy said.

Former councilwoman Louise Murray said the dog park may be in violation of the Bradley Restrictions, which were placed on the land James Bradley gave to the city around 1877.

The Bradley Restrictions say the park is for public use, Murray said. “If you go ahead with this dog park, you’re cutting off pieces of the park,” she said. “You’re going to restrict a place that should be for public use.”

Library Square Park is located between Grand Avenue and Heck Street, just north of the central business district. The dog park is proposed for the easternmost quadrant of land there. The dog park committee is hoping to fundraise and apply for grants to install fencing around that section of the park, which Councilwoman Sue Henderson said will likely cost around $25,000.

Any grant funding secured for the dog park will likely be from organizations like the ASPCA, and will be earmarked specifically for this project — “This is a grant that is set up for nothing but dogs,” Henderson said.

Library Square Park is a designated historical site, and the city’s Historical Society has issued a statement  saying some members are not in favor of the park.

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