Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the dog park that is slated for Mulberry Park. My husband and I have enjoyed living on this quiet, tranquil street for the last four years. We chose to purchase our home in this location specifically because of this park and the space that it provides to outdoor activities. Over the years, the neighborhood children have grown older and now able to enjoy the park to its full potential. We were pleased to see a large group of neighborhood boys play baseball in the field all day long for the length of the summer. My daughter loves to gather with other children at the playground, regardless of the outdated and limited equipment. We’ve enjoyed flying kites, sled riding, catching lightning bugs, and many other activities. My husband, brother, and brother-in-law’s have also enjoyed the large open space to teach our nephews how to play football.

While I think that a dog park is a good idea for the dogs of Warren, I do not agree that Mulberry Park is an adequate or safe location for a dog park. With the numerous amounts of young children in the neighborhood and the close proximity of houses around the park, the City of Warren is asking for the liability of future injuries, noise disturbances, and upset residents. In addition, dozens of children, teenagers, and young adults rely upon the park as a passage way to and from school/work.

Playgrounds and dog parks are not a good mix; as many children will eagerly walk up to a strange dog to see/pet it (regardless of whether they are behind a fence, on a leash, or running loose) my daughter included.

I ask that the City of Warren seek an alternate location for a dog park that is not centered in the middle of a densely populated residence. There are many other green spaces in Warren that would better suit the needs of a dog park. The City of Warren should look upon the example set forth by the Lakewood dog park and how it has limited conflicts with residential properties. I implore all to envision living directly next to a dog park and how it would affect your quality of life.

Sincerely,

Emily Arthur, M.S. Ed CCC-SLP

Warren