TodayCarlisle dog park location granted approval
Borough parks and recreation board approves concept of park on Royer Road.
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Ali Edgerton walks her German Shepherd Aika near Georgetown Circle. Aika is a retired Schutzhund from Ritner Kennel. (Michael Bupp/The Sentinel)
Carlisle area dogs have something new to wag about, courtesy of some hard-working humans.
The borough parks and recreation board Thursday approved the concept of locating a dog park on 2.5 acres along Royer Road just west of the borough.
Council could consider the recommendation from the advisory board at its next regular monthly meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 11.
The Carlisle Area Dog Parks Association wants to develop the fenced-in park on the former PP&L tract adjacent to Interstate 81.
Features could include a double-gated entrance, covered trash cans, pooper-scooper stations with plastic bags and separate fenced areas for small and large dogs.
An ad hoc task force considered nine possible locations before settling on the Royer Road tract as the best place for an area dog park, said Vern Graham, a member of the dog park association’s board.
He said the Royer Road tract can accommodate parking and is close enough to allow a lot of area dog owners to take advantage of the location.
There is currently no designated use for the tract, which is near a proposed linear park, Graham added.
Recreation Director Andrea Crouse said the borough could convene a public hearing in October or November on possible uses for the park.
“A dog park ties in nicely with it,” Crouse said.
The board made its recommendation contingent on the borough verifying the intent of a $17,500 grant from the Stuart Foundation.
Crouse said the foundation contributed the money for either the acquisition of land or the development of an athletic field on the former PP&L tract. She is not sure if the foundation would support a dog park there.
Board Chairman Chris Hoffman said the borough looked at other uses for that land but determined the tract was too small for an athletic field.
“A dog park seems like it would be a very good idea,” said Hoffman, who added the foundation board may be interested in doing a project like a dog park.
Councilman Perry Heath was also optimistic the foundation may support a dog park. Even if it decides to pull the grant, that decision should have not impact on the effort to develop a dog park.
Heath commended CADPA for its work over the past year.
“You have been patient and considerate. Your attitude and approach went a long way to bringing this to fruition,” he said. “It has been admirable.”
As council liaison to the recreation board, Heath plans to make a motion to permit CADPA to continue working on the proposed dog park.
Crouse noted CADPA members would also have to submit a land development plan to South Middleton Township officials for their approval.
“We are ready and raring to go,” said Mary Kutulakis, a CADPA member. She thanked the board for its guidance, adding that residents new to the Carlisle area have been asking about the availability of a dog park.
A non-profit organization, CADPA plans to raise the money to build and maintain the park.
“We are all excited,” said Sean Hurley of Carlisle, a CADPA member. “We are so much closer now to getting a dog park.”
Wally Shank of Carlisle said he is happy to see the hard of work of CADPA finally pay off.
Last summer, CADPA collected signatures on petitions from dog park supporters living in Carlisle and the townships of Dickinson, North Middleton, South Middleton, Middlesex and West Pennsboro.
Dog park users would have to follow the posted rules, including cleaning up after their animals and the immediate removal of any dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior.Volunteers will be available to monitor the dog park, which would probably be open dawn to dusk.
