Dog Park Surveying Ongoing at Darby Tract

Although both residents and officials have said in past years that they are not sure a dog park is absolutely necessary at the Darby Tract off Van Holten Road, one resident has reported that the work appears to be moving forward anyway.

A presentation was initially made to the public May 2, 2011, on the proposal for the Darby Tract that would include a dog park and some trail networks.

The original plans called for a parking area adjacent to Van Holten Road, with an entrance immediately opposite the entrance to the primary school. The parking would be on the southwesterly corner of the tract, with the entrance to the trails and a dog park on the easterly end.

It was also to include a dog park split into two parts, each 100 feet by 150 feet in size.

But by November 2011, residents had expressed their opinions against a dog park, and officials said they were not sure it was necessary.

Then, at the June 6 council meeting, Tom Mulligan, who lives near the Darby Tract, reported seeing Hatchmont McDonald conducting a survey of the property.

“I talked to the surveyor, and he said he was surveying for the dog park and trails that were brought up two years ago,” he said. “Based on the input from the majority of people who responded to a [survey], a majority were against the dog park because of safety and more.

“It faded away because of public input, and it appears to still be here,” he added.

Township administrator James Naples said there has been a firm retained by the township to explore the area.

“It is listed as part of an open space and recreation master plan as part of a plan for a network of trails and a dog park,” he said. “There is currently a draft design to see if it is feasible. If given permission, it comes to the council.”

Still, Mulligan said, about 99 percent of the residents in the area were against the dog park, and he is unsure why the work is continuing.

“This is excess of redundancy when people have already inputted their thoughts, and it’s not being reflected,” he said.

Councilman Matthew Moench said that even if a survey is being done, nothing can happen without the council’s approval.

Council president Christine Henderson Rose said Thursday that the Darby Tract is included in the next set of projects to be considered after other work being done on the township’s other open space properties.

But, Rose said, the council must approve all projects before they are done, and this dog park is in no way a done deal.

“Please note that having someone survey the property does not equate to a dog park tomorrow,” she said. “The plans for all of the projects on the list have to be reviewed and approved by the township council.

“This will also allow opportunity for comments from township residents when the proposal makes its way to a council agenda,” she added.

Mulligan said at the meeting that he believes an environmental study is necessary.

“It was shut down, and people were still living there,” he said. “We have not done an environmental study, I think recklessly. Putting in several miles of trail, 12 feet wide, is basically plowing up four acres of the Darby Tract.”