Mauldin City Council Considering Dog Park

Dogs are currently not allowed in any Mauldin city park, but that could change soon.

The City Council is considering relaxing its rules and establishing a dog park at Pine Forest Park, a passive park located at Lanewood Drive and Mapleton.

The proposed plan, considered Tuesday night by the Council's Recreation Committee, is in the formative stages. A major stumbling block could be residents of the surrounding community. City Administrator Trey Eubanks and committee members said the city would need to meet with community residents to discuss the plan before it could progress.

"I think a meeting is important," said Council member Bob Cook. "If I lived there, I might be asking, 'why are you picking on me?'"

Eubanks said many city residents have been asking about a dog park. "This would finally provide a place for citizens in Mauldin to walk their pets," he said.

City officials had also considered City Center Park as an additional location for allowing dogs, but nixed that idea and are concentrating solely on Pine Forest, Eubanks said.

Eubanks added that by allowing dogs in a passive park such as Pine Forest, dogs could more easily be controlled and would be separated from the city's many recreation program activities that draw large numbers of people at other city parks.

The financial impact on the city would be minimal, according to Eubanks, who said in a committee memo that the city would need to install two dog-waste stations at a cost of $300.

Though guidelines would call for dogs to be leashed at all times, Council member Gabe Hunter feared that such a change at the park might also require the city to install fencing.

Hunter said he was "not a big supporter" of dogs in city-run parks, noting an incident some years ago when a young child was bitten by a leashed dog. And while dog owners would be required to clean up after their pets, Hunter also raised concerns about dog waste fouling the park.

The Councilman also said the presence of dogs, specially larger breeds, could be intimidating to very small children at the park if the animals were not segregated.

"I think small kids have an innate fear of something that can look them in the eye," Hunter said.

One audience member asked if the park would be supervised. Eubanks said supervision would be the sole responsibility of the dog owner.

"Well, then we're setting ourselves up for 'call my lawyer,'" the man warned.

If the change in city law is allowed, general guidelines at the park would require owners to control their pets at all times and keep dogs on leashes no longer than six feet.

Further, dog owners must clean up all wastes, register their dog(s) with the city, and make sure their dogs are vaccinated. Also, dogs would not be allowed in playgrounds, athletic fields, and in areas of special or programmed events, including games and practices.

Service animals, however, would be exempt from the rules.