Darien dogs will be free to run off their leashes in the mornings in certain parks, the Parks and Recreation Commission decided Thursday after months of debate. As long as the town counsel makes no changes, the new regulations will go into effect in October.
People will be allowed to let their dogs off their leashes at all times in a specially designated area at Cherry Lawn Park in front of the Nature Center. From September 1 through May 31, they will be allowed off their leashes throughout the rest of the park from dawn until 10:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays.
At the Selleck's Woods and Woodland Park Nature Preserves, as well as Holahan Field, McGuane Park and Baker Parker, dogs must be kept on leashes at all times. They are allowed to run free at all times at Stony Brook Park and the Diller property. At Tilley Pond Park, dogs are allowed to be off leashes from dawn to 10:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. Dogs are not allowed at Weed Beach or Pear Tree Point Beach, unless medically necessary.
Commission member Charlie Goodyear, who helped craft the Cherry Lawn Park compromise, said, "This proposal takes, what is in our view, a more responsible, fair, workable approach. Our main criteria is safety first, particularly for children."
A decision for each park was made separately. All votes were unanimous except for the Woodland Park proposal. Susan Graham and Erika Morris tried to get a proposal passed that would allow morning off-leash hours, but they were defeated.
Chairman Jane Branigan was concerned about off-leash hours bringing more people to Darien parks. "With the internet, people can go online and find out where dogs can be off leash. We're going to have people coming from Stamford, from Norwalk."
The commission will review the decision again next April, after the rules have been in effect for six months, to see how they are working.
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