Lakewood Citizens Continue To Push To Walk Leashed Dogs In Our Parks

In the Spring of 2009, after collecting hundreds of signatures of support, a group of concerned Lakewood residents formed the Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks. The Citizens Committee has been working with Lakewood City Council in the development of a new ordinance that would allow families and individuals with dogs to utilize the paved paths within Lakewood city parks while protecting the cleanliness and order of our city parks.

Lakewood City Ordinance 905.07 currently prohibits walking leashed dogs in City parks. The Citizens Committee has presented evidence that walking dogs in parks can promote healthy living, extend family time, enhance park safety and reduce the number of loitering and defecating geese. Repealing the current dog ban with a well designed new ordinance would also align Lakewood more closely with nearby cities such as Rocky River, Cleveland, Bay Village and Westlake. The neighboring Cleveland Metroparks also welcomes leashed dogs on their multipurpose paths.  Even sections of Edgewater Drive here in Lakewood manage dog walkers, joggers, cyclists, pedestrians, parents and babysitters pushing strollers, rollerbladers, power walkers and others on the same path without incident. According to Committee member Jeff Barbalics, “We just want to make Lakewood a safer and friendlier place.”  Vonni Rubin, a senior Committee member, added, “I find my daily walks on Detroit with my dog to be quite challenging and feel like I need to be on red alert.  The flat and smooth paths of the park are far easier to navigate than uneven and crowded sidewalks, especially for seniors and people who have mobility impairments.”

Since the initial draft ordinance, creating a pilot program allowing leashed dog walking in selected city parks presented in 2009, a revised ordinance was presented by Councilman Tom Bullock on January 19th, 2010. The proposed revised ordinance has been referred to the Public Works Committee for further review and development. The new ordinance includes language that would allow leashed dogs in Lakewood Park and Kaufmann Park as part of a 12-month pilot program. The program would include waste stations paid for by the Citizens Committee and language that would strengthen the cities ability to cite dog walkers that do not clean up their pet’s waste or that let their dogs off leash. 

In cooperation with the not-for-profit Lakewood Foundation, the Committee has been and continues raising funds to pay for doggie waste stations in the parks.  Concerned citizens can help by making a tax deductible purchase of a ‘Bags on Board’ canister that attaches to your pets’ leash for immediate availability of clean up materials. Canisters are available at Green Smart Gifts and Furry Nation on Detroit Road and Pet’s General Store on Madison Avenue. The Citizens Committee has also held a number of successful fundraisers including the Lakewood Hot Dog Social held at Furry Nation and a vendor table at the Spooky Pooch Parade and plans to continue fund raising activities in 2010. Along with fund raising and self-policing of city parks the Committee will continue to hold educational programs for both dog owners and non-owners regarding how to properly manage dog behavior. Mr. Bullock observed, “It is refreshing to see Lakewood citizens stepping up, organizing and working in cooperation with the City to make Lakewood a more welcoming Cleveland suburb. Given the significant amount of research, canvassing and thoughtful consideration of issues and options already accomplished by the Citizens Committee I am confident that the leashed dog walking pilot will be successful and we will move toward parity with the vast majority of Northeast Ohio suburbs.”

Interested Lakewood residents can help by taking action, including:

-          Contacting your council representative to indicate your support;

-          Visiting the Citizens Committee website to track progress at www.leasheddogsinlakewoodpark.com;

-          Emailing the Committee at leasheddogsinlakewoodpark@yahoo.com for more information, to comment or to volunteer;

-          Finding the Committee on Facebook to become a fan under either their cause or organization page.