AMHERST — Town Moderator James Pistrang proposes to lead a new committee to create the first dog park in Amherst.
In an email sent to the Select Board Oct. 4, Pistrang describes himself as an “enthusiastic proponent” of the dog park following a July 2015 meeting that brought out a number of dog owners who want a place in Amherst where their dogs can roam free and be in the company of other pets.
“I believe that it would enhance the lives of dogs and dog owners in town and be an asset to the town as a whole,” Pistrang wrote.
But members of the Select Board on Thursday said they are not yet ready to create a new committee to undertake this task, and may instead have Town Manager Paul Bockelman evaluate the need for such a committee.
Select Board member Andrew Steinberg said Bockelman should be consulted and work with town staff on developing the mission for a committee.
“I appreciate the initiative, but I’m not ready to go ahead and do it yet,” said board member Constance Kruger.
A third member, Douglas Slaughter, said a dog park committee could be folded into the Downtown Recreation Working Group, a committee already examining the recreational needs in Amherst center.
A petition circulated by resident Alton Sprague in 2015 titled “We Need a Dog Park in the Amherst Area,” was signed by more than 100 residents.
In his email to the Select Board, Pistrang explained that the committee’s charge would include finding a location, determining its size, estimating its cost and figuring out how it would be governed.
Pistrang added that it would not be a permanent committee, but in place only until a dog park is ready.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
