August 6, 2008
Dog park location gains public support
There was plenty of community support for the proposed site for the off-leash dog park inside Highland Park at last night's public discussion.
Those who spoke in favor of the park clearly outnumbered the few people who said they were not in favor of the proposed location. Several citizens pointed out that adding a fenced dog park to that particular area of the park would increase the presence of law-abiding citizens, and likely run off the unsavory element that frequent it now.
One speaker held up a picture of a prostitute soliciting a customer. She then held up a picture of a dog and said she would rather see the dog in Highland Park.
While one detractor said she believed an off-leash area would only benefit a small minority of citizens, another speaker countered that tennis courts only benefit a small minority who play tennis. All amenities are not utilized by everyone who uses the park.
Two residents who live near both sides of the park spoke in favor of the location, saying they did not believe the increased noise and traffic would be a problem.
Steve Bushor, director of the city's parks and recreation department, said he would take all the comments at the meeting, plus the two phone calls and many e-mails he has accumulated on the topic, and present it to the architectural review board at a meeting on Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.
See today's Roanoke Times for Mason Adams' story about the meeting and to see a map of the proposed location.
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