EASTHAMPTON — The dogs are barking — or at least their owners are — for a small amount of space in popular Nonotuck Park where pets can stretch their legs and ditch the leash in an enclosed spot of their own.

Some community members and city officials, however, are against the idea of putting a long-desired dog park inside the popular 260-acre Nonotuck Park.

Located on Daley Field Road, the park features 15 acres designated for soccer, a beach sand volleyball court, multiple softball and baseball diamonds, two children’s playgrounds, an outdoor pool and spray park, a nature trail, bocce and tennis courts, four pavilions, horseshoe pits and picnic areas.

The park currently allows people to walk dogs on leashes, but supporters of a future dog park would like to carve out an enclosed space where dogs can run off-leash.

This past week, nearly a dozen people spoke at a City Council meeting of a need for a dog park. Discussions on that need have been ongoing for more than four years.

“I’m here tonight to again ask for support to building the dog park here, like I was last year on March 6 asking then for your support,” said Joan Kurtz, president of the Friends of Easthampton Dog Park Committee.

Over the past year, the Friends have looked at multiple city locations, only to cross them off the list for different reasons such as inadequate water and electricity infrastructure, possible contaminated soil, or being too close to residences.

Just as it had in November 2019, Nonotuck Park emerged as a favorite site for the supporters. According to previous reports, opposition from the Parks and Recreation Department at that time put an end to the proposal.

The area of Nonotuck that dog park supporters are interested in is “underutilized” and contains an “abandoned old playground,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz argues that building a dog park, which would be funded entirely by grants from the Stanton Foundation, would generate more revenue for Nonotuck through new park memberships.

Several residents echoed Kurtz’s sentiments and expressed their love for Easthampton.

“On behalf of my dog Potter, I want to find a place for him to run, to play ball,” said resident Melissa Incampo. “We feel it is time to designate an enclosed space for off-leash recreation and socialization.”

Opposed to Nonotuck location

Though no one has explicitly stated opposition to a dog park in the city, including John Mason, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, the Parks and Recreation Commission and several residents have listed reasons they say Nonotuck Park is not the best choice.

Samantha Pliska, a Parks and Recreation administrator, says Nonotuck isn’t a good location because it’s closed for half of the year and it is not as accessible to everyone.

Pliska said there are two workable site options for a dog park on Oliver Street and Ferry Street.

“I feel like it’s important for other people to push the sites that are available, so we can work on the improvements that we already have ready for Nonotuck Park going,” she said, adding that she’s heard from several residents who don’t want a dog park at Nonotuck for various reasons.

Marie Fournier Paige, a member of the Friends of the Dog Park Committee who works part time for the Parks and Recreation Department, said she’s seen increasing resistance from the department to a dog park at Nonotuck.

“Offers to us have been scraps of fringe locations that upon investigations are less than subpar for humans or animals,” she said, noting that she was speaking independently and not for the committee or department.

“It’s my opinion that this stance is related to strong comments against any dog park in Easthampton from the mayor of this city. With all of the wonderful improvements happening in our city, it’s shameful that as a lifelong resident and supporter of Easthampton, I do not feel confident in some of the people who have taken oaths to work for the best interest of our community.”

Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said she is supportive of an Easthampton dog park at a location that is accessible and central in the city, but not supportive of “clustering all recreational activities in one place.”

As it stands, LaChapelle said, Nonotuck Park struggles with the number of visitors it has and roads are experiencing traffic over the capacity they were built for with sport leagues, events, camps, the pool and popular playgrounds. The park is also not centrally located and not open year-round.

“The park and recreation director as well as the Parks Commission are supportive of a dog park and are actively exploring a site. Nonotuck Park is not the place,” LaChapelle said. “As mayor, it is not my job to ‘like’ everything, but balance the public’s vision with the resources we have and can maintain.”

Mason said the parks department and commission have been working with the Friends group to find a suitable location. He’s also connected with a real estate agent about any private lots that may come on the market in an effort to look beyond the current inventory of the city. Mason cited the recent purchase of land off East Street to create the Mount Tom Trailhead as an example.

Currently, his department is working with a firm to determine the size and feasibility of the city-owned Ferry Street parcel. Mason says it has potential to be 4-plus acres of park space. If that parcel is chosen for a dog park, green space and amenities could be added to that area that will have “tremendous” benefits.

“So much has been done by the mill owners to revitalize that area, and our hopes are we can continue to add to the transformation of the Ferry Street mill district,” Mason said in a statement.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>