Saying users sometimes swap access codes, town officials on Tuesday approved a request to install a new lock system at Waveny’s dog park.
The Board of Selectman during its regular meeting approved a contract with a Brookfield-based company to replace the old four-digit-code method of getting into Spencer’s Run.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the $12,500 contract with United Alarm Services Inc., following a request from the Parks & Recreation Department.
The new access control system is complete with key fobs that allow for dog-owners to enter and enjoy the park, according to Parks and Recreation Director John Howe.
Although the old system had been in place for many years, issues began to arise, he said at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
“If somebody has a code and they’ve had it for three years, there’s no incentive to repay for their use of the park, and codes get handed around so there’s no control of knowing who was there and when in case something happens,” Howe said.
In reference to the new system, Howe continued, “This new system would actually have keyfobs. The benefit for us is we can turn them on and off if we need to, and know who’s there and when, if there’s an issue with a dog or the owners.”
The new system does, however, come with additional end-user costs. The current $25 yearly fee for residents ($40 for nonresidents) and $15 fee for each dog after that will remain the same. Carlson asked if there will be an additional price for the key fob. Howe responded by saying yes, each key fob will cost $15.
Karl asked, “So how will you distribute the key fobs? Will someone have to go to the department office? You can’t mail them, right?”
Howe said that they will distribute the key fobs at Waveny House, and continue having the registration process there, as well.
Murphy Carroll inquired about access for people that work during the week, asking how they will be able to pick up their key fob and/or register.
Howe said, “What we’re probably going to do is put the system in, make sure everything is working, and then have a grace period where the gates will basically be open but then you have time to get there if we need to. We might set up a booth at the Paddle Lodge and sell them on a weekend or something.”
Ok, as a dog owner and occasional Spencer’s Run user I can appreciate the ease of a key fob because remembering numbers when your dog is losing his mind is stressful, but… what now? I’ll wait until my property tax bill comes in to say this for sure, but for now, it feels like we’re entering our peak weird rich miser era.
I also admittedly have no idea when we last paid for Spencer’s Run. It honestly might have been 2022. But remembering that due date is not on me.
I have long wished for a simple town-wide online payment portal to let me pay for my dog licenses, park fees for tennis and the pool, transfer station and parking lot passes all at once. It’s impossible to track what’s due and when, and totally absurd to expect me to just automatically mail a check to each disparate town body when I get the spidey sense it could be coming due. I’d counter that our town is asking for dog run users to pay for said town’s own administrative inefficiency in managing their revenue streams, and until then, for anyone who needs it, the dog park code is 420*69
I second a simple online portal (without additional online payment fees). I would think it would benefit the town of NC to set this up and encourage online payment vs discourage it. Other than the CC fees, it is a lower cost way of transacting than mailing in, or even worse, face to face, payment processing. Even the DMV has this service!
When Spencer’s Run started charging a fee for access we brought our dog to one of the New Canaan Land Trust properties. There are great trails to explore and we got our own exercise at the same time as our dog. For us it was a better option than Spencer’s Run.
This definitely seems like a solution for a poor administrative system by the Recreation Dept. They used to change the codes at every renewal but seemed to have stopped doing so.
Spencer’s Run is widely recognized as a jewel. It’s the envy of every other town; the best dog park in the region from the standpoint of design. What a shame therefore that our own Parks & Rec treats it and its users so badly. If New Canaanites must pay a premium for access to an area of a public park, they have a right to expect it to be properly cared for. Key fobs?? How about keeping the grass alive?
Just remember the Land Trust properties’ policies regarding dogs. Our dog gets very threatened and difficult when he is on leash and another dog is not, so we only go to Watson-Symington after noon. Here is the policy from the NCLT website: “Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome at the Watson-Symington Preserve. We allow dogs to be off-leash from sunrise to noon, provided that dogs are under strict voice control, stay on-trail, and stay within 25 feet of their human. Leashes are required from noon onwards. Note that this policy applies only to the Watson-Symington Preserve: dogs are required to be leashed at all times on all other Land Trust trails. Commercial dog walkers are prohibited at all Land Trust preserves, and we ask dog owners to bring no more than 2 dogs with them to the preserve.”