Parks officials are preparing to activate a new entry/exit system for the dog park in Waveny to ensure that those using the facility are registered to do so.
So far this year, where a punch-in code is required to enter Spencer’s Run, the dog park has just 175 dogs who are newly registered or renewed to use it—about 53% of them New Canaan residents. That’s compared to more than 400 registered dogs in the past, according to Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Lione. The new system will see users scan a town-issued fob to enter and exit.
“We are hoping with the new lock, we will be able to track people and people will be registered, the number of people that are actually using it,” Lione said during the Commission’s regular meeting, held Nov. 12 at the Lapham Center and via videoconference.
She continued: “The new locking system is now ready. It’s going to go live on Jan. 6. People will have to come to Parks and Rec to get a fob and there will be a $15 charge for the fob. This will allow the Parks Department to know who is using the park and when, becauseI think there has been a thing where people share codes, and once a person shares a code then it’s getting used multiple times. So hopefully the new system will solve that problem.”
Lione’s comments came during an update to the Commission on Spencer’s Run.
Parks & Rec Director John Howe said the department put up two signs recently informing Spencer’s Run users about the new fob system that will go live Jan. 6. New Canaan residents pay $25 per year to register at Spencer’s Run, nonresidents $40.
“We think a lot of the misuse will stop,” Howe said. “It’s your fob. If you give it to somebody else then you are potentially jeopardizing your use of the dog park.”
Asked about people potentially using their fobs to swipe in other people, Howe said that the fob will show how many times people enter the park as well as how many times they exit.
Commissioners asked what will happen to people abusing the system (their fobs can be turned off), what will happen if there’s a violation (the Parks Department will speak directly to the fob-holder first), what people whose dogs are registered now will need to show (the Parks Department has everyone’s information), what new registrants need to bring (proof of dog licensing) and what happens if they have no license (go to the Town Clerk in the municipality where you live to get it).
The town also plans to sync the annual renewal for Spencer’s Run users with the same July 1 deadline for registering a dog with the municipality of residence, Howe said.
Parks & Rec Chair George Benington said “getting the new fob system in will be great.”
“There’s a lot of dogs in there that probably shouldn’t be,” he said.
Lione noted that Parks & Rec is seeking funding this year to replace old fencing at Spencer’s Run. She said she checked in with the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department and learned that there haven’t been recurring problems among the dogs and owners at Spencer’s Run. The Animal Control officer did note that many people request a separate section within the dog run for smaller dogs. Benington said that would require creating a separate entrance.
Here’s more information on the new fob system at Spencer’s Run dog park in Waveny.