Citizens for dogs in parks meeting

The Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks will hold an informational meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Lakewood Public Library Main Branch in order to further discuss a proposal to permit on-leash dog walking in Lakewood's parks.

Currently, dogs are permitted only in the city's dog park, where leashes are not required. The park is located in the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation.

Ward 2 Councilman Tom Bullock and the citizen's committee recently proposed legislation to City Council that would authorize the city's director of public works to create rules permitting dogs on leashes in some or all of Lakewood's parks. The changes would also require the director to formally report to City Council on all rules.

The seven-person citizen's committee is hoping to gain support for the proposal and to educate residents about responsible dog walking during the meeting.

"We're committed to doing anything we can to make this work and part of our commitment to the public works committee would be educating people on responsible dog walking," said committee member Donna Klein, noting that a pilot program in one park could be an option in order to feel out potential problems and benefits.

"Lakewood Park is a natural since it's the biggest but it's on one side of the city," she said. "Madison Park could also be a good idea."

The committee was also present on Lake Avenue during the Fourth of July Parade where they walked with their dogs on non-extendable leashes, which Klein says could be a requirement for walking dogs in the parks.

Other guidelines such as waste pick up stations and a ban on dogs in playground areas are being considered by the committee and city officials.

"Ideally we would see leashed dogs allowed in Lakewood parks, not just two parks, but we're willing to compromise," Klein said. "The end goal is to be able to take your dog and your kids or your husband or go by yourself and walk the trails in the park since we all pay for them."...