Cheshire Dog Park Looking For Final Approval In January

December 25, 2009 by John Rook

Plans to make the proposed Cheshire dog park a reality could receive a big, and ultimately final, boost next month when the project goes before the Town Council.
For more than a year, local residents interested in setting up a permanent space dedicated to “man’s best friend,” along with Cheshire Parks and Recreation Director Robert Ceccolini, have been developing a plan that would erect Cheshire’s first official dog park on the site of the old landfill, off of Waterbury Road, next to Artsplace. The site, when constructed, would offer residents the opportunity to bring their dogs to a safe and controlled environment, to enjoy interaction with other canines under their owners’ careful supervision.
Recently, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection informed Ceccolini that its office had reviewed the site and material and saw no reason why the park could not be set up, in a safe manner, on the former landfill.
That positive report from the DEP now puts the park, and the use of the proposed land, in the hands of the Town Council.
Ceccolini stated that the group had not only been waiting to receive the report from the DEP, but had also wanted to wait until after the election to formally go before the Town Council. That way, there could be no complications associated with different members taking seats on the Council after a presentation had already been made.
“We are hoping to go (before the Council) next month,” said Ceccolini. “That is the plan right now.”
Approval from the Town Council would also allow the group to ramp up its fundraising efforts, Ceccolini explained. While the idea of a dog park has, for the most part, been warmly received by Town officials over the last year, it has not been officially approved, meaning that those interested in donating to the cause might have been reluctant without a stamp of approval from the Town. With that, Ceccolini believes that the group will be able to raise the necessary funds to initially develop the site.
“The group has raised about $4,000 right now,” explained Ceccolini. “We estimate that it will take about $12,000 to $15,000 to set up.”
Much of that cost would be dedicated to installing a permanent fence that would prevent dogs from running out into traffic on Waterbury Road and other amenities that could be positioned around the park grounds.
Ceccolini is hoping, however, to be able to enlist the help of local citizens, perhaps teenagers looking to earn designation as an Eagle Scout, to do some of the work on the park, including making signs.
“Right now, (the group) just want to put a sign up out there to let people know about the park, and to try and pump it up,” Ceccolini stated.
The idea of a dog park was first considered several years back by Ceccolini, who proposed that the Town Council set aside money in its five year Capital Budget for its eventual construction. That request was denied, so Ceccolini enlisted the help of members of the public, both as a way to gauge interest in the park and assemble a group that would help make the park a reality.
The group has grown over the last year and is now seeking not-for-profit status in order to further help its fundraising efforts.
If the park is ultimately approved, Ceccolini expects individuals to “really get the ball rolling on fundraising,” including potentially selling individual bricks that could be personally inscribed with the name of a former pet, which would then be used to create a special walkway at the park.
“That is really a great thing,” said Ceccolini. “Those are fantastic fundraisers.”
There is no set timetable to get the park up and running, as Ceccolini stated the object is to simply have it completed sometime in 2010.
However, he hopes to potentially have the park opened in the summer “when the weather is nice and people could come out and enjoy the park.”