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Friendship Heights council approves park-rule signage, directs focus on dogs and smoking
Summary
Council approved limited signage for village parks to post rules, asked staff and the parks committee to develop pictogram-based signs and to prioritize leash/cleanup and smoking policies; Page Park operating hours and reservations were deferred for committee work.
The Friendship Heights Village Council voted to authorize signage that posts rules for the village parks and directed staff and the Parks & Grounds Committee to develop specific language and graphics.
The motion, amended to limit the vote to signs that state park rules rather than commemorative plaques, passed after a split vote. Council members said they want signs to be concise and enforceable; several members urged pictograms (for example, a dog-on-leash graphic and a no-smoking symbol) to reduce language barriers.
The council’s action follows council and public discussion about Page Park as construction and permitting work continues. Council member Daniel R. (vice chairman) summarized the committee’s approach and urged minimizing prohibitions to those the village can realistically enforce. Council member Martha Sault (secretary) framed the vote as a first step to set policy before committing to sign text or placement.
The council asked staff to prioritize two rule areas for the initial signs: keeping dogs on leash and requiring owners to remove pet waste, and restrictions on smoking and vaping. Mayor Melanie White said she favors banning smoking at organized events, and other council members pressed for a broader ban across parks; members agreed to return specific proposals after staff and committee review.
Council discussion also noted different park contexts: Page Park’s expected programming and proximity to residences, Humphrey Park’s role as a pedestrian thoroughfare, and Willoughby Park’s smaller footprint. Several members said operating hours (for example, sunrise-to-sunset) are best left for a later policy discussion because imposing strict closing times could unintentionally limit resident access.
What the council approved was limited in scope: authorization for staff, working with the Parks & Grounds Committee, to draft legal and practical sign text (and pictograms) addressing park rules and to return with a final proposal. The council did not adopt specific hours, enforcement procedures, or permit/reservation rules at this meeting.
The vote on limiting the signage motion to posting park rules carried with five council members voting yes and two voting no. Members who supported the motion said the step is intended to communicate basic expectations and to reduce conflict; members who opposed cited concerns about over-signage, enforcement capacity and possible visual clutter in smaller parks.
Next steps: staff and the Parks & Grounds Committee will draft sign designs and recommended locations for village-owned or managed park land and return to the full council for final approval.
