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Residents press Muhlenberg officials over locked dog‑park section; officials cite turf management
Summary
Residents urged the township to reopen a permanently locked section of the dog park, citing accessibility, gravel washout and disrupted routines; township staff said rotation and turf‑management practices established at opening in 2015 guide closures and the Parks & Rec Board will review residents' recommendations.
At Muhlenberg Township’s June 17 meeting, several residents urged the board to reopen a third section of the township dog park that has been locked periodically, saying the closure affects routines and some residents’ ability to use the facility.
Maria (a resident who said she has used the park since it opened Oct. 25, 2015) told commissioners she takes her dog there every morning and was surprised to find one section locked. "I have a routine and it’s healthy for both of us," she said. Officials responded that the dog park was designed with a small‑dog section, a large‑dog section and a third section that was intended to be closed for turf rehabilitation and maintenance. Staff said rotating closures for mowing, fence repair and rehabilitation have occurred since the park’s opening to protect turf and keep all sections usable long term.
Kevin Thomas said the stated reason given by Parks and Recreation for the current closure — concerns about "vicious dogs" jumping fences — does not make practical sense because an owner could still bring a dangerous dog into the two open sections. Amy (who submitted written signatures from about 40 people) said the locked section needs gravel removal and reseeding after flood wash‑in and that the area sits unused while it needs work.
Township staff and commissioners said they will take the residents' feedback to the Parks & Rec Board and the Recreation superintendent for follow up. The township manager explained there is a turf‑management policy (not a separate written operating policy) that governs rotating closures; officials said they will reevaluate how closures are communicated and whether rehabilitation work can be completed while a section is locked.
Speakers emphasized concerns about access for older residents and people with health conditions; some residents argued that an older person might be unable to manage a reactive dog in a crowded setting. Commissioners acknowledged those concerns and suggested finer‑grained limits or time windows could be considered by staff and the Parks & Rec Board.
The board invited commenters to provide documentation and emails to the parks department to inform future decisions.
