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Spring Lake Heights council adopts ordinance restricting dogs in Veterans Tribute Park and community center
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-10 to amend Chapter 9 (recreational facilities) to restrict dogs in Veterans Tribute Park and at the Cornelius V. Kelly Community Center; council members debated potential enforcement and clarification and residents raised related concerns about park hours and through-traffic.
The Spring Lake Heights Borough Council on May 19 adopted Ordinance 2025-10 amending Chapter 9 of the borough code to impose restrictions on dogs in certain municipal recreation areas, including Veterans Tribute Park and the Cornelius V. Kelly Community Center area. The ordinance passed unanimously.
Borough Clerk Janine Gillis provided an overview of the proposed amendments and the clarifications they are intended to make to existing park regulations. Councilman Leonard Capristo said he was concerned that singling out Veterans Tribute Park could create confusion for residents and enforcement challenges. "This might create confusion and enforcement issues," Capristo said, urging the council to consider whether restrictions should be limited to the Community Center area instead.
Councilman John Casagrande echoed Capristo’s concern, saying the Community Center should be the primary restricted area. Councilwoman Sara King said she supported moving the ordinance forward as proposed, including restrictions for Veterans Tribute Park, and added that the ordinance could be amended later if it proved too burdensome to enforce.
Two residents spoke during public comment. Eileen Eilenberger asked about park hours and noted Ocean Road Park’s hours; the clerk responded that the park closes at 9:00 p.m. and lights are programmed to shut off at 9:30 p.m. Gaylan Nolan expressed concern that residents of the Ocean Aire apartments sometimes walk dogs through Veterans Tribute Park to reach Joseph E. Robertson Park, a pattern Nolan said the ordinance could affect.
The ordinance was adopted on a motion recorded in the minutes (motion by Councilwoman Sara King, second by Councilman Christopher Willms) with the recorded vote showing all present members voting in favor: Leonard Capristo, John Casagrande, Michele Degnan-Spang, William Graetz, Sara King and Christopher Willms. The ordinance text and any effective date were not specified in the meeting minutes.
