City Dog Park Project – Status Report

Mayor James Ireton Jr. is pleased to announce that work on the Frances J. Tilghman Memorial Dog Park at the City Park is soon to begin. Recently the City received clearance from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) that will permit this project to go forward.

For almost three years the City of Salisbury and the members of the Dog Park Committee have been working on the creation of a Dog Park in the Salisbury City Park. Dog Parks offer both dogs and their owners an opportunity to socialize. The creation of an enclosed play area gives dogs the opportunity to run without endangering themselves or others. In addition, dogs who are accustomed to playing with other dogs and people other than their owners are more likely to be well-socialized and react well toward strangers. Well exercised dogs are better neighbors who are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively, and /or destroy property. A Dog Park will also help to prevent off-leash animals from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children, and those who may be afraid of dogs. The presence of dogs and their owners may also help to deter crime in the City Park by increasing public traffic in an area that is currently underutilized.

The City was awarded a Program Open Space (POS) grant for the project in 2008 from the MD Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $10,000, to be matched with $3,270 in City labor during construction. Since that time the Dog Park Committee members have been working hard to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the
project.

In April 2010 the City received a very generous donation for the Dog Park in the amount of $25,000 from M.W. “Mat” Tilghman, Jr. and M.W. “Bill” Tilghman, Sr., who requested that the park be named the “Frances J. Tilghman Memorial Dog Park” in memory of their mother and wife, respectively. This donation, combined with the POS grant and the $5,000+ in additional donations from the community, has enabled the project to move forward, and construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
The Dog Park will consist of .5 acres, and will be located in the City Park next to the Kiwanis Pavilion.

The Dog Park will include two separate play areas – one for large dogs and one for small / timid dogs and puppies – with a central vestibule / unleash area with a concrete pad. The park will include clean-up mitt dispensers, benches, trash cans,
and signage outlining the rules of the Dog Park.

The City of Salisbury recently applied for a permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment / Water Management Administration for the construction of a Dog Park in the floodway / floodplain area. The permit was approved by MDE, and the Authorization to Proceed has been received with an effective date of August 10, 2010.

During the planning for this facility, the City’s water department was consulted to determine whether the Dog Park would have any effect on the City’s water supply. Several City water supply wells are located in the vicinity of the planned location of the Park. Their conclusion was that the dog park would have no effect on these wells.

The Dog Park is to be located southwest of these wells, while the well recharge areas are located to the northeast. In addition, the wells are located at a higher elevation than the proposed dog park. We also believe that the emphasis placed in the Dog Park towards cleaning up after the dogs will actually help reduce pollutants in the Park.