The Greenwich Board of Health will review the proposed dog park within Byram Park at their Feb 24 meeting.
The meeting starts at 6:30pm, upstairs in the second Floor Cone Room. Link to agenda is here.
Here is a link to the proposal shared last November. The Board of Selectmen discussed the proposal last November for information only. It was noted at the time that the town has just one dog park where dogs can run and play off-leash. It is located on a slope in Grass Island next to the water treatment plant.
The Grass Island Dog Park has a view of the waste water treatment plant. Photo Leslie Yager
A previous effort to create a dog park in Glenville at the top of the slope behind the Western Greenwich Civic Center would have formalized an existing informal dog park.
The proposal was withdrawn after neighbors objected. The main objection was the road was very narrow and there were concerns about cars parked alongside the road blocking traffic.
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Byram Dog Park Proposal
For the proposed Byram dog park, pedestrian access would be via an entrance off Ritch Ave. As for parking, other than one ADA compliant space along Ritch Ave, there will be no on-street parking.
Instead, parking would be in the existing 8 spaces by the park’s gatehouse, which is used by the gatekeeper and both tennis and pickleball players.
According to the proposal, if these 8 spaces are filled, patrons could use Byram Park’s parking lot and walk around to the dog park. The Health Board on Monday will consider the request for off leash access, water connection plan and waste removal plan. The Planning & Zoning commission will review in terms of Municipal Improvement, Site Plan application and parking plans. The Board of Selectmen will review a possible gift acceptance and MI before finally, the RTM considers gift acceptance and MI. 
Proposed Rules
Proposed dog park rules would limit each person to two dogs per visit and no more than 10 in total at any one time in the dog park. Also, no puppies under four months of age, no dogs in heat, no smoking/vaping, and no food (human or pet). Hours are proposed to be from sunrise to sunset.
Also all dogs will be required to wear valid dog license tags, ID tags and have up to date vaccinations.
Owner swill be responsible to pick up and dispose of their dog’s waste and be responsible for the actions of their pets.
Dogs that show signs of aggression will be required to be leashed and immediately removed from the dog park.
Owners must remain in the fenced area with their dog while the dog is off leash and owners should always carry a leash while their dog is off leash in the dog park. Children 10 and under not permitted and children 10-15 must be closely supervised. Dogs who bark excessively “shall” be removed from the dog park to be respectful of surrounding neighbors.
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