After Mon. meeting, Parks & Rec subcommittee seeks email comments

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Walking the dog, Fisher Farm park (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net photo)

An audience of dog owners at a Davidson Parks & Recreation Advisory Board subcommittee meeting Monday night described Fisher Farm as “dog heaven.”  Several spoke in favor of unleashed access to the park, though neither county ordinances or town rules allow dogs to be off their leashes on the acres of the former farm off Shearer Road.

The comments came at a meeting about how to deal with off-leash complaints, but none of the 14 speakers who went to the microphone were opposed to letting dogs run free at Fisher Farm.

“It’s a perfect place to take a long walk with your dog,” said Dennis Currier, who lives off Shearer Road.

Lynn Henderson, chair of the subcommittee formed to deal with off-leash dogs, told the audience that complaints at Fisher Farm have increased in recent years.  She said park visitors have described incidents of dogs out of control, dogs chasing bikers and joggers, dogs jumping on people, and groups of dogs surrounding animals on leashes.

“Many people are afraid of dogs,” Ms. Henderson said. “Many people are allergic to dogs.  Many people do not want to be approached by an off-leash dog.”

Her subcommittee was formed to seek ideas from the community and prepare recommendations for the Feb. 23 meeting of the Town Board of Commissioners.

Ideas being considered by the subcommittee include:

• Setting specific and regular times when dogs would be allowed to be off their leashes in specific places.
• Starting a campaign to educate the public about leash laws and why they are necessary in terms of protecting the environment, wildlife and public safety.
• Organizing a “user group” of dog owners to oversee development of a new dog park at Fisher Farm.

PLANS FOR FISHER FARM

Parks and Recreation Director Steve Fraher told the gathering that Fisher Farm is not part of the Town of Davidson and so is governed by Mecklenburg County ordinances.

The 200-acre property was purchased by the town and county in 2002 from the Fisher family, who had owned the land since before the Civil War.  The park today includes five miles of mountain bike trails, which have been made by volunteer efforts. 

Mr. Fraher said 10 Eagle Scout projects have added benches, a foot bridge, info kiosks and other amenities to the site.  Fisher Farm is used by the Tar Heels Trailblazer Club, area scouting groups, schools and other groups (for cross-country races), and by the Town parks department for summer youth activities (including archery) and for dog obedience classes.  Davidson College has expressed an interest in using the site for hosting a Southern Conference championship cross country meet.

A long-term master plan for the park calls for possibly adding a disc golf course, setting up a museum about farm life, and adding a fenced-in dog park.

“I envision something of about six or seven acres, divided into thirds,” Mr. Fraher said, explaining that one of the rotating thirds would be reserved for small dogs, one for large dogs, and one-third kept empty to restore turf.

The park may soon expand. The town recently acquired 74 acres directly north of the park, which would connect with the 38-acre Allison Farm tract that the county has already purchased.  This could allow more space for a dog park.

ORDINANCES REQUIRE LEASHES

Though several in the audience at Monday’s meeting said they have let their dogs off their leashes during visits to Fisher Farm, Police Chief Jeanne Miller said that is against the law.

“Two sets of rules govern that park,” said Chief Miller, noting that she herself is a dog owner. “Anybody who takes their dog off leash is violating the county ordinance and town park rules.  You would be individually liable if something happened.”

DOG OWNERS ‘HARASSED’ BY BIKERS, LACKING OPTIONS

Dog owners at Monday’s meeting did not express enthusiasm for adding a fenced-in dog area at Fisher Farm, describing the attraction of the park as being the open meadows and natural setting.

“I won’t go to a fenced-in place,” said Kirsten Beals. “I want to walk with my dog.”

Another speaker compared fencing in a dog park as akin to asking mountain bikers to push their bikes along trails rather than be allowed to ride them.

Dog owners also complained of being harassed by mountain bikers and of having no other place to take their dogs.

The Town of Davidson currently has one off-leash park, a one-acre site on O. Henry Avenue in the St. Alban’s neighborhood. Several speakers Monday complained about the inadequacy of the O. Henry site.

“It’s a mudhole,” said Richard Fraund, a Davidson resident and retired veterinarian.  “The town should be ashamed.”

Others asked about alternatives.

“We need to find a balanced approach,” said John Cunningham, a frequent early-morning dog walker in Fisher Farm. “A fenced-in area of even six acres does not allow people to walk their dogs like they want to.”

He advised having the Davidson Town Board ask the county for an amendment to the leash laws, to apply narrowly to Fisher Farm only.

This led to a discussion about bringing the park into the town’s jurisdiction, which would allow more flexibility for setting rules for users.  However,  Mr. Fraher said the park does not border the town line, and so annexing it would require state approval through the cumbersome “satellite annexation” process.

FORMING A USER GROUP, SEEKING COMMENTS

Several speakers said they would like to see a new user group formed of dog owners, who would then have a voice in town board actions and be involved in planning for any future dog park at Fisher Farm.

Mr. Fraher also said public comments about how to use the park can still be made by emailing him through the Town of Davidson website (click here ^[2] to reach the Parks and Recreation page, which has a comment link and more information on Fisher Farm, or email Mr. Fraher at sfraher@ci.davidson.nc.us ^[3]).

“We will take what we have learned tonight and try to craft some recommendations to the town board,” said Ms. Henderson. “We will try to reflect what citizens have been experiencing and what they want.”