Background: Coindre Hall has attracted dog owners looking to exercise and socialize their dogs off-leash for more than 30 years. As the dog owner community has grown and as veterinarians and other experts have recognized the importance of canine exercise and socialization, dog owners have sought to create officially sanctioned off-leash areas. This process has gone on for 10 years at Coindre Hall. It is time to come to a solution that meets the needs of dog owners as well as other interested parties at the park.

In March 1998, the predecessor organization to LI-DOG (H-DOG) was formed in Huntington in an effort to get an official off-leash area established at Coindre Hall.

In June 1998, a law sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Steven Hackling was passed allowing the Parks Commissioner to create dog parks throughout the county.

In May 1999, the county began a two-year pilot program at Coindre Hall that created an official, designated off-leash area on the hills and field surrounding the lower pond. The area, which was not fenced but designated by signs, was available from sunrise until 9 a.m.

In May 2002, dog owners asked the County Parks Dept. to extend the hours of the off-leash program at Coindre Hall. Shortly thereafter, the Suffolk Parks Commissioner determined that Hackling's law had not been properly recorded and incorrectly determined that Suffolk County law prohibited dog runs anywhere in Suffolk County parks.

In August 2002, Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper introduced legislation to establish a dog park at Coindre Hall and amend Suffolk law to allow dogs off-leash within fenced dog runs.

In May 2003, the Suffolk Legislature approved the creation of a dog run at Coindre Hall along Browns Rd. in the woods at the foot of the property.

In April 2005, signs designating the pilot off-leash program were removed and new signs were posted warning dog owners that dogs must be leashed at all times at Coindre Hall. The fenced dog run had never been built.

In May 2005, dog owners now represented by LI-DOG met with the Parks Commissioner at Coindre Hall to review the site for the fenced dog run. LI-DOG noted that dog owners were opposed to a fenced run and the Commissioner and neighborhood groups agreed the site for the fenced run was poor.

In June 2005, Leg. Cooper formed the Coindre Hall/West Neck Farms Citizens Advisory Committee to come up with a long-term plan for the property that would meet the needs of all its constituents. The committee included representatives from LI-DOG as well as neighborhood groups.

In March 2006, in response to comments made by those neighborhood groups that dog owners and their dogs had "taken over" Coindre Hall, LI-DOG launched a Share the Park campaign. The campaign involved asking dog owners to stay in one section of the park on busy summer weekends, leaving the rest of the park open for other park users. The field chosen for the campaign (the west side of the upper field) had been suggested by the neighborhood groups.

In August 2006, since the campaign worked so well, LI-DOG wrote the Parks Dept. that it believed the Share the Park campaign laid the groundwork for a long-term solution at Coindre Hall.

In Nov. 2006, however, the Parks Commissioner told LI-DOG a solution based on Share the Park was not permissible given that Suffolk law did not allow dogs off-leash outside a fenced dog run.

In April 2007, in response to concerns from LI-DOG that Suffolk County was woefully lacking in off-leash opportunities, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy threw his support behind a bill sponsored by Legislators Steve Stern and Jon Cooper that would create five new dog parks in Suffolk County.

In May 2007, the "Five New Dog Parks" bill became law with the County Executive's signature.

In May 2007, in order to allow for the creation of dog parks where fenced runs were not feasible, Leg. Stern introduced a "Natural Borders Dog Park" bill that would allow for the creation of dog parks bordered by natural boundaries such as water and hills and times and seasons.

In June 2007, the "Natural Borders" bill overwhelmingly passed the Suffolk Legislature and in July 2007, the bill was signed into law by the County Executive.

In March 2008, with a fenced run under consideration again, Leg. Cooper arranged for the new Suffolk Parks Commissioner John Pavacic to meet with representatives of LI-DOG to discuss alternative off-leash solutions at Coindre Hall.

On March 28, Leg. Cooper, Parks Commissioner Pavacic and members of LI-DOG met at Coindre Hall to discuss an off-leash solution for the park and to go over possible locations on the property. At the end of the meeting, the Parks Commissioner asked LI-DOG to put its proposal into writing.

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