Vote Follows Substantial Turnout by Dog Owners at November Trustees Meeting

On Jan. 15, 2009, the Suffolk County Parks Board of Trustees voted on a resolution to turn down LI-DOG’s "Share the Park" off-leash proposal and support the 2003 legislation to build a fenced 1 1/2 acre run at the base of the property close to the Gold Star Beach parking lot.

Amy Engel, Legislative Aide to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and a member of the Trustees board, told the Trustees that the County Executive does not support an unfenced off-leash program at Coindre Hall. She cited liability concerns and a new 20-year Coindre Hall catering contract signed by Lessing’s in December 2008 as key considerations. LI-DOG organizers reiterated to Engel that Coindre Hall has an outstanding track record when it comes to dog bite incidents and that dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs, whether they are in a dog park or anywhere else. The County Executive’s position, however, seemed to close the door on LI-DOG’s proposal for the Trustees.

LI-DOG had proposed an off-leash program that would have kept off-leash dogs in the meadow near the pond during the summer when there were events in the mansion and other park goers on the grounds. During the winter, when there are few other people in the park and the presence of dog owners serve as a deterrent to undesirable activities, LI-DOG proposed that off-leash activities take place on the main field of the park. LI-DOG put forth its proposal when LI-DOG was informed in March 2008 by an elected official that the Parks Dept. intended to build the fenced run or step up enforcement of the leash laws at Coindre Hall because of the County’s plans to ramp up catering and other activities in the mansion and the park.

Engel noted that the County Executive supports the fenced run authorized by the 2003 legislation. That legislation was sponsored by Leg. Jon Cooper of Huntington. While a senior aide read a statement from Leg. Cooper at the November Trustees meeting in which he urged the parties to come to a resolution that meets everyone’s needs at the park, Leg. Cooper’s statement failed to endorse LI-DOG’s Share the Park proposal.

LI-DOG has consistently told Suffolk County officials that the fenced run has serious issues that need addressing. Among those significant issues: its size—at 1.5 acres it is smaller than both the new West Hills and Blydenburgh dog parks; it is located in the most unattractive area of the park—the “armpit” of the property, according to one former Parks Commissioner; and it is covered with brambles, poison ivy and dirt that will turn to mud whenever it rains or the snow melts. LI-DOG is urging the County to address these issues and “do better” by the single, largest group of park goers at Coindre Hall—dog owners.

Decision Comes After Dog Owners Show Substantial Support for Off-Leash Alternative at November Trustees Meeting

The decision by the Parks Trustees was particularly disappointing in light of the strong showing dog owners made at the November Trustees meeting. More than 50 dog owners attended the meeting and LI-DOG submitted statements from more than 160 people who could not come to the weekday meeting but support the proposal, petitions with approximately 400 names in support of the proposal, and a stack of testimonials from Parks Commissioners in other jurisdictions with successful off-leash programs like that proposed for Coindre Hall.

Many people spoke in support of LI-DOG’s proposal including several attorneys and LI-DOG organizers. Among the key points made by these speakers:

• The presence of dog owners helps keep the park and surrounding neighborhood safe
• Commercial interests should not take precedence over the needs of a group that is woefully underserved in the Town and County—dog owners
• For seniors, Coindre Hall is an important social center and represents more than any senior center could ever offer
• Dogs and kids have coexisted happily at Coindre Hall for years
• A Share the Park off-leash program is an innovative, low cost solution to balancing the competing needs at the park, while avoiding any impact on the Historic status of the park.

To read the statements made by dog owners at the November Trustees meeting, click here.

In contrast to the turnout by dog owners, people who spoke in opposition to dog owners totaled about a dozen.

Needless to say, to have our proposal turned down after showing the County how much support there is for an alternative to the fenced run is extremely disappointing and frustrating. In reacting to the Parks Trustees decision, LI-DOG President Ginny Munger Kahn said the organization will continue to work on a solution that meets the needs of dog owners at Coindre Hall. “After all we have done to try to accommodate the County’s needs at the park, it is unfair and just not right to fail to work on a solution that meets the needs of the park’s largest user group,” she said.

As always, keep in touch by e-mailing us at lidog_news@yahoo.com.