The Wellesley Lions Club found their proposal in the doghouse this week as Wellesley council voted against partnering on a leash-free dog park.
In November, the Lions proposed a deal in which they would buy and develop land for a dog park, and then donate the completed park to the township. Wellesley would then become liable for the park under its existing insurance policy. An investigation into the proposed area, in the Village of Wellesley at Nafziger Road and Gerber Road (near the hydro substation), showed “potential for questionable soil conditions.”
“One of the goals of the Lions Club was to put it into a low environmental and high-use area, that’s one of the reasons that made that land so attractive,” said club member Richard Franzke at the Monday meeting. He added that the Lions hoped to build the park where it would be within walking distance of many Wellesley residents as a way to encourage exercise. “I mean, there’s no use putting it out there in a cornfield – we could probably buy that inexpensively too, but if everybody’s driving out there in a car …”
But the township’s report showed the brownfield site may be contaminated from prior industrial use, and council was unwilling to authorize the expense needed to ensure the area’s safety.
“Mind you, it’s a heck of a great idea, I love it,” Coun. Jim Olender told Franzke. “But if we were told by the ministry that we have to take all that fill out of there and refill it, it could end up being a $150,000, $200,000 job, and I don’t think we can ask the taxpayers of the Township of Wellesley to take that on.”
Council members encouraged the Lions Club to consider alternate venues for the park. Mayor Ross Kelterborn added, “There would be nothing stopping you from purchasing the property and running a dog park there,” without participation from the township.
Franzke told council that another piece of land nearby on Gerber Road was also for sale, but its $350,000 cost was beyond the club’s capabilities. The current plan would cost the Lion’s Club $106,000, which covers purchase and development of the property.
Franzke remained optimistic that a dog park may eventually be built. “We have 60 supporters. We stopped – we could get more – but we stopped on the condition of, let’s find out where we’re going. All I know is, everybody I’ve talked to, anybody who’s heard of it, I’ve not heard anybody say, ‘This is a bad idea. Don’t bring this forward.’”
“It’s not dead,” added Olender. “I think it’s a great idea. It’s too bad the piece of land is a problem piece of land.”
In an official memo prepared by executive director of corporate/operations Will McLaughlin, council said they were “quite excited about the proposal,” but the brownfield issue means there is “sufficient risk to the township to decline ownership.”
It also noted that the initiative was “fairly popular in other municipalities.”
