From the Wellesley Natural Resources Commission:

RE: Public Hearing on Dog Control Rules at Perrin Park

WHEN: 9:00 a.m., Saturday, February 7, 2009

WHERE: Great Hall, Town Hall

Dear Wellesley Resident:

The Natural Resources Commission ensures that all Town parkland is available for shared-use by the public in a responsible and safe manner. As land stewards, one of our primary goals is to preserve and protect the Town’s 400 acres of park and conservation land and to encourage the use and enjoyment of these resources by all residents.

In light of this goal, the NRC voted in September 2008 to require that all dogs be on leash at Perrin Park. In recent months, the NRC has received a significant increase in residents’ concerns about dogs running off-leash and not under the owner’s control thereby interfering with residents’ enjoyment and use of the park, including children using the park’s playground and playing fields. The Town’s Playing Field Task Force members (representatives from the Selectmen, School Committee, Board of Public Works, Recreation Commission, NRC, Youth and Adult Sports Leagues) also voiced concerns that the off-leash dogs were damaging the park’s playing fields and that there was a large amount of dog waste on the playing fields. This has been an on-going problem for several years, and the NRC and the Town’s Animal Control Officer have made numerous efforts to encourage dog owners at Perrin to control their dogs and clean-up after their pets.

As a result of this leash rule at Perrin, a number of dog owners and Town residents have requested that the NRC amend the leash rule at Perrin to allow some off-leash hours. Before the NRC considers further amending its regulations regarding Perrin Park we want to give all Town residents, and particularly those in the immediate vicinity, a chance to be heard.

Your opinion and concerns are important to the NRC and we hope that you can join us on February 7th.

Please complete and return the enclosed survey to the NRC if you prefer to submit your comments in writing or you can send an email message to the NRC Director, Janet Bowser, at jbowser@wellesleyma.gov.

The Natural Resources Commission is committed to working with all park users to establish sound park and land use management policies.

Very truly yours,

WELLESLEY NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION