Ideas for Manalapan dog park considered
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Manalapan

MANALAPAN - Plans for a municipal dog park are moving forward. About 40 residents attended a recent meeting to listen to a presentation about the project and to exchange ideas.

Recreation advisory board members Rebecca Ginsberg and Michael Gross chaired the Jan. 31 meeting. Recreation director Gerald Collin-cini joined the discussion.

The municipal dog park is being proposed for the 5-acre Village Green on Route 522 (Freehold-Englishtown Road), about a quarter-mile east of Tennent Road.

According to township officials, there are 2,300 licensed dogs in Manalapan.

Ginsberg said the dog park is envisioned as a place where visitors can bring their dog and allow the dog to run off-leash within a fenced-in area. She showed pictures of similar facilities in Middletown and Monroe Town-ship, Middlesex County.

Among the amenities being proposed for the Village Green dog park are shaded areas, lighting, modular fencing, a card swipe gate entry, a paved parking area and onsite irrigation that will maintain the grass.

Ginsberg said two entrances are being planned for the park, along with an additional single run for dogs who need to learn to be "dog friendly," as well as a puppy run.

There are two stream encroachments on the site and township engineer Greg Valesi has been directed to develop a plan for the dog park that takes the environmental issues into consideration.

Ginsberg said the cost of the dog park project is estimated to be between $75,000 and $100,000.

The township has already received a $7,500 donation for the dog park from Manalapan residents Hal and Peggy Eisen. The Eisens won the money in a national contest.

Ginsberg said corporate sponsorship will be courted to help underwrite the project. Individuals may be asked to consider purchasing items such as benches.

Dog owner Rhoda Chodosh suggested that officials name a Friends of the Dog Park group for residents who want to make donations to help defray the construction and maintenance of the park. She suggested that in addition to buying benches, residents might also want to consider purchasing plaques and trees.

Chodosh also suggested that the plan should include separate areas for smaller dogs (under 25 pounds) who might be intimidated by interaction with larger dogs.

It was noted that the cost for the ongoing maintenance of the dog park would have to be addressed.

While everyone seemed to think Chodosh's Friends of the Dog Park was a nice idea, not everyone was thrilled to hear there may be a fee charged for use of the park.

One resident said property taxes are high enough already and should support the facility.

Addressing one resident's question as to whether dogs that use the park would be required to be spayed or neutered, Ginsberg said no final decision on any issue has been made. She said the meeting was a fact-finding mission.

Ginsberg said the concerns and ideas presented that evening will be brought to the Township Committee. The members of the governing body will ultimately decide what type of facility is built and what the rules and regulations of the dog park will be.