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“This is FEMA money being well spent,” said North Castle Town Council member Diane DiDonato-Roth, who is spearheading the project.
Town officials will hold a public dog park discussion work session on April 17 at 4 p.m. to decide how exactly the project will move forward once the property is cleared.
A dog park development specialist will even be in attendance to advise next steps.
“We are not doing this dog park to do it wrong,” said DiDonato-Roth. “We are doing this to do it right.”
DiDonato-Roth said while she understands the public concerns of the park’s location, she is confident Wampus Brook Park is the right choice.
“We looked into multiple locations for the dog park and we feel confident we’ve made the right decision,” she said. “This location will be able to serve as an outdoor community center, where people can go walk their dogs on a daily basis and meet each other. We want it to be a social event.”
Some residents have cited the location, which sits at the intersection of Bedford Road and Maple Avenue, as dangerous. However, DiDonato-Roth sees the proximity to downtown and main roads as a measure of "public safety."
“I don’t find the location dangerous at all. That’s why there will be fences,” she said. “In terms of the public safety, I think it’s great. It’s not out in the middle of the woods. You can go to this park alone and not feel isolated or insecure.”
In addition to FEMA funds being used to clear the park, DiDonato-Roth has found one primary donor who is ready to fund whatever the town needs to create a great place for dogs and their owners.
“She is basically telling me to give her a wish list,” said DiDonato-Roth. “People already use it as a dog park. We just want to make it one the town can be proud of and safe in.”
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