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SATURDAY December 6, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 24, 2003 Lighting of Dog Park is divisive Commission to decide on proposal to install fixtures By Tim Bousquet Tidings Correspondent Facing what they say is hostility to their cause, dogs' best friends are asking the Ashland Parks Commission to approve the installation of lights at the Dog Park. "There's been a lot of wonderful improvements to the Dog Park," said Ron Elterman, a Dog Park board member. "But it gets dark so early this time of year that people who work can't get there after their jobs." The proposal calls for the installation of five or six 100-watt bulbs mounted on 42-inch high fixtures and directed away from Nevada Street. The lights would be turned on from 5 to 8 p.m. during the winter. "It's such a modest proposal," said Elterman. "I don't see that it's harmful in any way. But the Parks Commission has a bad taste in the mouth over the North Mountain Park lights." A proposal to light the ball fields at North Mountain Park generated considerable controversy before a compromise was reached earlier this year. Elterman and fellow Dog Park board member Jon Reinhardt had submitted a proposal for the lights to the city several months ago. The Parks Commission had scheduled a discussion of the issue at its last meeting, but notification was sent only to Reinhardt, who was out of town, and so neither man knew to attend the meeting. The Park Commission tabled hearing the issue until tonight's meeting, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on East Main Street. The jumbled communication over the lighting proposal adds to Dog Park supporters' frustrations. "This isn't a very dog-friendly town," said Elterman. "Ten years ago the Dog Park was given that land because no one wanted it," explained Reinhardt. "It was next to the sewage plant and the place stunk, so they threw us a bone. It would be a field of thistle if we weren't there." Greg Williams, who owns the Ashland Nursery, said he has "concerns" over the lighting proposal. The roadway linking Nevada Street to the Dog Park was built atop a city easement through his property, he explained. "When they built the Dog Park they said it was temporary, and that was before it was tied into the Bear Creek Greenway. They also said it was going to be a dawn to dusk park, which I agreed to." Original plans for the easement called for a fence or wall to be built between the road and his business, Williams said. "But since it was only going to be temporary, I didn't push it." "I have three concerns," he continued. "People are driving too fast on the road, and I fear for the safety of my co-workers. Second, there's been an increase in vandalism since the access has gone through. People were camping back there for a while. Third, I'm concerned that the artificial lights could affect my crops. I have photo-periodic plants like poinsettias that need short days. If the lights are down in the park, that's not a problem, but the city has suggested lighting the roadway as well." "Greg Williams says there will be problem with lights, and they will cause vandalism," said Reinhardt. "But that's total smoke. He's mad because the Parks Commission hasn't followed through with a lot of things they promised, like improving the road and building walls." The Parks Commission says there is no merit to claims it's "anti-dog." "Absolutely not," said Commissioner JoAnne Eggers. "That's not true. I'm very supportive of the Dog Park." "We discussed the lights at our study session last week and we tabled it. I think we should finish up the plan first. Greg Williams was there, and discussed building a wall or a fence to help solve his problems." "I've been very cautious of the value of night and day and the natural cycles," she continued. "And about not intruding on the immediate neighbors. I'm not dead set against it, but I need to know more." Some 15 people were at the dog park Saturday afternoon, watching about 20 dogs chasing balls, sniffing each other out and having the occasional growl-down. Jassalyn Bradbury, who came with her dog Diesel, a 5-month-old Rottweiller Shar-pei mix, was supportive of the light proposal. "He's a black dog and I can't see him at night," she said. "My boyfriend and I have conflicting schedules, so we can't come here together during the day. If there were lights here we could come here together after work." Bradbury said she spends an hour or an hour and a half each day at the park, and has experienced no problems. "Everybody's really nice out here. We're new to town and this has helped us meet a lot of people. We're having Thanksgiving dinner with someone we met here at the Dog Park." "We're not a real organized group, we're just Dog Park users," said Elterman. But there's broad support for the park, he adds. The group collected "a couple of hundred" signatures on a petition in support of the lights and has raised about $5,400 with only a small sign at the park that ask users to send donations. "We've raised a lot of money to pay for improvements. We can pay all the costs of the lights, or the Parks Department can pay for it, or there could be some mix of funds." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams