Off-Leash Program on Track to Become Permanent

On April 20, the Board of Commissioners will vote to expand and make permanent a popular pilot program that allows residents who have obtained a permit to let their dogs off-leash at Rolling Hills and West Mill Creek Parks.

"[The pilot program] came to be by a group of residents who had been using the park to walk their dogs, and wanted to use it legally," explained township Director of Parks and Recreation Lindsay Taylor. "They just wanted a place to let their dogs off-leash."

At their urging, the Board of Commissioners formed an ad hoc committee in 2009 to investigate the possibility of carving out a time and place for local dogs to be allowed off-leash, and after an information gathering period, launched the pilot program at Rolling Hills and West Mill Creek parks.

Beth D'Addano, a local travel and foods writer, has been taking her dogs Ruby and Roxy to West Mill Creek Park for years. Four times a week, they make the trek to the trail for some leash-free exercise.

"I love this park, it's a great community," she said on a recent afternoon stroll with Ruby and Roxy. "Everybody cleans up after their dogs, and the dogs are all very well behaved and obey commands."

While D'Addano wishes the township would improve the grounds, citing a few large puddles in the center of the trail, she praised the park for being "a safe place for the doggies."

Tony Cocco, a landscaper and puggle owner, says he visits West Mill Creek Park "just about every day."

"I can't believe [the program] hasn't been made permanent already. It's great to let the dogs off their leash. We come every day--rain, snow, sleet, or shine."

Cocco added that he and his puggle have made friends through the program.

"A group of us here got to be friends. We go out to dinner, sometimes we even go to the beach. At Ocean City they have a space where you can take your dog."

Taylor said the program has also been successful on the township's end.

"We sold permits last year for 195 dogs, 170 some owners, which is actually a bit of a decrease from the year before," Taylor said. The permit costs $25 per dog for township residents.

To obtain a permit, a resident must have homeowner's or renter's insurance, provide proof of rabies and distemper vaccines, and, as of this year, submit a picture of their dog.

This is in addition to adhering to standing state regulations.

"We tell them that a very important part of the program is that the owner or handler is in control of their dog. PA state law says that dogs have to be under voice control, and that's critical," Taylor said.

She added that since the program's inception there is yet to be a reported incident of an off-leash dog harassing or otherwise frightening a park goer.

"We've had no instances. We had citations for people who weren't following the rules, but no complaints," Taylor said.

At present, Rolling Hills' leash-free hours are from sunrise to 9:30 a.m. on designated trails, while West Mill Creek participates from sunrise to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to sunset during the week and sunrise to sunset on weekends. Rolling Hills also makes available a fenced-in area where dogs are allowed off-leash from sunrise to sunset seven days a week.

Under the proposed expansion of the program, West Mill Creek would be off-leash from sunrise to sunset everyday, while Rolling Hills would add afternoon hours. Additionally, dog walking would be allowed on-leash at Ashbridge Memorial Park, the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, Linwood Park, and Sharpe Park.