Saying off-leash dogs are disrupting wildlife on the public property, town officials are pushing to rid the Bristow Bird Sanctuary off of Route 106 entirely of canines.
The Park & Recreation at its April meeting voted to request the rule formally by way of the Town Council.
There used to be a “No Dogs Allowed” sign at the Old Stamford Road entrance to Bristow, but there also long has been a dog litter bag dispenser and receptacle, so that creates a mixed message, said commissioner Andrea Peterson.
Park & Recreation Commission member Matt Konspore (far left) with the rest of the group, at its April 9, 2014 meeting, held at Lapham Community Center.” credit=”Michael Dinan / NewCanaanite.com
“It should be a wildlife sanctuary, and it was a bird sanctuary and people walking their dogs, it’s disruptive to the birds and especially if people let them off-leash,” Peterson said at the group’s April 9 meeting, held at Lapham Community Center.
Some parks officials raised questions about the move.
Parks Superintendent John Howe wondered whether the change was an accommodation for one person or a consensus among many. He said one recent study at Bristow raised no concerns about dogs there, and noted that there used to be steady foot traffic there with a structure, a type of zoo, displaying exotic animals.
“My question would be: What birds are the dogs bothering?” Howe asked.
“I don’t think there’s a tremendous problem with dogs myself,” he added.
The Park & Recreation Commission wants Bristow Bird Sanctuary completely dog-free.” credit=”Terry Dinan / NewCanaanite.com
Bristow backs up to Mead Park and is accessible by a trail that runs behind Gamble Field, the far little league field.
Said commissioner Joan Guzzetti: “Just by virtue of the name of the place, it’s called a ‘sanctuary.’ I think it’s kind of a concept, even if in reality there aren’t birds you’re protecting.”
Under Article 6, Section 8 of the Town Charter, dogs aren’t allowed to run off-leash anywhere in New Canaan public parks except in a designated dog run (Spencer’s Run at Waveny).
“We’ll see if this bird population comes back,” commissioner Jason Milligan said.
Here’s where Bristow Bird Sanctuary is:
Good questions from John Howe. I’m not pro or against, but I think he’s right to probe the extent of the problem. We walk there frequently and appreciate that sanctuary, so I’d be interested to hear more.