For many Nashville dogs, the past few months of roaming off-leash in city parks was a newfound freedom. Quietly, Metro Parks was studying a trial run of leash-free-hours at three parks.
But the dogs could not be trusted.
After nuisance complaints and rankled visitors, Metro Parks is recommending against a change to leash laws.
“There were conflicts with police dogs, conflicts with bicycles and strollers, and lack of compliance in other areas,” said Bill Stroup, director of nature centers.
Stroup recently presented the leash study findings from Bells Bend, Edwin Warner and Peeler parks.
The aim was to create a similar situation as that of New York City, which currently
hosts leash-free hours in several parks. Metro hoped to please pet owners and pets, and to increase leash-law compliance by establishing specific off-leash hours.
Throughout the trial, Metro monitored public responses and collected feedback from Parks Police and staff.
The trial came to a halt early on in Peeler Park after numerous complaints. Neighbors reported dogs wandering onto private property, disturbing goats and sheep on a nearby farm, and fatal attacks on a chicken and a dog. (
Read the complaint letters here, pages 1-3.)
Public concern didn’t stop there. In fact, 60 percent of the total feedback from community members in all three parks was negative.
According to Metro Parks, common grievances included:
- Unleashed dogs having conflicts with leashed dogs
- Unleashed dogs chasing after bikes, strollers, and maintenance vehicles
- Owners losing control of their unleashed dogs
- Unleashed dogs wreaking havoc on wildlife, and obstructing the views of other park-goers
- Owners not picking up their unleashed dogs’ droppings
In addition, the study found that leash-law compliance didn’t change.
Metro Parks is advising against continuing the off-leash program. Instead, the staff suggests creating more enclosed dog parks, such as the
Small Dog Park (pictured above at Centennial Park), and finding other property that could be used for leash-free time.
Y’all, the
#dogpark at Pitts Park is *great*! There’s an off-leash trail ♡ Thanks,
#Nashville
#Parks!
pic.twitter.com/BSqMcRjbNP— Joni Priest (@JoniPriest)
October 10, 2015
Board member Greg Adkins, however, made a motion to postpone a final decision and to gather more information.
Even though the majority of public feedback was negative and parks staff has recommended that the program be discontinued, the off-leash trial will be extended until March, with a final decision targeted for April.
Dog Waste — How Much Does Metro Deal With?
In the meantime, there is aid coming that could help the vexing problem of leash-free droppings — in the form of an unusual donation.
The
Cumberland River Compact is donating 100,000 dog waste bags to Metro.
How far will those go?
Metro goes through about 480,000 waste bags for dog parks each year, at a cost of $14,520. This donation will save the department an estimated $2,500, parks officials said.
Parks Director Tommy Lynch noted the donation of waste bags is a first, and “useful and helpful.”
Mekayle Houghton, the executive director of Cumberland River Compact, views the donation as an opportunity for public education.
That’s because Metro Water Services found that between 95 and 99 percent of the pathogen pollution in the city’s streams result not from sewage line breakage, but from animal waste. This includes wild animals, cows, and dogs.
More dog waste bags could equate to fewer pathogens in Nashville’s water supply.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM