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Gladwyne hosts Year 2 of the township’s off-leash dog pilot programs

In Jan 2010, the township Commissioners extended Lower Merion’s off leash dog pilot program for an additional year. While the first pilot year produced positive results, the non-compliance of a few has been a problem and conflicts with the Parks other users and purposes.

The pilot program allows exercising dogs off-leash on trails in West Mill Creek Park and Rolling Hill Park under certain specified conditions. Year 2 of the pilot continues under the guidance of the township’s Ad Hoc Off-Leash Dog Committee. The committee which included two Gladwyne Commissioners, Brown and Taylor and representatives of the public and various interest groups studied the goal of increasing the recreational opportunities by allowing residents to walk or exercise their dogs in the township parks.

Now the pilot program is available to Lower Merion and Narberth residents who purchase off-leash permits for their dogs. The permits enable the residents to exercise their dogs off-leash in West Mill Creek Park or Rolling Hill Park during specified times:

• On designated trails in Rolling Hill Park from Dawn until 9:30 a.m. only.
• Weekdays in West Mill Creek Park from Dawn until 9:30 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. until Dusk; weekends in West Mill Creek Park from Dawn until Dusk.

Rolling Hill’s fenced area enables dogs (with the permits) to be off-leash, but in an enclosed area, from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week.

Rules of conduct are posted at the parks.

Please see the township’s website for the application requirements at http://www.lowermerion.org.

The township believes this second year of the pilot will provide additional time to educate dog owners and general public about the program and to improve program monitoring and enforcement.

The township is considering another fenced off-leash area in the eastern part of Lower Merion, linked to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.