“It’s been a success … everyone is very impressed, I’ve heard nothing but good,” Sweden Town Supervisor Rob Carges says of the new dog park which opened in mid-December in the Sweden Town Park on Redman Road.
The dog park in Sweden is the newest in the Monroe County Dog Park system, which includes Greece Canal Park, Ellison Park in Penfield and Look Up Park in Henrietta.
According to Supervisor Carges, both Sweden residents and county parks officials were interested in locating a dog park on the west side.
Carges, himself, had been traveling with his dog to other dog parks around the county, including the one at Ellison Park – “a good trek” from Sweden, he says.
He explains the Sweden Town Park is proving to be a great location. The dog park is located on more than two acres at the back of the park, beyond Nietopski Field, and some necessary amenities were already in place. “We wanted to have water, as dogs get dirty,” Carges says, “and there is water at the park.” He is happy with how the project has turned out. “I think this is the nicest of the dog parks and response has been great,” he says.
Under terms of a reciprocal agreement with Monroe County, residents can purchase a permit, which allows them use of any of the four dog parks in the system. Supervisor Carges says the fee is $2/month or $24 for the entire year. The fees go to a dedicated fund to cover the cost of dog park needs, he adds.
New registrations are taken once a month by the county at the Sweden/Clarkson Community Center. When the park opened in December, the county came out weekly and Carges says, “there were 22-24 registrations per night. Some people ask why we don’t have registration at the Town Hall, but if we do it on our own, we can’t include other towns.”
That means residents in Hamlin or Clarkson would be unable to sign-up in Sweden. The monthly county-run sign-ups also assure pet owners that they will have access to all four dog parks.
Supervisor Carges says the permits are available for Monroe County residents only.
“People are out there every day,” Carges says of the Sweden Dog Park. “It’s open year round, there’s always several people there at once … it’s social for humans, too,” he says.
The Dog Park additionally brings a different kind of person out to enjoy the town park, he says. “People whose kids are finished with sports, or some who have never been there before,” he observes.
Additional amenities are planned for the spring, including a shallow pond surrounded by crushed stone – meaning doggies won’t get as muddy after a swim.
The park is divided into a side for small dogs and a side for large dogs. Supervisor Carges says more shade will be created on the south side and benches and a lean-to are also planned. The shelter will give pet owners a spot to get out of the wind, he says.
The next registration date is Wednesday, February 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sweden/Clarkson Community Center. Pet owners must bring a valid dog license and rabies certification.
