The group last presented their progress to the Parks and Recreation Committee in early May. Committee Chair John Kelly suggested that the next step in the planning process should be to mark out where the fence would go on the field to get an idea of what the area of the park would look like.

The Friends of Bar Harbor Dog Park has been working with town departments to ensure that the area they mark does not interfere with existing infrastructure. Public Works Director Bethany Leavitt had concerns about a water line in the area. The group has changed the dimensions of their proposed park to address that concern.

“There’s a waterline that runs by there and she [Leavitt] just wanted to make sure that it was outside the proposed area,” said Jeff Miller, a member of the group. “At one point, the guys from the Water Department met us out there and we marked where the waterline was and moved the stakes away from it.”

If built, the dog park area will be partially cleared to allow an open space for dogs to run. Kelly suggested that the group designate which trees will remain in the park and which will be removed to help visualize the landscaping work that would need to be done. Miller said that the group has done this, and that it is the extent of the work that has been done on the proposed project so far.

Miller shared why the creation of a dog park in Bar Harbor is important to him and the other members of the group, saying that limited space in town means that many dog owners do not have the room to let their dogs run and play off leash. He also noted that the prominent outdoor recreation land on Mount Desert Island is part of Acadia National Park, which has leash laws.

“We do not have a place where you can run your dog off leash,” said Miller. “People say, ‘You’ve got the [National] park,’ but first and foremost you are not allowed to have your dog off leash in the park.”

Miller also addressed some of the opposition that has been facing the project. The biggest reason that people oppose the project, according to Miller, is the potential noise that dogs could cause while playing at the park. Miller noted that the ballfield area is not quiet to begin with, and that there is always noise from children playing on the fields, the basketball court and the skatepark that are already on that property.

“It’s frustrating because, this is the reality, it is not by nature a serenely quiet pace, it’s a very busy area along a major road and the primary objection [to the dog park] is noise,” Miller said.

Miller also gave the other facilities on the ballfield property as examples of why the dog park does not pose a liability risk, which has been another argument made in opposition to the project.

“Nobody’s suing the town for injuries on the skate park or the ball fields or the basketball court,” Miller said.

As for the project’s next steps, Miller hopes that the group makes good progress with the Parks and Recreation Department and that everything goes smoothly. He feels the project is not a complicated one and that, if built, the park can be run, overseen and maintained by the Friends of the Bar Harbor Dog Park, as well as the people who use it.

“At the end of the day, it’s a relatively simple project. Some fencing and clearing an area,” said Miller. “When we need to get something done, we’ll put out a call for volunteers. It is not something I’m concerned about.”

There has been some heated discussion online among residents about whether the dog park is a good idea. One resident offered to share some advice and expertise on the matter, neither in favor of nor in opposition to the project, but just from professional experience.

Susanne Paul is a planner and GIS mapping specialist at the Musson Group. Before she moved to Maine, she worked as a planner in Maryland where she ran studies on dog parks in her county. She said that she understands the enthusiasm behind the project and knows why many feel it is necessary. She also knows the problems that many dog parks run into along the way.

“The idea of a dog park is really fun, and the town needs more amenities like this. I get why they’re excited about it,” said Paul. “I think generally people think it’s a lot simpler to locate and build and maintain a dog park than it actually is.”

Paul cited problems of overuse and misuse that can arise when patrons of a park are left to self-police use of a public space. This can lead to altercations between patrons who do not act as they should, problems with owners who bring aggressive dogs that are unfit for a dog park, and a buildup of dog excrement from owners who do not pick up after their pets.

Paul also knows how to avoid these potential problems, saying that when constructing a park like this, it is important to plan properly. Having criteria laid out from a study helps put up some guidelines for how a park should be planned, and public outreach studies help to avoid potential problems that neighbors are concerned about.

“We did a big study and set up criteria,” said Paul of her prior work with dog parks. “I think it’s really valuable to do enough public outreach.”

Paul’s ultimate takeaway is that the planning of a dog park must be done thoroughly and properly so mistakes do not lead to bigger problems down the road. If the planning process is well thought out, a dog park can be successful.

“The idea is exciting, but maybe the process needs to be revised a little bit,” Paul said.

The Friends of Bar Harbor Dog Park are still in the early stages of this planning process. Currently, the group is working with the Parks and Recreation Department members at their monthly meetings to get a final plan in place to bring to the Town Council for approval.