Montgomery County currently has five dog parks, but none of them are located inside the Beltway. That will change now that the county’s planning board has approved a half-acre portion of Ellsworth Urban Park in Silver Spring as a place for dogs to play.
It’s the first in a plan to add 11 more dog parks in the county by 2022, according to park planner Dominic Quattrochi. He said there’s a need for more urban dog parks, especially in Bethesda and Silver Spring.
The approval came amid opposition from several residents who say the dog park will lead to the removal of a local sledding hill and an increase of noise in the neighborhood.
“My prediction is that every urban dog park that is proposed will meet with opposition from neighbors,” planning board chair Francoise Carrier said.
The parks department, which is operated by the Maryland-Capital Park and Planning Commission, selected the site because it’s underutilized, at least 200 feet away from residences and will require no tree removal, according to staff recommendations.
The park will consist of a smaller area for small or timid dogs, and a larger area for healthy, well-socialized dogs. Each area will be surrounded by 5-foot-high ornamental fencing that includes a double gated entry system similar to those used at other area parks.
The county estimates the park’s construction will cost $256,000. There will be entrances to the park on Colesville Road. The parks department expects construction to begin in 2015 and it hopes to open the dog park by summer or fall 2015.
