When Marion Nadeau moved from Utah to All Saints Road in Laurel last year, one of the first things she did was look for a place to exercise her twodogs. She saw the Dr. Bruce Morley Dog Playground, on Van Dusen Road near Cherry Lane, listed online and decided to check it out.
"It's a great park," Nadeau said this week as herdogs chased others and ran freely around the nearly 2-acre park. "I had a yard before but I don't now, so it's fantastic for mydogs to come to play."
The dog park, located behind the Leo E. Wilson Park, on Van Dusen, opened in 2008. It has separate entrances and fenced-in areas for large and small dogs, in addition to water fountains and pet waste disposal stations in each section.
There's never been a charge for dog owners to use the park, which is open from dawn to dusk, but beginning July 1, Laurel residents will be charged an annual fee of $30 and nonresidents $35.
"Free is better, but if you have to pay, the fee they will charge is reasonable," Nadeau said.
But not all users agree with Nadeau.
"I think it's ridiculous because this is an outside park and we're not using any electricity or anything, just water," said David Pumphrey. "I'll pay it, but I don't understand why they're charging now."
Tracey Lewis, whose 2-year-old pug, Yogi, was in a tug-of-war battle over a stick with a large German shepherd, agreed with Pumphrey.
"It kind of sucks, but I'll pay it," Lewis said. "I do think the fee is too high."
But Paula Newman, who just returned to the city after a tour of duty in Iraq and brings her Siberian husky to the park regularly, is not upset over the fees.
"I was surprised that they didn't charge because when I was (stationed) in Italy, I had to pay and in Germany, you had to pay 50 Euros (about $72) a year to use the dog parks," Newman said.
According to Laurel Parks and Recreation Director Michael Lhotsky, before the new fee was approved, they talked to officials in other jurisdictions and found that although most dog parks are free, some do charge fees in the range of what is proposed for Laurel. He said the main reason for the new annual fee is that the city needed funds for the park's maintenance, which is used by an average of 15 to 20 dog owners daily.
"I'm sure we'll lose some people, but I think most will stay," said Lhotsky. "We felt when you have it set up like a membership, people take ownership and clean up more. We have doggie bags in for waste and ask people to pick up after their dogs, but we still find waste in areas outside the gated entrance at times."
Lynn DeVan lives in Silver Spring and has been bringing her two dogs to Laurel's dog park for two years. Even though she thinks park users should have been given more notice on the new fee, which was announced at the end of May, she plans to continue using the park.
"I'm not wildly enthusiastic about the fee, but I think it's fair; and as a nonresident, I think it's fair that I pay more," she said. "I really like the park. People are responsible about their dogs, and good friendships have been made here."
Several dog owners at the park this week were opposed to the annual fee initially but have since accepted it and now want to know if the new fee will translate into improvements at the park.
"I have no problem with the fees as long as something is done with the money to fix this dust bowl or mud pit, depending on the weather, here," Scott Selby said in reference to a big section of the large dog park area that is grassless and a source of dust when dogs wrestle and run through it.
Nathan Dyer, who said he's "begrudgingly" paying the fee, agreed and said, "If the money goes to anything other than fixing up this big bare spot and other things, I won't like that. I want to see tangible results, and not come here one year from now and see the same yellow (play) tubes, shrubbery and trash."
Lhotsky said they plan to use the funds, which he estimated would be about $3,000, specifically for maintenance of the dog park.
"We will use the funds collected to put in equipment for the dogs to play on. We reseeded the small dog park last fall and will do the large one this fall," he said.
Additionally, Lhotsky said they are considering setting up a committee for the dog park, whose members can make recommendations on park improvements. Several users thought this was needed, as well as a means to prevent nonpayers from using the park.
"We'll put a combination lock on the gates and change it annually. It's not fail safe, but we'll also have membership cards, and will periodically come by and ask to see the cards," Lhotsky said.
Those 18 years old and older can apply for an annual membership. Proof of a dog's registration, a tag number, a current vaccination certificate and immunization expiration dates will be required. All dogs using the park must be at least four months old and must wear their tags at all times.
A free dog park is also operated off Brock Bridge Road, in Maryland City, outside the city in Anne Arundel County.
"I'm going to need to get $160 of shots for my dog, plus the license and pay the city fee," Selby said. "I may be at Brock Bridge at the beginning of the month and come back when I get it all done."