Tom Johnson related that  he loves dogs, but wants to make sure children who play sports will have the space they need on the ball fields. He said right now some teams are limited to one practice a week.

Anthem Pets Inc, a nonprofit corporation, has plans and a design for the permanent park to include a dog shower and play hydrants, among other amenities.

The Community Council’s  Parks and Recreation Committee plans to include public input from the meeting in its report to the council board.

The committee has narrowed the search for a park site to three locations: A permanent site in the lake area northwest of the community center, leasing softball field No. 2 or the soccer field north of the maintenance building. Anthem Pets said they are not interested in Liberty Bell Park or the St. Rose Catholic Church property, which were also on the list of possible sites.

Some residents raised the issue of a possible loss in revenue from sports teams if the park is located on a playing field.

Barbara Windgassen from Anthem Pets spoke at the meeting.

“A dog park is not a new idea–it has been embraced by (many) communities,”  Windgassen said.   In response to questions raised at an Anthem Community Council board meeting in January, she said the softball field the group currently uses is brown not because the dogs urinate on the grass but because it has not been overseeded. She also said only 1 percent of the park’s members are not Anthem residents.

Joe Pampinella stated that allowing children to play on fields where dogs urinate raises some health issues.

Resident Joan Tully supports the dog park. “It is a necessity for dogs to help them unwind and socialize, and it gives people a chance to meet,” she said.

Mike Gregoire commented that the pet park should be charged a lease rate comparable to that paid by the Little League organizations.

“Don’t make this a kids versus dog thing,”Windgassen responded.

Resident Diane Wren pointed out that if the community gives the dog park a permanent piece of property on which to build their park, it would be turning a public amenity into a park for private members only.

Steve Peterman, executive director of the Anthem Community Associations, said the Parks and Recreation Committee report will be in the hands of the Community Council board prior to its April meeting, adding that the board has the authority to make a decision on where to locate a dog park.