PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 6, 2021
Over and over again in the Willard Beach neighborhood, I speak with neighbors who say that 12 years ago, when there was a referendum on whether dogs could be on the beach, they voted in favor of the dogs. Now, they tell me, they would vote the other way. As one of them said to me, “We had no idea it would be like this.” City parks and dog parks are different things. City parks are a place where everyone can go without fear of harassment or injury. Dog parks are places where dogs can run, but it is best for children not to play there, and it is a good idea for older people not to walk there. You cannot take a quiet walk in a dog park. The city parks in South Portland are being used by a large number of residents of the Portland region as dog parks. It is unfair to everyone else. ~ John Pani, South Portland