New Dog Park Open and Running in Somers

Even though 40 percent of Somers residents own dogs, there was no place for them to run until recently. 

Nearly four years ago, former Somers councilman Harry Bolton unexpectedly found himself in the middle of the issue to open up a dog park.

Bolton, who was then running for office in 2008, sat by the town pool mulling various issues. There, Bolton met a resident who suffered from vertigo after hitting her head, resulting in making it difficult for her to stand up. 

“She said the really terrible part was that she could no longer walk her dog,” Bolton said. “I told her that was a shame… [and] that’s where I got the idea for a the dog park.” 

After winning the town councilman seat, Bolton asked the board if a dog park was viable. Months went by without any action. During this time, police officer and dog owner Ed Conte got in touch with Bolton. The two formed the Dog Park Committee and began scouting out nearby parks for ideas.

But early in the process, Bolton and Conte encountered turbulence.

“There was a lot of reluctance at first on the town’s part, because there’s always a lot of liability when you open a dog park,” Bolton said. “Dogs and people can get bit.”

In 2010, Bolton and Conte finally made headway—the two realized that Koegel Park had grown unpopular since the opening of the Angle Fly Preserve in 2009. Since the park wouldn’t see too many visitors, the dog park committee felt that it would be a perfect place for an experiment.

With the help of Steve Ralston from the Somers Parks and Recreation Department, the two were able to convince the town to convert Koegel into an on-leash park.

“We got an agreement from Parks and Recreation: that if we could successfully let this dog park run for a year, only then could we pursue the dog park,” Bolton said.

At the end of 2010, a group of dog-lovers in Heritage Hills decided to start Canine Companions. When they heard that off-leash dog park in Somers was in the works, Canine Companions wanted to get involved.

“We were looking for a place where dogs could get their exercise, and socialize with other dogs,” said Faye Desanto, the President of Canine Companions. 

The group began by knocking on doors and collecting 500 signatures to present to the town board; then, officials allowed for fundraising to begin.

Over the next few years, Canine Companions showed up at every tag sale in town to solicit donations. In the fall of 2011, the group sponsored a Jazz Concert in Heritage Hills that raised around $3,000 for the park. 

Other community members pitched in, too. As part of her bat-mitzvah project, Alyssa Klee, of Somers, raised and donated more than $700 to the park—enough to buy a bench.

“I thought that was pretty neat,” Bolton said.

Scout Troup 2969 also contributed to the fundraising – donating nearly $600. In addition, the town was able to donate concrete abutments for the parking lot. A Somers mother, contributed in her late daughter’s name gave, and a local attorney also made donations. 

Overall, residents donated nearly $25,000 toward the cost of the park. That—with the $15,000 that came from the larger sponsors—made it possible for the committee to donate the dog park to the town of Somers.  

Bolton and Ralston then laid out a design, figured out the cost, and spoke to the highway supervisor. In 2011, the town board approved the use of a nearly two-acre field on Rt. 100 between Momma Rosa and the Town Highway garage for the dog park.

This fall, the Somers Dog Park will have its grand opening—still, the Somers Dog Park has been up and running for nearly a month.

“It was a lot of work, but it seems to be working out,” Bolton said.

Bolton’s wife, Victoria Roach, runs the park’s Facebook page which allows pet owners to arrange dog play dates. The page also offers tips, advice, and fun ideas for dog owners.

In the future, Bolton hopes that pet-related events can be held at the park, like Mahopac’s WoofStock. The Mahopac event features vendors, dog trainers, homemade treats, music and food.

At the moment though, Bolton and those who helped him are just happy they have somewhere for their dogs to run and play.

For more information, check out the Somers Dog Park's Facebook page here.