Trial period for off-leash dogs and bicycles extended in Oakmont's Dark Hollow Woods

A trial period for off-leash dogs and bicyclists in Dark Hollow Woods in Oakmont has been extend until at least March as officials postponed a vote on a recreation board proposal.

Council also agreed to relaunch a survey to get more public input prior to making the rule change permanent.

The extension was granted at the Dec. 16 voting session after multiple residents spoke for and against dogs running at large in the park.

Councilwoman Leah Powers, recreation chairperson, also cited borough Solicitor Kate Diersen’s recommendation to adopt an ordinance instead of a resolution regarding the park’s usage for the delay.

“I think we need some time and, based on the comments that were made by residents who didn’t have the opportunity to fill out the survey, we should give them that opportunity,” Powers said. “We said that we’d like to have some more information and maybe begin to move at least in three months.”

Council President William Benusa welcomed recreation board involvement in crafting the ordinance, and noted its vacancies.

“There may be two more new members on that board by that time,” he said.

The borough previously approved a six-month trial period to test off-leash times and cycling in the publicly owned park near Crystal Drive.

It was originally set for May through October, but actually went June through November.

Off-leash times were from dawn to 1 p.m. and on-leash from 1 p.m. to dusk in the southwest section of the park. The opposite times were in effect in the northeast section. Bikes were permitted through the park after 3 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays.

The recreation board posted a survey on its Facebook page as well as surveymonkey.com and Nextdoor, a social networking service.

Recreation board member Ryan Erlich released the survey results at a workshop meeting earlier this month.

He said 84 people participated and results showed 70% of responders support off-leash dogs while 30% did not. About 82% of responders were in favor of bikes in the park while 18% opposed the change.

Resident Terese Connerton said she walks her dog almost daily in the park, and supports off-leash areas.

“I think it’s worked out,” Connerton said. “I haven’t seen any problems. I would have like a resolution (to the matter tonight), but I think it’s fine as long as we’re still able to take our dog off leashed on one or the other side I have no problem.”

Those were not the sentiments of residents Melissa Shontz and Pete Weeks, who want to keep dogs in the park leashed.

Shontz said the survey results show not many people voiced their opinion on the matter. She also did not support the recreation board’s plans to possibly install split rail fencing to separate off- and on-leash areas, as well as the borough’s increased liability risk should an animal attack occur.

Weeks recalled when an off-leash dog accosted his young daughter in the park, and cited state law that requires pet owners to control their animals.

“We need people who can keep their dogs under control,” he said. “Responsible dog owners leash their dogs. They protect other dogs as well as people.”

Weeks and Shontz thanked council for postponing its decision.

“Let’s make sure more people have a chance to voice their opinions,” Weeks said.

Other residents encouraged council members to find a compromise so everyone can enjoy Dark Hollow.

Councilman Tim Favo said cycling and dogs off-leash are two separate issues, with the latter taking place the last 18 years.

“My feeling with all the parks is, ‘If you’re using it, it’s a good thing,’” Favo said. “I think before the dog (issue) I might have seen five people in Dark Hollow a week. Now you see five, seven people a day when you go through there whenever you have a dog.”

Favo said he sees a lot of positives when it comes to dogs, and still has concerns about bike safety when it comes to using the woods.

“I see one being there for 18 years and one being there for six months, and I would not make that decision together,” Favo said.

The survey’s expected to be posted this month on the borough website, oakmontborough.com.