Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen is recognized as a “dog-friendly town” by both residents and visitors.
City Council is looking at proposed changes to the current municipal code that aim to more align with the community’s evolving values and the prevalent use of parks and open spaces for off-leash dog activities.
John Spiess, Open Space and Natural Resource manager, along with Parks and Open Space Director Matt Kuhn, presented a second reading on Tuesday to City Council with updates to the municipal code concerning “running at-large restricted; leash control” for dogs within city limits.
The goal of the changes is to clarify where supervised off-leash play is appropriate.
Restrictions will still apply where leash use is essential due to environmental, safety, or public use concerns.
The existing code states that it is unlawful for any dog owner to let their dog run at-large within city limits. Proposed changes to the code state that a dog would now be allowed to be off-leash within an Aspen City Park or Open Space, minus some exceptions.
Exemptions include Yellow Brick Park, John Denver Sanctuary, and Herron Park from 9 a.m. until dusk. Additionally, dogs will not be allowed off-leash in parks or open spaces with active uses, such as those hosting events, sports, rental spaces, or other organized activities.
Signage highlighting where off-leash play is anticipated to be in place when these changes are enacted to provide clarity.
Spiess addressed concerns by City Council after the first reading about exemptions to off-leash play at Herron Park.
He said that Herron Park, one of the highest-use parks in Aspen, is frequented by families and children.
“Once we performed outreach to the Open Space Board, we found that keeping dogs on leashes from 9 a.m. until dusk was the best compromise to this approach,” he said. “This solution offers both children and dogs to enjoy the park.”
Other questions from the first reading included differences between wetlands and riparian areas and how those will be specified in the new code.
Spiess highlighted that wetlands, where water is close to or at the surface of land year-round, are generally not conducive to off-leash play due to the sensitive environmental nature of the wetland.
Riparian areas, where water directly impacts an area of land, like the banks directly along the Roaring Fork River, are open for dogs and their owners to cool off and access the river unless specifically noted in the new code.
Wagner Park is arguably the most popular place to take a dog, according to Spiess.
“At the end of the day, this does not affect the use at Wagner Park,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of having voice control over a dog while at Wagner Park, not allowing the dog to enter the playground off-leash, and placing the dog back on the leash when leaving the park.
Meanwhile, Kuhn said that the John Denver Sanctuary is a quiet and contemplative place.
“We found that allowing off-leash play to be in contrast with this,” he said. “There are a variety of uses at the John Denver Sanctuary, and some of those may not be quiet and contemplative at all times. But looking at the broad portfolio of our parks system, we want to strive to maintain that quiet contemplative space within the sanctuary.”
He said that dogs are allowed and invited to cool off in the water at the sanctuary, but that they must be on a leash.
City Council opened the meeting for public comment before making any motions on the second reading, and not everyone was happy about the proposed changes.
Chris McKelvey, owner of the Chris McKelvey School of Dog Training, has been training dogs in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1982.
“I am here to strongly oppose allowing more parks and open spaces to be off-leash legal with the limited restrictions City Council has put forward,” she said. “I witness problems with off-leash dogs on a daily basis. They (off-leash dogs) are approaching, jumping, assaulting, and interfering with leashed or verbally-controlled dogs.”
Beth Neuhoff, an Aspen resident, said that she lives at the top of Mill Street and that off-leash dogs come running up from Wagner Park all the time, totally out of control.
“I know we have a problem now (with off-leash dogs), and I feel like increasing this and giving people more rights is something we need to think very hard about and how to police this,” she said.
Kuhn said that these code changes would enable park rangers to better manage off-leash dogs.
“The blanket wall-to-wall code — as it is currently written and that we have been using for about 20 years — creates challenges for our rangers to enforce,” he said.
He added that the new code is giving park rangers the tool to enforce off-leash play and make sure that there is compliance. Additionally, he said that the new code is aimed at reducing conflict, especially around playgrounds, and will also provide guidance to the community about what appropriate dog behavior and ownership should look like.
In response to a question by City Council member Sam Rose on how the leash rules will be enforced, Spiess said that trials and places like the pedestrian mall, sidewalks, and streets will be the initial focus.
“Our rangers have an approach that is very much focused on education,” he said. “They are not quick to jump to ticketing, but we really want to curb any potential conflicts along the sidewalks, trails, and streets.”
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