The Gazette recently had a long article about the “unofficial” off-leash dog park on Burts Pit Road in Northampton next to the Community Garden [“Leash laws and public safety,” Aug. 9]. While the troubling incidents with off-leash dogs are a legitimate issue, I have some other observations that weren’t necessarily included in the article that I think need to be considered.

1. In the past few years, off-leash dog parks have been ranked high or in the No. 1 spot in new recreation facilities being installed in cities and towns across the country.

2. The off-leash dog park on Burts Pit Road is the most highly used public recreation facility in the city, being used pretty much 365 days per year from dawn until dusk. Just check out the parking lot any time.

3. A friend and I walked dogs in the dog park regularly when she lived here six years ago. There was a time when we frequently encountered a woman in her 80s that we would walk with. I’m sorry I don’t remember the lady’s name. According to the woman, she had been walking dogs there off-leash since she was in her early 20s. That means at this point, the “unofficial” off-leash dog park has been used as an off-leash dog park for nearly 70 years now.

An off-leash dog park is a wonderful and desired amenity. It seems to emerge as a public issue every few years, but I hope the city will realize what a wonderful amenity it has, and figure out how to make this work for everyone.

Cynthia Schaedig

Florence