Dog Owners Upset Over Proposed Brookhaven Park Changes

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. - Long known as a place where dogs run free, changes are on the way for a local park and pet owners are not pleased.

The Brookhaven City Council got a sneak peek Tuesday at redevelopment proposals for 10 parks, including Brookhaven Park.  Landscape architects from design firm Greenberg Farrow walked council members through the plans.

Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams said the community supports most of the drafted plans, but some are adamantly opposed to changes to Brookhaven Park. 

Currently the park serves as an unofficial dog park where owners let their dogs run free.

"Quite frankly, Brookhaven has pretty much turned a blind eye to the leash laws," explained Williams.

The new plans, however, would enclose a smaller portion of the park for dogs. 

"I have a big back yard, fenced in with a dog door and everything else, but it's not the same," said Charles Bayles, who brings his dog Anja to the park every day and opposes the proposal.

Bayles said he would prefer for the park to stay the same, but if changes have to be made, he believes the dogs should not have to move. 

"Move the playground and at least fence the, you know, area for children so that they're protected from any dogs," he explained.

Greenberg Farrow will continue to take public input on the proposal and will finalize the park plans at the end of January. 

No matter what the final plans look like, they will take time to implement.  DeKalb County still owns part of Brookhaven Park, but commissioners plan to transfer the remaining land to the City of Brookhaven next month.