Dogs will have a place to play at Johnson Park BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer JACKSON - Dogs will soon have a place to roam on their own at Johnson Park, Kierych Drive. The Township Council has given the goahead for the creation of an off-leash dog park area at the municipal recreation facility. Dogs must be brought to the park on a leash, but will be permitted to go off-leash in the special area that is being laid out. Officials said the dog park is expected to be ready sometime between mid-September and early October. Mayor Mark Seda said it makes sense to give dogs a place where they can be offleash in an area that will not affect the rest of the park. Separate off-leash areas will be provided for small dogs and large dogs. The plan to create the dog park calls for using existing fencing from the Jackson Justice Complex, which is being renovated as a synthetic turf field. The mayor said the cost is minimal. "It's the cost of relocating that fence and some additional fencing," Seda said. "Instead of throwing out that fence we could use it and put it to good use. That's how the concept started." In order to advance the dog park project the council had to adopt an amended ordinance allowing dogs to be in Johnson Park. The action was taken on Aug. 14. Seda said there are three major projects going on in Johnson Park and the final design of the off-leash dog area will be soon forthcoming. He said the dog park should work well and satisfy the needs of people who will bring their dogs there. "There are not many places you can take a dog and let them run and get some exercise without being fined or told to get out of the park," he said. "The nice part of this plan is the picnic area that is not too far from (the dog run) so you can actually leave your dog in the gated area and go and make a hamburger on the nearby grills. The picnic area should be installed next year." Business Administrator Phil Del Turco said Jackson's dog park will be similar to one at Ocean County Park, Lakewood. Dogs weighing more than 35 pounds will use one area and dogs weighing less than 35 pounds will use another area, he said. The business administrator said the dog park is being worked on and shade trees will be left in place. Public works employees will install dispensers with bags for pet waste. The dog run will be past the tennis courts in an area that is accessible by car and near parking so that dog owners can bring their pets there without taking the dog to other areas in the park. "This is something residents should be able to take advantage of," animal control officer Joe Sbano said. "It gives the dogs an area where they can run safely. It's definitely a plus." Sbano said the idea of having separate areas for dogs of different weight categories is perfect. "It's important to make sure all dogs have up-to-date vaccinations and that no aggressive dogs are allowed in," Sbano said.