logo
Google Play App Store
Log In subscribe and/or renew Eeditions
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
Main
By FRED T. ROSSI on
November 23, 2023
Fanwood Reports Positive Feedback To Allowing Dogs In Parks

FANWOOD — It’s so far, so good when it comes to how well the borough’s ordinance permitting dogs in the parks is working out.

Public Works Director Clint Dicksen told the borough council at its meeting on Monday that his staff has seen “no difference” in the conditions of the parks and the parks’ infrastructure since the ordinance was passed in the summer of 2022.

“Nothing has gone awry,” he said, adding that residents are cleaning up after their dogs and “the program is working out well.”

He joked that the only difference now is that, “when we enter a park and we see somebody with a dog, they’re giving us a hearty wave” rather than “hurrying up to get out of the park.”

There have been discussions over the past year and a half about adding receptacles for pet waste, but Mr. Dicksen did not feel it was necessary yet. Especially during the summer months, those receptacles can get “a little stinky” when exposed to hot temperatures, he said. Depositing dog waste into regular trash cans is preferable at this time, Mr. Dicksen said, because the other trash tends to “mask” any odors from the pet waste.

In other business, Mayor Colleen Mahr spoke about the board of education’s just-completed survey seeking residents’ input on what they would support in a bond referendum that will likely be held next September to finance a variety of options intended to address classroom space constraints amid recent increases to the student population.

First and foremost is the board’s potential purchase and refurbishment of the 36,000-square-foot First Children School on La Grande Avenue, which was formerly a board of education building and, more recently, Children’s Specialized Hospital.

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District had 5,544 students in the 20222023 school year, a sharp increase from the 5,320 students in the 20202021 school year, according to the state Department of Education.

Mayor Mahr said “an important piece not to get lost in the discussion” is that the project will be eligible for state aid equal to as much as 34 percent of the project’s cost.

The council also passed an ordinance that will boost smoke-detector and carbon-monoxide-detector inspection fees to align them more with what neighboring towns are charging. The borough’s annual holiday celebration will be held on Sunday, December 3, starting at 2:30 p.m. Parents wanting their children to sit on Santa’s lap need to pre-register on the borough website.

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Most Read
Advocates Lose Appeal of OWP Lawsuit
Main, News
Advocates Lose Appeal of OWP Lawsuit
By LAUREN S. BARR 
Friday, June 27, 2025
WESTFIELD — The New Jersey Appellate Court upheld the Lower Court’s ruling dismissing The Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development’s (WARD) law...
this is a test
E-Bikes Banned from Park Trails and Paths in Westfield
Main, News
E-Bikes Banned from Park Trails and Paths in Westfield
By MADOLYN LAURINE 
Thursday, June 26, 2025
WESTFIELD — Visitors to town parks will now have to park their electric bicycles and scooters after the town council during its Tuesday meeting passed...
this is a test
Residents Decry Approval of South Ave. Apt. Application
Main, News
Residents Decry Approval of South Ave. Apt. Application
By FRED T. ROSSI 
Thursday, July 3, 2025
FANWOOD — Despite opposition from neighborhood residents, the planning board last month approved an application to develop property on South Avenue in...
this is a test
JCC of Central New Jersey Names New Bd. of Directors
Community
JCC of Central New Jersey Names New Bd. of Directors
Thursday, June 26, 2025
SCOTCH PLAINS — The JCC of Central New Jersey has announced its new board of directors for the 2025-2026 year. At the JCC’s annual meeting June 9, Lau...
this is a test
Towns to Celebrate Independence Day
Main, News
Towns to Celebrate Independence Day
Thursday, June 26, 2025
AREA — Starting this weekend, multiple area communities will present Independence Day celebrations offering an array of activities and capped off by g...
this is a test
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader