Chevy Chase Village Board Chair Elissa Leonard (left) and Vice-Chair Robert Goodwin.
The Chevy Chase Village Board of Managers voted to disestablish the dog park at Brookville Road Park, making a lot of residents barking mad.
It was standing room only at the hearing on Monday. Dozens of Chevy Chase residents showed up to the hearing to testify in support of saving the park (many were wearing white “Save the Chevy Chase Dog Park” hats that were distributed before the meeting). Board members noted that it was one of the most popular—possibly the most popular—hearings the Village has ever had.
Board Chair Elissa Leonard said that the vote doesn’t mean that the dog park is going away because people can still take their dogs to the Brookville Road Park area. However “disestablishing” means that the fencing surrounding the park will come down, so there will no longer be any official designated off-leash space for dogs in the neighborhood to play.
Two Chevy Chase Board Members, Robert Goodwin (the vice-chair) and Linda Willard voted to maintain the park.
BREAKING: The Chevy Chase Village Board voted to disestablish the dog park. Residents are walking out upset.
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
Once the vote was made official, residents booed and started walking out. Leonard tried reassuring residents that the board was working with Montogmery Parks to come up with a solution to find a larger dog park area in a space nearby, but residents continued walking out.
Here’s What Happened at the Chevy Chase Dog Park Hearing
Tweet Recap From the Chevy Chase Dog Park Hearing
Check out this Twitter thread for a full recap of the hearing.
Janet Conroy is one of the Chevy Chase residents leading the effort to save the dog park. She made 50 hats which she’s distributing to residents in favor of saving the dog park. pic.twitter.com/gmiIPaDsBm
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 9, 2019
A number of dogs stopped by before the meeting started. This is Jack, fur-baby of Chevy Chase’s Chris Marvin. pic.twitter.com/QKj5FC3fUr
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 9, 2019
The hearing is started. Board Chair @elissaleonard gives some background on the dog park controversy. pic.twitter.com/7zSv4YokQd
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 9, 2019
Jane M. is one of the residents in support of the park. pic.twitter.com/aGU8KnWKv1
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 9, 2019
Bob Kayton suggests the residents opposed to the park are overreacting. He says he doesn’t believe the resident opposed to the park will not compromise and that they simply want to shut down the park. pic.twitter.com/f1czqkpZSX
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 9, 2019
One resident, Bob B., talks about his concerns with the park. pic.twitter.com/YPWmfNAg7k
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
Richard Ruda moves to disestablish the dog park at Brookville Road Park. pic.twitter.com/sM7IM1XmKH
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
Robert Goodwin, the Vice Chair, gets big cheers when he says he’s in favor of the park. He proposes a compromise. pic.twitter.com/Tz74A4MbTt
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
Linda Willard, a Chevy Chase Village Board Member, voted to maintain the dog park. pic.twitter.com/DohFkt00Lu
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
Chevy Chase Village Board Member Nancy Watters said it was “really sad” to see the community yelling at each other over the dog park. She voted to disestablish the park. pic.twitter.com/7HViykQQOg
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
Crockett explains how he reached his decision. pic.twitter.com/FdyxUWUcpt
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
And here’s that moment when Chevy Chase Village Board Chair @elissaleonard announced the vote to disestablish the Brookville Road Dog Park. It was met with boos and people walking out. pic.twitter.com/R6s2KWkCJt
— Deirdre Byrne (@DeirdreByrne_) September 10, 2019
