A push by the Benson Park Advisory Committee to add safety features to the parking lot serving the Benson Park Dog Park has stalled after the Hudson Department of Public Works (DPW) denied a request for improvements such as a speed bump.
“An email was sent to me from the head of DPW, and it mentioned that the information we had received had no police report basis,” said Committee Chair Sue Clement. “He felt it was more hearsay, so he was not going to approve our request for a sign.”
The issue was first raised at the Committee’s April meeting, when the Friends of the Dog Park reported an accident in which a dog was struck and killed while crossing the road near the park. Several near misses have also occurred over the past year.
“I went over and took a picture to visualize it myself. If you were new to the park and had never been there, you come in, and you’re driving down, you can’t see the Dog Park at all,” Clement said. “There are only a few parking spots in front of the Dog Park, so if you’re walking over, people driving in can’t see you. It’s blind. When I was taking pictures, I stood there for a little while and saw a car back up and a car come down the road and have to stop real fast. It is probably very unsafe. If we’re not going to put in a speed bump, I really don’t see the harm in putting in a sign of some sort.”
Resident and former committee member Judy Brouillette also submitted photos showing visibility concerns. Several members noted that traffic will only increase as summer brings more visitors.
“What blocks the view? Shrubs?” asked Committee member Ellen Griffin. “What if you removed those shrubs to open the view?”
Clement confirmed that greenery partially blocks the sightline and said removal was a possibility. Even so, most members agreed that adding a sign or crosswalk would be a simple, low cost improvement. Erosion and limited parking space were also cited as ongoing issues.
Despite the challenges, the Dog Park continues to grow in popularity. The Friends of Benson Park Dog Park recently received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. According to Brouillette, the status is retroactive, meaning earlier donations will be tax deductible. She added that the group is active, with its first cleanup held in mid-May.
“I’m glad people showed up. In the past, we’ve had a lot of trouble getting volunteers to come to the Dog Park on our cleanup days,” Clement said.
The next public meeting of the Friends of the Dog Park will be held on Wednesday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Benson Park Advisory Committee is set for Thursday, June 18, at 7 p.m. in the Hudson Cable Access Center.
