Every day, dozens of people use the greenway in Derby, whether it’s to get out and enjoy a walk or take advantage of the nice weather with a bike ride, but there’s something about the walkway that’s not so enjoyable.
City officials said there have been too many complaints about dog owners not cleaning up after their pets.
Ron Sill, president of the board of alderman, said this has been an issue for years.
“It’s sort of like, if you want to go to your favorite place -- the beach, the golf course -- you love to go there, and every time you go there, you have to avoid the piles. It takes away the whole pleasure of the event,” he said.
Derby officials have tried many ways to get pet owners to clean up after their pets. A local business even donated doggie bags, but it just seems the owners use the doggie bags, then leave the doggie bags on the greenway.
“They’re discarding them down in the rocks along the river here and our public works guys have to climb down the rocks and pick them up and take them from there and we still have the piles. It’s like we just can’t win,” Sill said.
A board of alderman subcommittee will be looking next week to pass an ordinance banning dogs from the greenway.
Dog owners said that would be a shame.
“We do walk him every day, so we wouldn’t be able to walk him anywhere if they did take it away,” said Rebecca Rydz, who was out walking her dog Dakota.
“If everyone takes their blue bag and brings it along with them, I don’t think there would be a problem,” said Gary Rydz.
But some said the problem has gone on long enough.
Sill said, at this point, the greenway should only be for people and hopefully Derby can find another place in the city specifically for dogs.
