Sunday, July 20, 2003
The parking restrictions went into effect immediately.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The Poland Forest Board will put new restrictions on parking in Poland Woods, but "friendly" dogs may have the freedom to frolic without leash restrictions.
The village police department will soon be installing signs restricting parking in the woods, formally known as Poland Municipal Forest, to designated parking lots. Parking around the Shelter House at Butler Circle will be prohibited except by permit and all parking within the Poland Forest is otherwise prohibited.
Jim Swagert of the forest board of commissioners said the new regulations are a matter of safety. He said individuals parking in certain areas enjoy a high level of privacy to commit various criminal acts.
"We have made occasional misdemeanor arrest for things like marijuana possession in the woods and parking areas in general," said Police Chief Russell Beatty.
Beatty said he thinks the new parking regulations will help curb any potential illegal activity in the woods. The regulations, however, will not give officers the right to automatically search anyone for drugs parked in a no-parking area, he said. Officers will still need a reason to believe illegal drugs may be present.
Parking in certain restricted areas will be permitted via a parking pass from the village hall.
Canine issue
Another issue being discussed amongst village officials is loose dogs in Poland Woods.
Village resident Ted Heineman recently told trustees he and his 3-year-old grandson were approached by several loose dogs while walking through the woods. He said the dogs' owners did little to restrain the animals and said they were abiding by village and forest rules because the dogs were under "reasonable control."
Heineman said he thinks all dogs in the woods should be restricted by a leash at all times.
"It is getting to the point where I don't want to take my grandson to the woods," he said. "I think the woods should be for the people, let's not let the woods go to the dogs."
Swagert disagrees with a mandatory leash law for dogs in the woods and points to a rule on "unfriendly dogs" held by the forest board. The rule says that dogs that are unfriendly with people or other dogs must be leashed at all times.
Going against tradition?
Swagert said making everyone leash their dogs would go against the tradition of Poland Woods. He said many people use the woods for training purposes when it comes to their dogs and many dogs are trained not to stray from their owners.
Beatty said his office has received several complaints of dogs loose in the woods. In September 2001, several dogs attacked a Poland Seminary High School student as the student jogged through the woods.
"My personal feeling is that dogs should be on a leash," Beatty said.
The village does have an ordinance that says no one is permitted to allow dogs or other pets "to run at large upon any public way or upon unenclosed land."
jgoodwin@vindy.com