Dogs can now be walked along paths in Greenfield parks after the common council there voted in favor of lifting a long-time ban.
The amended ordinance now allows dogs on leashes and only in certain areas of the parks. The common council voted 3-2 in favor of lifting the ban.
Five people spoke at Tuesday night's common council meeting urging them to keep the ban in place, citing health and safety concerns.
"This isn’t a matter of liking or not liking dogs, it's about preserving the beauty and sanitation of Konkel park," said Greenfield resident Stephanie Richard.
Mateo Arteaga lives in Greenfield and has a dog. He says he wants to be able to walk through parks like Konkel.
"There’s some dog parks but I wish I could bring her everywhere around here," he said.
Angela Perry lives in West Allis and brought her children to Konkel Park. She says she didn't know about the ban, but wouldn't mind if there were dogs around her kids.
"The kids know since we do have a dog to ask the owner if they can go up and pet the other person's dog," she said. "They love seeing other dogs other places."
Other people like Ita McLaughlin said they don't want to worry about dogs and what they might leave behind.
"I don’t want them running all over the place and in case people don’t pick up the poop or something, I don’t want to step in it when I walk around the park," she said.
Alderman Bruce Bailey proposed changing the ordinance, saying Greenfield was one of only about six communities in southeast Wisconsin that had a ban like this.
"We're not reinventing the wheel here," he said. "The ordinance deals with people who don't pick up after their dog, there's a fine. We've covered all the objections that people have."
Dogs still won't be allowed in Greenfield parks for certain special events, like the Fourth of July celebration or the Dan Jansen Family Fest. Dogs are also prohibited from the farmers market under this change.
Otherwise, dogs must stay on the paths and on a leash and they're not allowed in children's play areas or athletic fields.
