UNSPLASH PHOTO Over 500 Bellefonte residents seek for their pets to have this kind of freedom at a desired local, off-leash dog park.

BELLEFONTE — During the public comment section of this week’s Bellefonte Borough meeting, council was given a petition for an off-leash dog park in the borough.

Peter Serefine, a resident of Bellefonte, attended the meeting to plead his case for why an off-leash dog park is an essential addition to the borough.

Serefine started a petition in September that boasts over 500 signatures.

“Bellefonte Borough is home to 462 licensed dogs. Expand your view and include Spring Township which envelopes Bellefonte and you’re adding 689 more dogs. There’s a substantial population that would benefit from an off-leash dog park. Considering municipalities that border Spring Township and now you’re at 3,000 licensed dogs,” said Serefine.

According to Serefine, the closest off-leash dog park to Bellefonte is Tudek Dog Park, which is listed on the Centre Region Parks and Recreation page as the “only off-leash area in the Centre Region municipal parks system.”

“(It’s) a 20-minute drive. Every time I make that drive and take my dog there I meet people from Bellefonte. That proves the need or the desire for a facility more locally,” said Serefine.

He also brought up numerous studies that were done that show off-leash dog parks have significant benefits to dogs.

“Off-leash parks provide a secure and controlled environment for dogs to exercise and socialize for their physical health and mental stimulation. Community building — parks foster a sense of community amongst the dog owners, leading to stronger neighborhood bonds and social connections. Improved behaviors — dogs that frequent off-leash parks are better behaved. They become well socialized and accustomed to various stimuli,” said Serefine.

Serefine also indicated that a designated park space would reduce the amount of dog waste throughout the borough.

He also pointed out that having an off-leash dog park could be an economic boost to the borough, noting that if he’s willing to drive to Tudek Park to take his dog, others will be willing to drive to Bellefonte for their dogs. While here, they could spend money in shops or restaurants.

“It’s not just a matter of convenience, it’s a response to a genuine need of our community. With hundreds of licensed dogs in the borough and thousands nearby, the proven advantages of this facility and the creation of a designated space for our furry friends is a step in fostering a healthier, more connected and vibrant Bellefonte community,” said Serefine.

The petition suggests the potential use of the Joseph Masullo Memorial Park as the off-leash park, but also was open to hearing any other viable municipal properties.

Another individual who spoke in favor of the dog park was Staisha Hancock.

“I’m a proud homeowner in Bellefonte and I’m fortunate to have a fenced in yard which provides my dog with some room to roam. However, having a fenced in yard doesn’t help them learn how to interact with other dogs or people,” said Hancock.

Hancock pointed out that dogs need to run and play to maintain happiness and overall health, and that dog owners also need a dedicated space to bond with pets and do outdoor activities together.

“A leash-free dog park is not just a luxury, it’s a community asset that promotes well-being, fosters strong neighborly ties and enhances the quality of both two-legged friends and four-legged residents,” said Hancock.

Though only two people came to the meeting in person to advocate for the park, the petition, hosted on change.org, has numerous comments on why people think this off-leash dog park is a good idea.

One person writes, “I myself have a big dog that loves to run and exercise but that’s hard to do tethered to a leash. An outside spike in the ground only lets her walk around to a certain point but she’s not able to run around and get out that excess energy. With responsible dog owners I think this would be a great idea.”

Another writes, “We need one! We need to have a dog park so we don’t have to drive to State College. This town has the money, invest in your people.”

There are several other comments indicating that dogs need a place to run and exercise, and that it’s difficult to give them that on a leash.

The topic of the off-leash dog park is planned to be scheduled for discussion in an upcoming work session.

For updates on the potential dog park, please visit BellefonteDogPark.com, or their Facebook at Facebook.com/BellefonteDogPark.

You can find the petition at Change.org/BellefonteDogPark