Groton Open Space Association

Provisionally, GOSA Will Open TMFF To Dog Walking; Permit Required

GROTON — The Groton Open Space Association will provisionally lift its ban on dog walking at The Merritt Family Forest in late August, issuing permits to dog owners who agree to follow rules intended to protect the land and other users. 

Joan Smith, GOSA president, said that GOSA will hold a series of orientation sessions starting Saturday morning, Aug. 21, for the purpose of briefing owners in person and granting the permits. 

Wendy MacFarland, of Mystic, shows full dog-walking gear

                                        Photo: Whitney Adams 

Since acquiring the 75-acre Merritt property in May 2008, GOSA has not allowed dog walking. GOSA has explained that it needed time to study the land and its plants and animals before deciding what recreational activities would be suitable. That study has now taken place. 

“We hope that our provisional program will demonstrate that careful planning, together with cooperation from conscientious dog owners, can avoid problems that have shown up in some other areas where dog walking is allowed,” she said. Such problems include proliferation of dog waste that’s not picked up and dogs that run free and disturb wildlife, other dog walkers and hikers. 

Despite GOSA’s hopes for the program, “We stand ready to suspend or revoke permits for individual infractions of rules,” she said. “If we find substantial evidence of infractions by many users, we’ll regretfully halt dog walking altogether.” 

GOSA owns The Merritt Family Forest and has signed a conservation easement to the state, which provided a $650,000 grant toward the $1 million purchase price of the property. The easement guarantees public access to the property, while giving GOSA broad authority to set rules of use. GOSA’s purchase of the tract took place after a nearly five-year court struggle that began when a developer sued to prevent the Merritt family from selling to GOSA. 

Any dog owner interested in getting a permit should register by sending his/her name, street address and email address (if any), and telephone number to: 

gosamail@gmail.com 

or: GOSA, Box 9187, Groton, CT 06340. 

GOSA will contact owners with details of the orientation session. Prior registration is necessary to attend. Permits will be issued free of charge and will include a breakaway lanyard and transparent, water-resistant vinyl holder for the permit. 

Ms. Smith said that the experiment with dog walking does not affect other rules of use at The Merritt Family Forest.