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Debate continues over proposed signage at future Morrisville Dog Park
Published: Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com
The debate may soon come to a conclusion about whether the Friends of Morrisville Dog Park (FMDP) should be allowed to hang four dog bone-shaped sponsor signs in the future dog park.The matter will be an agenda item at the Morrisville Borough Council meeting on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.About 10 members of the group sat in the back row as three members of the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) sat up front. The division between the two groups has been wide on the subject.The dog park, which was approved this year by borough council, will be established on open space land owned by the borough. The borough council used county open space funds to acquire the land, located at Philadelphia and Delmorr avenues.EAC member Deborah Colgan and EAC president Bill Setzer continued to speak out against the signage, asserting that open space is not the place for commercial signs."My concern is the proposed use of publicly-owned land," Colgan noted. She said taxpayer money was used to purchase the land."Corporate logos are advertisements," Colgan maintained.FMDP's signs would include the sponsor's company name or logo, e-mail address, telephone number, Web site and a line saying "Donated in Support of Morrisville Dog Park.""I want the dog park to be built," Setzer said. "I just don't want to see the signs."He noted that people at an EAC meeting were "adamantly against" the signage. He reminded council members that he had presented the EAC's case in the beginning of the year.Part of FMDP's proposal would involve the borough manager having the last word on what was put on the signs. But, council members say they are concerned because the borough could be sued for restricting who could be a sponsor.Ellen Stieve, FMDP's leader, showed an example of the proposed three foot-long sign. Two sets of signs would be hung back-to-back on the fence dividing two pens -- one for larger dogs and the other for smaller dogs.Stieve pressed for the signage, but one council member encouraged the group to use a sign with sponsor's names engraved in bronze. Former council president Jane Burger advocated a sign similar to the one at the Robert Morris Plaza at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street. She has advocated this before, indicating that such a sign could be posted at the entrance to the park.FMDP, Stieve said, would be willing to consider a compromise.There were several people who advocated signage, including Cynthia Groya and new FMDP member Amy Martinez. They both commented that they are impressed with Stieve's ability to organize people to better the community."It's obvious we all have a collaborative effort," said Martinez.Groya said Stevie had touched the lives of many people in the community.Stieve noted that the FMDP's efforts have had a "positive effect on the community." She has "met a lot of great people." The park, Stieve noted, will help to unify Morrisville.The EAC's Setzer said, "creating community is good."The FMDP has raised funds through T-shirt sales and a dog wash. An October cocktail party is planned for Saturday, Oct. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 105 Barnsley Ave. Another fundraiser is being planned for a Spring House Tour.The group is raising funds to purchase 1,000 linear feet of fencing which will cost more than $15,000. The cost To sponsor one of the dog bone signs would be between $2,000 and $2,500.
