OBSERVER Photo by Natasha Matteliano The idea of bringing a dog park to Silver Creek was discussed by the Village Board at a meeting this week. Complaints of dogs running free at the ball field on the top of Ward Avenue hill prompted the discussion.

SILVER CREEK — An effort to potentially bring a dog park to Silver Creek was discussed by the Village Board at a meeting this week.

Caroline Mullen, president of the Hanover Little League, suggested the dog park when she talked with the board — which met via Zoom. Once or twice a year, Mullen said she is contacted about people using the ball field on the top of Ward Avenue hill to let their dogs run free, without a leash.

This is damaging to the property at times and is not what the field is meant to be for, Mullen told board members.

“We go through great expense to keep those fields maintained,” she said. “My purpose is not to complain, but possibly entertain a solution for the problem. Maybe we could look into putting in a dog park for the village, as there is a lot of property behind the ball field that is not being used.”

Mullen suggested using some of the village property behind the ball field as a dog park, as there is quite a bit of empty room behind it.

“I don’t know if it would be possible, but it would be good for the dogs to have a designated area to run off their leashes, while still being fenced in,” she said. “There is obviously an interest or need for these families to have a place to bring their dogs.”

“We’ve thought about it,” Mayor Jeffrey Hornburg said during the meeting. “In fact, we’ve started working on it. A couple of locations have been identified, but nothing definite yet.”

Another potential location for the dog park could be next to the school, but that idea has been put on hold because of the school’s major renovation projects.

“I prefer not to lock the gates because it sends the wrong message,” Mullen said. “I know people like to go up and use it for ball playing as well.”

The Village Board suggested putting signs up on the gate that say “No dogs allowed,” which may be a temporary solution for the problem.