The City of Lawrence Parks Board heard concerns during its July meeting about herbicide spraying to control weeds at the Waggin’ Tails Bark Park at Louis J. Jenn Memorial Park, 10450 E. 63rd St.
Liz Masur, a dog owner who lives in a neighborhood close to the dog park, said the chemicals used by the Parks Department along the fence at the park can be dangerous. She cited an article that listed health risks to people as well as other mammals, including dogs who might eat grass that’s been treated with the chemical.
“There’s another article — The Atlantic magazine, titled ‘Agent Orange In Your Backyard: The Harmful Pesticide, 2-4-D,’” she said. “It states that one of the two active ingredients in Agent Orange is used in this herbicide. And newer science shows that it’s not just a cancer problem, but that this pesticide interferes with several essential hormones, thereby increasing the risks of birth defects and neurologic damage in children.”
Masur, who is an elected member of the Lawrence Common Council, suggested that the Parks Board consider weed whacking to control unwanted growth along the dog park’s fence line, combined with planting pollinator-friendly plants.
Parks Board Chairman Jeff Vest suggested that he, Masur and Parks Director Eric Martin sit down and talk about options to spraying at the dog park.
On a sunny morning at the park, Mike McIntosh, a Vietnam veteran who has some mobility limitations, said it’s a great place for his dog to burn off energy playing with other friendly neighborhood dogs. He brings Rocky — who was adopted from a shelter — to the dog park almost every day.
McIntosh said that, because of his experience in Vietnam, he has some perspective about chemical spraying.
“I’ve heard of, you know, Agent Orange and been exposed to Agent Orange,” he said. “I don’t know what they put on it to kill the weeds in the fence. I just feel that there’s a nonpolluting type of spray they could have put on.”
The issue will come back to the Parks Board at its next meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St.
For more about the dog park, visit cityoflawrence.org/waggin-tails-bark-park.
