The Town of Fountain Hills is teaming up with a rejuvenated ADOG organization to address an issue with barking noise disturbing neighbors near the Desert Vista Park off leash facility.

Residents in the Morningside subdivision came to the town last fall with concerns about noise from dogs barking and people talking loudly while at the dog park.

Staff took the issue to the Community Services Advisory Commission which set to work talking with the neighbors and dog owners using the park to see if a solution could be found.

CSAC discovered that ADOG, a group of dog owners that had assisted the town with planning and improving the park, had all but disbanded. An effort was made to reorganize the group to get input and possible financial assistance with the plan.

CSAC member Don Doty told the council that the commission recommends a plan that would visually separate the small dogs from the larger dogs that visit the park. There is currently a physical barrier, but the dogs can still see one another which often provokes the barking.

Doty said the plan is to install a temporary screening along the entry area between the exercise areas at the north end of the park. It would also be installed along the top of a planter barrier between the two areas, as well as a secondary gate between the two yards.

According to Doty the materials could be purchased for just over $600 and would allow the town to determine that the visual barrier will be effective in cutting down on noise.

He said a permanent barrier with chain link fencing would be installed once the efficacy of the plan is confirmed and additional funding is available.

Doty said that due to lack of funding a proposal that would install new signs with park rules and relocate others would not be part of the overall plan at this time.

The proposed plan calls for ADOG to use existing funds it has to purchase the materials for the project with installation on a volunteer basis.

Councilman Nick DePorter said he likes the idea of the temporary, low cost proposal to test the effectiveness.

“Do we have the ability to lock the gates,” DePorter asked Community Services Director Mark Mayer. His thinking that locked gates would prevent people from using the facility in off hours.

Mayer said he did not have the staff to make sure the gates were locked and unlocked at appropriate times.

Councilman Henry Leger said he believes the effort should be made to secure the facility.

“At the end of the day we all know that dogs bark,” Leger said. “I think we owe it to the neighbors to enforce the hours – I would challenge ADOG to help with a solution.”

Councilwoman Cassie Hansen asked whether the council could move on its own to update the signs in the park.

Doty said the signs would cost about $1,200, and the council could move forward if they find the money.

John Thompson, newly named president for ADOG, said he has been a dog park user for 10 years and noise is an issue that needs to be addressed.

“Mr. Doty’s plan is right on,” Thompson said. “This needs to be a cooperative solution and there are other issues to address.”

Thompson said there are about 7,000 full-time resident dogs in Fountain Hills and dog owners need to help with keeping the park in an acceptable condition.

He said the turf has been taken over by noxious weeds and even poison toads, which can be deadly for dogs, have been found.

“ADOG needs to help return this to the pristine asset it has been,” Thompson said.