Richard J. McKinlay, director, Friends of Oak Park Dogs (Viewpoints, April 26), wants to assure us that a dog park facility in Taylor Park within 20 feet of the current toddler playground would be safe. He seems to know, with some supernatural wisdom, that we need not fear for the safety of toddlers because they won’t stray to such a facility or be tempted to pet animals going in or out of such a facility. I wonder if he or the village is ready to assume liability if a dog/toddler incident would occur.
And I would challenge whether the one-in-four households, as he states, that own dogs would use such a facility. In fact, as often observed at Lindberg Park in the past, there were rarely more than 20-25 dogs off-leash at any one time.
If Mr. McKinlay feels so strongly about his taxes supporting the park district, then support a facility in Ridgeland Park close to the tracks and not near toddlers.
Robert J. Hammer
Oak Park
