To the Journal editor:

Once in a while, I enjoy a walk at the Marquette Township well field. The entrance is located near the corner of Grove Street and South Vandenboom.

The township built a 1.5-mile-long gravel road to access a wellhouse. It is an especially nice place to walk because the township provided a small parking lot, there is no traffic, the woodland is beautiful, the Noquemanon trails intersect the road at several points, and it is fun to see the dogs running and playing. In addition, the road is kept plowed in the winter.

Walking there more recently, I noticed that a posted sign referencing some state of Michigan statue now requires that all dogs be leashed. According to the plat book, the property is owned by Marquette Township, so it seems strange that they would not post a township sign referencing a legitimate township ordinance.

I have been periodically walking the road and trails there for 2 years and have never had a problem with any of the dogs I have come across. Why did the township decide to require leashing of all dogs?

One Marquette Township resident who has walked the road almost daily with a dog said the township provided unsatisfactory inconsistent reasons for this new requirement and noted that at least one board member is into bicycling and perhaps bicyclists were the reason.

If this is true, this is rather unfair to the many dog walkers who have used this road unfettered by a leash law for the last 2 years.

If bikers do not like loose dogs, there is a sensible solution. Access to the Noquemanon bike trail is very close to the parking lot. Bikers not wishing to encounter dogs can stay off the road, except for where the trail crosses the road. Limit unleashed dogs to the road and areas adjacent to the road.

Bikers have many miles of off-road trails to ride on within the city. Dog owners had only 2 places in or close to town to run their dogs off the leash, one being the well field road, one being Tourist Park.

The well field road provides a 3-mile round-trip walk with several hills. Tourist Park loop is only available outside of camping season, is flat, and once around is about 0.75 mile. Both places are very close to a large population of workers who do not have enough time available to drive far out of town to find a suitable alternate place.

Dogs need to run, not just walk on a leash. In the winter, dog parks need to have a plowed road for people to walk on safely.

I encourage Marquette Township to reevaluate their position on dog leashing at the well field road.