Newton Girls Soccer and Newton Youth Soccer are organizing an effort in opposition to a plan to add off-leash dog hours at Weeks and Forte fields in Newton.  Their concerns are outlined on this site and in an email distributed to families. Here’s an excerpt:

Newton Girls Soccer and Newton Youth Soccer are strongly urging all soccer families to support our efforts to have these plans withdrawn and to work with off-leash dog advocates to find more appropriate areas for their pets.  NGS and NYS wholeheartedly support the creation off-leash dog areas in Newton, but as organizations we strongly believe off-leash dog areas should be fenced off as separate zones from athletic fields for reasons of health, safety and fair access to public facilities.

Every fall and spring, almost 3,000 kids participate in soccer programs offered by NGS and NYS, the email adds.

Newton Parks & Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing on the off-leash proposals on Monday, May 21 at 7 pm, in the War Memorial Auditorium at Newton City Hall.

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