A $30,000 proposal for an off-leash dog park in Byram Park went before Greenwich's Board of Selectmen on Thursday, Aug. 27, Patch reported.

Parks and Recreation Director Joe Siciliano asked selectmen to refer the plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission for Municipal Improvement review. The board heard the presentation but took no formal vote. Selectmen are expected to revisit the referral request at an upcoming meeting.

The proposal would convert about 11,000 square feet at the former Rosenwald property at 1 Ritch Ave. into a fenced off-leash area. All $30,000 in construction costs would be raised privately.

The cost breakdown includes $10,000 for fencing and gates, $5,000 for stone wall repair, $5,000 for a seasonal water connection, $3,200 for site restoration, $1,800 for a pet waste station, $1,000 for signage and a $4,000 contingency.

Rules would cap the park at 10 dogs at a time, with a limit of two dogs per person. The Parks Department crew already working at Byram Park would handle maintenance, including mowing, trash pickup and waste station upkeep.

Selectwoman Rachel Khanna asked about annual maintenance costs. Siciliano said he could not provide an estimate at the meeting but would have figures ready for the next Board of Selectmen session.

"It's not really a big uptick for expense," Siciliano said in reference to maintenance costs.

Eight existing parking spaces near the Byram Park gatehouse would serve the dog park, with one new ADA-compliant space added at the entrance. Residents who need additional parking inside Byram Park would need a park pass to go past the gatehouse. Siciliano described the site as a walk-up park, about a two-minute walk from the gatehouse. Pedestrian access would run along the Ritch Avenue sidewalk.

Siciliano addressed water-quality concerns, saying the site sits about 1,500 feet from the water on the Ritch Avenue side. He said the park is not expected to be a factor in Byram's water quality, noting the neighborhood has separate water-quality issues.

First Selectman Fred Camillo said the Byram Neighborhood Association supported the park when it was first discussed a couple of years ago and that most resident feedback has been positive. Camillo said he helped bring Greenwich's first dog park to Grass Island more than 20 years ago. The original plan called for parks on the western and eastern sides of town.

"Once we can get this done, we'll focus on the eastern side of town," Camillo said.

The Board of Health approved off-leash dogs at the Byram location in February 2025. The Board of Parks and Recreation reviewed the proposal without objection. The project still requires Planning and Zoning review for Municipal Improvement status, a site plan and a parking plan.