Metro Beach Metropark gives dogs their day -- on a trial basis

By Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News

Metro Beach Metropark is throwing dog lovers a bone by reversing its longtime ban on four-legged visitors.

Responding to pleas from the public, Harrison Township's Metro Beach -- the only one of 13 metroparks that doesn't permit dogs -- is allowing leashed pets on a trial basis through the end of the year.

There's a caveat, though: Owners must be conscientious about cleanup. To make that easier, the park will install 25 pet waste stations in the next couple of weeks.

And dogs won't have the run of the place. They must stay in picnic areas, on walking trails or at the marina on Lake St. Clair. They aren't allowed into the park's nature area, Squirt Zone, swimming portion of the beach, tot lot or golf courses.

"The number of visitors to the park has been hovering around 1.6 million every year," said Jeffrey Linn, assistant park superintendent. "And one of the biggest requests we've received over the years is to consider allowing people to bring their pets with them. So, we're responding to those requests."

Metro Beach Metropark's staff and the Huron-Clinton Authority will decide whether to make the change permanent at the end of the year.

Dave Maynard of Harrison Township, who frequently walks his 14-month-old Labradoodle, Callie, to the park, said he thinks the change is a great idea. "I'm behind it 100 percent," said Maynard, 60. "I hope they make it permanent."

In the past, Metro Beach only allowed man's best friend to be aboard boats docked at its marina.

"We're a compact, heavily used park, and our patrons are in very close proximity to each other," Linn said. "That's why having dogs in the park was a concern and why that policy was put into place."