As debate quiets down over the issues of leash laws and dogs on the beach in West Tisbury, one town selectman said this week that a dog park would be a good idea.

Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd suggested at the selectmen’s meeting on Wednesday that a three-acre piece of town-owned land at the intersection of Lambert’s Cove Road and State Road would make a nice site for a dog park. Mr. Manter estimated it would cost $30,000 to clear the area and build a fence.
 
“After . . . realizing we paid $70,000 for a fence in the tennis courts and $80,000 for the basketball courts, I didn’t think it was a bad investment,” he said. “It’s something to think about as we look at the dog issue in town. It would be a place for dogs to go off leash and enjoy themselves. It just came to me one day.”
 
Selectman Richard Knabel said he’d like to hear from dog owners and the parks and recreation department.
 
“It’s an idea, and in keeping with what some of the dog owners brought to the table [during recent debates in and out of town meetings over rules for dogs in town],” selectman and board chairman Cynthia Mitchell said.
 
In other business, selectmen agreed to take steps to buy some 45 town streetlights from the power company Nstar, responding to a recommendation from energy committee chairman Sandy Shapiro. Mr. Shapiro said the town could lower its energy bill by owning its own lights and replacing them with LED bulbs.