LEWISTON – Changes in dog rules at city parks are more about how the animals act than what they leave behind.

“There are people that are allergic to dogs, or very afraid of them,” said Maggie Chisholm, Lewiston’s parks director. “You may think you have the most wonderful dog in the world, but someone can do something that frightens it and it reacts. It can happen.”

Councilors widened restrictions on dogs in city-owned parks and recreation areas, banning them from all playgrounds and athletic fields, especially prior to athletic events.

But there are still plenty of places to walk dogs in the city, and Chisholm said councilors are considering building an off-leash dog park.

“I don’t think what we’ve done is imposing,” Chisholm said. “We’re still very dog friendly, but I think these changes may clarify some things and educate people about the rules a little better.”

The City Council began talking about banning dogs from city parks in September after a visit to a new playground on Knox Street because of complaints that it was littered with dog waste and cigarette butts. That prompted a review of the city’s rules at all of its open public spaces.

Councilors are still contemplating a ban on smoking in city parks, but they approved tighter rules on dogs last week.

• Dogs are banned from Potvin Park, St. Mary’s Playground on Oxford Street, the Knox Street playground, the River Valley basketball courts, the Franklin Pasture Athletic Complex and the Lewiston Athletic Park.

• They are banned all day from city multiuse fields in four parks, although they can be in other parts of those parks. Those parks are Marcotte Park, Montello Park, Upper Franklin Field and the Simard-Payne Park.

• They are banned from four parks 30 minutes before and during any city sanctioned athletic events. Those parks are Simard-Payne Park, Holy Family Field, Marcotte Park and the Randall Road Softball Complex.

They’re allowed in Kennedy Park, Pierce Street Park and Sunnyside Park, but not on the playgrounds there, Chisholm said.

“The bottom line is, if you see a playground or an athletic field, know that there are restrictions,” she said. “Most people are very careful, and most people do clean up after their dogs. But there can be problems, with dog-to-dog or dog-to-people interactions.”

The current rule requiring all dogs be kept on a leash at least 16 feet long hasn’t changed. But Chisholm said the city is talking about creating a place where dogs can play safely off their leashes. But that’s not a sure thing.

“There’s a lot more that would go into this than just putting up a fence around a vacant lot,” she said. “We want to do it right.”

Chisholm said the city needs at least one clear acre for the park with good drainage, shade and benches for owners to sit on. Fences alone could cost up to $50,000 and the park would also need $175 each for dispensers of plastic cleanup bags, called mutt mitts, concrete pads at the entrance and trash cans.

“You can’t just fence it in and walk away,” she said. “In my opinion, it has to look pretty fabulous if I’m going to want to take my dog there.”

The decision about whether to proceed with the dog park will be up to councilors this winter. Chisholm said she expects the City Council will take it up during their capital project discussions next month.