PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 27, 2022
A petition drive has failed to block a change in the hours when dogs are allowed to run off leash on Willard Beach during the summer. The City Council recently approved a change requiring all dogs to be leashed from 7 to 8 p.m. but continuing to allow unleashed dogs from 8 to 9 p.m. Morning hours were unchanged. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at other times during the summer months. The altered evening hours will go into effect Tuesday after petitioners failed to collect at least 1,098 signatures from registered voters in favor of asking the council to repeal the change or send the question to a citywide referendum.