The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board opted not to honor a request from the Austin Chamber of Commerce to prohibit dogs from the Bandshell Community Park over the Fourth of July, arguing that the necessary steps are too cumbersome for the three-day event.

“(The ordinance) basically says they can do it, meaning have dogs at the park, unless the Park and Rec Board would like to revisit the ordinance,” said board member Pete Christopherson, who also serves on the city council. “But it’s got to be a unanimous vote.”

“If one council member said no, the changes would not go through there at all,” Park and Rec administrative assistant Kim Underwood said.

The request from the chamber went to the city council last month, when executive director Sandy Forstner requested by letter a list of needs and reminders for the 2008 Spam Town U.S.A. Freedom Fest, to take place July 3-5.

Among the requests was that the city remind residents that no pets should be in the park during festivities; this ran contrary to ordinance permitting canines in that park and others.

After consultation with city attorney David Hoversten, the city determined that the ordinance must be changed to accommodate the request.

The Park and Rec Board said Wednesday that likely hassles enforcing and passing the measure outweighed the benefits of changing it.

“We have no way of enforcing it, so why change it?” board member Bob Wilson said. “I don’t want to make a rule that you can’t enforce.”

“It can be bothersome,” Christopherson agreed, who seconded the motion, “but in one sense I can just walk away from them.”