Sunday, March 8, 2009

Attention, Puppy Park Pushers And Planners

From Clarendon Park Neighborhood Association:

We will have an informational meeting for those interested in helping with the push to get a dog park built at Clarendon Park. We now have the initial support of our State Representative Greg Harris, State Senator Heather Steans, and Alderman Helen Shiller. We need to show them we are organized and committed to seeing this through to completion.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th at 7pm. We will meet at Kahawa Coffee House at 838 W. Montrose. Please pass this along to anyone you know who would be interested in getting involved. And please let us know if you plan to attend the meeting or would like to be included in the planning group, but cannot make the meeting.

15 comments:

  1. I think it is a waste of moeny and money could be better spent for other important things. I walk in enough pooh from dogs and the homeless. I love dogs but I also the the common sense to have a home and a big backyard to keep my dog in............

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  2. We need more low income housing I am not sure if WY will be able to fit the bus loads that will be coming from the southside. Or were all those already promised to folks in uptown by the alderbeast for voting for her a couple years ago.

    Barry's right, everyone with a dog needs to move to the burbs. GET A CLUE BARRY, THE EVIL DOG OWNERS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!! Next time you see some homless person taking a dump in your alley say something instead of feeling sorry for em!

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  3. Well, it's nice to see the "we're doomed" contingent is out in force today. Must be the weather.

    Dog parks do add something to the desirability of a neighborhood. Many people love them.

    Now I don't drink coffee yet I don't complain about the number of coffee shops. I seldom use currency exchanges or dry cleaners yet I understand the need.

    I'm not a baseball fan yet I don't complain about the hassles of Wrigley.

    That's because I'm a shiny happy person. One thing we don't lack in Uptown, at least those of us closest to the lake, is park space. I think we can sacrifice a few thousand square feet of empty park space for the greater(or poochie) good.

    Now I understand the problem of people not cleaning up after their dogs take a big Holsten on the parkway. I end up cleaning up holstens frequently from in front of my building. Particularly in the winter. What we need is better pet owners.........just like we need a better aldercritter.

    By the way I used the word "Holsten" instead of "feces" because I have yet to get subpoenaed and feel left out.

    Please subpoena me quickly. I may be leaving the State for a few months or more because of a business opportunity, not illegal drug related this time, and I hate to think of a poor process server trying to find me when I'm thousands of miles away.

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  4. Good to hear it, Lawrence and Marine drive area is a much safer place today thanks to that dog park.....they do a lot of good for dogs/owners and neighborhoods.

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  5. There is already a dog park at Lawrence by the lake, why do we need another one so close? I just hope they're not planning to take space away from the softball fields.

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  6. I am a dog owner, so I'm kinda biased already. I thought I'd still look into it objectively out of my own curiosity. Here's what I found online for all of the dog parks in the area:

    http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/docs/275ae673-d6e8-4717-a4ea-066cea5c4834_document.pdf

    14 total for the city of Chicago. How many total parks in the city of Chicago, you ask?

    http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.home.cfm

    570 parks in the area...that works out to about 2.5% of parks that have an "off leash" dog friendly area. Since I'm paying for Wilson Yard with my tax dollars (at a cost of $50 million), I'm advocating for this dog friendly area. At least some of my tax dollars will go towards something I will use in the future.

    Before you start the pick up after your dog argument...doesn't it make sense to have one area that all dogs can go to? Then all the "Holsten" is in one place (thanks IP for an appropriate term). Look at Margate Park (Puptown)...all the "Holsten" is cleaned up by volunteers when the actual owners don't clean up after their dogs. Stop by there some time and you'll see an example of a clean, dog friendly area. I think Clarendon Park would benefit from the same.

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  7. Another freaking dog park? I'm so tired of the figurative doggie crap being shoved down our throats in this city.

    Enough already.

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  8. While I appreciate Marathon Man pointing out the percentage of doggie friendly areas in the city, he omitted the number of dog parks in the immediate vacinity. There is a small area by the lake just north of Belmont, there is the area behind Disney Magnate School, there is the area at Buena and Kenmore, there is the area at the lake and Wilson. So this Clarendon spot will add another to make five really close by and four in the southern tip of Uptown.

    I also appreciate the pointing out that all the holsten would be in one place. But what was omitted here is that dog owners aren't that considerate of their neighbors and it would be simply an additional place for them to leave the holsten behind for others to deal with. This point being made at the Disney location where they put up the fence around the school to keep the dogs out. I'm guessing because the holsten was interfering with the children's ability to play in their playground under sanitary conditions. I have walked through that area personally and am always amazed at the lack of personal responsibility those dog owners have for their dogs.

    Oh, will TIF money be used for this? It is in the district, after all.

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  9. Honestly, I totally agree with you guys about picking up after dogs. I ALWAYS pick up after my dog (including when I'm at the dog park), not only for the unsanitary conditions but the fact that rodents can feed off of the holsten. That's the last thing we need is more rodents in the area, as well as more holsten!

    I see your point about the number of dog parks in the immediate area. I only go to Margate since it's closest to my home and didn't realize we had 4 other dog parks in the Uptown area. I am not a huge supporter of this park for the simple fact that the dog beach and Margate are closer to my home.

    However, if I have a choice of where my TIF money is going, I'd rather it go to a dog park than Wilson Yard. Actually, I'd rather it go to support local business...isn't that what the funds are supposed to be used for?

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  10. As a dog owner that lives on Agatite, I hate this idea. I like the way the park is now; it's open and available for a variety of uses -- soccer, football and a big space for dogs to run. I hate dog parks, like I hate owner's that don't pick up after their dogs.

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  11. I walk my dog in Clarendon Park twice a day and would love a dog park there. I always pick up after her as well.

    I'm hoping this 'move to the burbs' sentiment is just hyperbole and not people spouting off thanks to the annonymity of the internet. I didn't get my dog to be a city dog, but she's been here for nearly half her life now and we've both adapted.

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  12. It seems to me that everyone on this blog picks up after their dog.

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  13. For the record, there isn't a dog park just north of Belmont. It's illegal to let dogs off leash there (as well as not healthy for the animal as it's a really stagnant and polluted area of the marina). Unless you're talking about Montrose dog beach, but that's not really "just north of Belmont."

    To my knowledge, there aren't dog areas in any of the places you mentioned, other than one. People may be exercising their dogs in these areas, but they're doing so illegally.

    The only off leash areas I know of (that are in this immediate area) are Montrose Dog Beach and Puptown at Marine and Lawrence. So a third one may be a bit much, but there are a lot of benefits.

    While they may get some funding initially, dog parks are maintained by volunteers and donors and do not require a lot of funds.

    Dog friendly areas add a LOT of foot traffic and help to build community and deter crime that would normally occur in unwalked areas. Neighbors meet each other, which always helps build community.

    Dog friendly areas add value to a neighborhood. I'm not saying they save the world or anything, but here in Uptown, people walking their dogs often serve as a neighborhood watch.

    I have NEVER left dog poo anywhere. Don't lump us all together. Just because there are a few that aren't as responsible doesn't mean the entire community should be tagged that way.

    And while I do not think the whole "dogs need a backyard" thing really dignifies a response, here I go anyway: dogs are social creatures. City dogs can be some of the happiest dogs in the world. They get to sniff out and discover new territories and meet new friends and they often get more exercise than suburban dogs who have yards (because those dogs are often not walked outside their property, which is unfortunate because walks are beneficial for socialization as well as intellectual stimulation). I have seen more behavior problems from dogs that move to the city from the burbs than I've seen in dogs that are properly walked and socialized. City dogs, on average, have less fear and aggression than dogs that are used to rural and suburban environments.

    Judge the individuals. Blanket statements about city dog owners just won't hold water.

    Amy

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  14. Why the opposition to dog parks? Residents don't oppose playgrounds in they don't have kids, softball fields if they don't play softball because they are obviously good for the community. A dog park at Clarendon will be a good anchor for the park where people watch out for each other. Unlike playgrounds and softball fields, users are there 365 days a year from early morning till 11 pm. They really build a sense of community.

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