ANNOUNCING: The Pet Talk Memorial Picnic Grove at the Findlay Dog Park

[Cinder & Smoke]

I would like to suggest that our beloved Angus be a part of this memorial also.
Some type of memorial is way past due for our beloved Angus.

I think it would be more proper to call it "The Pet Talk Memorial Picnic Grove".

That way all of our beloved dogs can be honored.

I have No Problem either adding a Third Tree in Angus' memory;
or dropping the individual names and going with "The Pet Talk Memorial Picnic Grove".

Only a few folks know this, but I have tried for years to convince "Park Management" that
we'd like to have a Covered Pavilion inside the Park - a miniature version of
the #7 Picnic Pavilion.
I porposed that Pet Talk be the primary sponsor, and feature our Angus as the
First Dog being memorialized. Then we'd mount a large Memorial Plaque and sell
Memorial Name Plates to add to the Plaque. (Similar to what Hospitals do to fund a new wing.)

I've heard every excuse in the book for why it hasn't happened yet; the
most sugnificant probably being the HIGH Cost (many Thousands of dollars)
to hire an architect, design it to code, then bid the work out to contractors.

Till there's a change in Park Management, the Park District Operating Tax Levy is renewed,
and they decide if they're going to add additional Dog Parks in the county ...
the Angus Memorial Pavilion is a distant dream.

So I'll go along with dropping the Pet Names from the formal title ... and suggest we do a NICE Plaque and allow ANYONE who desires to add an Engraved Plague with
a loved one's name on it.

/s/ Phred

[anna_66]

Thank you for remembering Angus and thank you for being willing to make the name something that could honor all our RB kids.

I know you tried with the Pavilion idea Phred, but some type of plaque type thing would be just as nice. And of course we would be more than willing to donate.

I know they have something like a big bulletin board there

Is there any way possible we could have something like this made? Then any one who wanted a name plate added would be able to.

[zippy-kat]

I'm willing to donate and I think it's a wonderful idea to include Angus.

[Cinder & Smoke]

I know you tried with the Pavilion idea Phred,
but some type of plaque type thing would be just as nice.

I know they have something like a big bulletin board there...
Is there any way possible we could have something like that made?

Then any one who wanted a name plate added would be able to.

I'm sure we can design a Memorial Plaque DISPLAY BOARD that could attach to the
Center Divider Fence near the Picnic Table and Trees. That board would then have the
Individual Remembrance Plaques screwed to it.

We'll have to locate a local trophy shop that can handle creating the basic Display Board and individual Plaques; then work out a pricing policy that the Park can live with. Price (or amount of donation) should be reflected in either the SIZE of the individual plaque, or the placement of the plaque on the board.

Making the whole thing WEATHER PROOF is going to be another challenge.

[Cinder & Smoke]

I just received this e-mail from Director Tim at Hanckok County Parks >>>

Hi John ~
Trees can be $100 – 250 each (planting by us).
Picnic tables - $300 – 650 each depending on style, materials.

Benches – we make our own so lumber w/ stainless bolts are about $125

Whatever you collect, we’ll upgrade that to get something nice.

/s/ Tim B., Director
Hancock Park District
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ESTIMATED Totals for Two Trees and a Picnic Table:

The Low End would be about $500.00 PLUS the cost of the Memorial Sign Board.

High End stuff would be about $1,150.00 PLUS the cost of the Memorial Sign Board.

I'd guestimate the cost to build a Weather Proof, Outdoor Memorial board,
with Initial Dedication Plaques and a supply of blank plaques could easily reach $500.00, or More.

Who's Interested?

[Rachel]

A number of fund raising projects around here have used bricks which are engraved with the name of the person/animal being remembered and dates, etc. Then these bricks are laid in a path or court yard area. Still it takes someone in charge willing to organize and facilitate, which is obviously the problem involved in any effort.

[lbaker]

When the first "memorial" was being collected I sent some $$ (Binx was very near and dear to my heart) but my Cheekie one had just died too and I mentioned I was contributing for her as well. I think that is when Phred added something about "all our beloved pets" or however it's worded on the current bench. Count me in this time and I would be contributing for my Badger, Collar and Thunder even if just in my heart. Wonderful idea.

[Cincy'sMom]

Phred, I don't think anyone is disputing your ideas, but I think there is some confusion about what all we are looking at investing in. Some posts have talked about tress and tables, but there have been a few others that have mentioned a board and plaques that could be added by people.

I guess in my dream world, I'd like to see both done. I think a couple more trees and another table would be great out there, asit is limited currently. But like someone else said, there are many of us that go regularly, and if we keep adding trees, we will run out of room for the dogs to play (just my family along as 11 dogs..we'd have our own little forest!)

So going forward, also adding a board, where we could each donate a small plaque when out pets' time comes, seems like a good way to keep this going in years to come.

[Cinder & Smoke]

A number of fund raising projects around here have used bricks which are
engraved with the name of the person/animal being remembered and dates, etc.

Then these bricks are laid in a path or court yard area.
Still it takes someone in charge willing to organize and facilitate,
which is obviously the problem involved in any effort.

Pet Talk's own Catsnclay sent me a PM last night offering to make Bricks or Stones to
use in the Dog Park - at her cost for materials. THANKS, Catsnclay!!
I tried suggesting the idea of "selling" bricks as a fund raiser for the Dog Park several years ago. The Park District just doesn't have the manpower to organize, order, and then install the bricks ... not any easy task out in the wilderness!

* The brick area must be well drained (the dog park isn't)
* A carefully built-up and prepared base is required
* A secure border is required - to keep the bricks tightly grouped
* "Routine Maintenance" = cleaning, weed control, sand replacement - is required

NONE of these things are easily done by a small work force with a limited number
of bricks being sold per month.

I "own" a few bricks scattered around the country ... they have their place -
but they also have some problems in certain applications. THIS would be a "problem application".

Memorial Bricks are a great fund raiser when you have the potential of selling many hundreds
or thousands of bricks in a finite amount of time. Order once or twice, hire an experienced contractor
to professionally install everything, and it's DONE in 6-12 months.

The Parks District is really being kinda "nice" to allow more Trees and Tables -
since each one is another "obstacle to mowing" and requires more hand work -
which increases the costs to maintain. I suggest we stick with "improvements" that
carry an almost automatic blessing from the Powers That Be.

[lizbud]

This is great reading so many good ideas for this project. RobiLee,
wonderful idea about Angus too. I'm sorry I didn't think of that before.

Making it more inclusive, and adding dogs as we go along, sounds very good
to me. It could be a neat place for all of us.

P.S. Phred, thanks for the ballpark figure, & other options.

[anna_66]

I just received this e-mail from Director Tim at Hanckok County Parks >>>

Hi John ~
Trees can be $100 – 250 each (planting by us).
Picnic tables - $300 – 650 each depending on style, materials.

Benches – we make our own so lumber w/ stainless bolts are about $125

Whatever you collect, we’ll upgrade that to get something nice.

/s/ Tim B., Director
Hancock Park District
----------------------------------------------------------

ESTIMATED Totals for Two Trees and a Picnic Table:

The Low End would be about $500.00 PLUS the cost of the Memorial Sign Board.

High End stuff would be about $1,150.00 PLUS the cost of the Memorial Sign Board.

I'd guestimate the cost to build a Weather Proof, Outdoor Memorial board,
with Initial Dedication Plaques and a supply of blank plaques could easily reach $500.00, or More.

I'm interested, but have a question.

Do they build their own picnic tables? Why are they so expensive? $300-600 for picnic tables sounds a little steep to me (if they are like the ones that are there now)
We have a guy that lives a couple houses down from us who builds them his self and sells them for $75-100 (can't remember exact amount right now)
-------------------------
OK, so maybe this is just me, but I was leaning more towards the making of the memorial board and it sounds like he's more into the trees and picnic tables. I don't see a quote price any where for the memorial board.
-------------------------

Is anyone interest in all this or is it just a dream?

[dukedogsmom]

I'll donate a little money in a while. Everyone else can "discuss" it's uses.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Do they build their own picnic tables? NO, not picnic tables, only benches

Why are they so expensive?
$300-600 for picnic tables sounds a little steep to me
(if they are like the ones that are there now).
A: They buy Heavy Duty, Wide-Based, Municipal Grade Tables - example:
http://www.recreationdynamics.com/shots/UPA-1004.php

We have a guy that lives a couple houses down from us who builds them himself
and sells them for $75-100 (can't remember exact amount right now)

We're not sure (I'm checking) if Parks would allow "home-built" tables ...
Parks buys from commercial/municipal suppliers, who sell "engineered" products and
carry "product liability insurance" to protect the Parks from lawsuits.

-------------------------
OK, so maybe this is just me, but I was leaning more towards the making of the memorial board and it sounds like he's more into the trees and picnic tables. I don't see a quote price any where for the memorial board.

"HE's" (Park Management) not into anything!
*I* approached the Park asking if we could make a Memorial Donation of an Improvement
in the Dog Park. *I* suggested the Two Trees and the Picnic Table ---
things the USERS of the Dog Park could enjoy USING; and the type of "improvement" that has been well received by the Park in the past.

*I* had not envisioned a "stand-alone Memorial Board" - primarily because no one can "use it" while visiting the Park. *I* would consider the Memorial Board as sort of the "gift card" that goes along with a gift of something that visitors can use to make their visit more enjoyable.
-------------------------

Is anyone interested in all this, or is it just a dream?

I'm not sure how to take this last remark.
If you're not happy with my efforts, just say so --- and I'll be GONE!

BLUE comments (above) by Phred
..

[4 Dog Mother]

Okay, Phred, calm down, don't read into people's posts - Anna may have not meant it the way you thought it sounded. Sometimes when so many ideas get thrown out - trees, benches, picnic tables, memorial boards, bricks, - it begins to sound like too much to cypher through - what is most needed, most wanted, etc, etc.

I know how hard Tim (Park District) can be to work with while others here have not experienced that joy. I know without you what we have contributed would never have come to be - in fact I think they would have taken the money and spent it elsewhere than the dog park if you were not there protecting our interests. I think more trees, and picnic benches would be the most practical things - other than our pavilion that we will never see as long as Tim and his crew are around (but then who knows who will replace him and how they feel about the dog park).

We'll be donating - probably more toward the end of the month. New mouths to feed moving in soon!

[shais_mom]

BLUE comments (above) by Phred
..

I don't know why you said what you said that we don't appreciate/ agree what you're doing. I'm stunned, and I can't imagine what Anna thinks. You should know better.