*Labor Day Weekend *BASH* @ Findlay, OHIO Bark Park ~ *SUNDAY* SEPT 6, 2009 ~

[MonicanHonda]

Some new updates on the park!!! IMPORTANT!

Starting Monday, the park will be closed a week to ten days. I looked at the calender and it should be opened by our party. However, the west half will be closed until about next year because they will need to grow new grass (they are adding some drainage in the areas that stay muddy). So we will only be able to use the east side. The water will be moved over to the east side. Next year, the east side will be closed and the west side open.

The road usually taken to the dog park is now a one way and the bridge is closed. You have to take the detour now. I don't know road names but I'm sure someone will post directions... or I can do it if need be.

However......


You are now only allowed to bring one dog per owner/person, into the dog park. This rule will be a continued rule even after all the dog park renovations are done.

They say it's because one side will be closed so it will be small. But apparently people are having problems with multiple dog owners.... so I guess that's why they're making it a permanent rule. It really sucks for multiple dog owners that are RESPONSIBLE!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Some new updates on the park!!! IMPORTANT!

Starting Monday, the park will be closed a week to ten days.
... it should be opened by our party.
However, the west half will be closed until about next year because
they will need to grow new grass ...
The water will be moved over to the east side.

The road usually taken to the dog park is now a one way and the bridge is closed.
I'm sure someone will post directions...

{I'm working on the Detour Routes ... Stand By ...}

However......

You are now only allowed to bring one dog
per owner/person, into the dog park.
This rule will be a continued rule
even after all the dog park renovations are done.

They say it's because one side will be closed so it will be small.
But apparently people are having problems with multiple dog owners....
so I guess that's why they're making it a permanent rule.
It really sucks for multiple dog owners that are RESPONSIBLE!

>>GASP<<



I swear they do some of this just to PI$$ Me OFF!
Phunnie (NOT) that sweet Mizz Margie somehow furgot ?? to mention
ANY of this when she called last week to annunce the Bridge Closing.

It's way too late to call 'em and "discuss" this with anyone ... and all the
Office Dwellers will just blame it all on "The Board" - who won't be available
to defend thier positions or listen to any alternate ideas.

I'm beginning to think there's a desire to close the Bark Park ...


I need to chill ...

[anna_66]

So now because there are irresponsible multiple dog owners I/we have to pick and choose which dogs can come to the park...that's just BS

If this continues maybe we should try to find a new spot where we can bring all our dogs.

[MonicanHonda]

The only thing I could think of is bringing more people so there is one dog per person. Children/husbands/wives.... GRANDMAS? Lol

[Cinder & Smoke]

The only thing I could think of is bringing more people
so there is one dog per person.
Children/husbands/wives.... GRANDMAS?

Or maybe stack the deck a little more ...

Invite a Church Group ... a BIGG Church Group --- with LOTSA Kids ...
Fill the joint up ... five or more 2-Leggers per Woofer ...

We'll see who *complains* next.


Find another Spot ...
START LOOKIN!

I'd really like to know just WHO "THEY" talk to that carries so much weight
with "THEM" who create these idiotic "rules".

PS:
After receiving the Phone Advisory from Margee in the Park District Office;
they followed up with a well-crafted full-page map / instructions for the Detour ...

And not a Single Word about the half-sized Park for our event
NOR the newly restrictive attendance "rules".

Did I mention I was PI$$ED?

[MonicanHonda]

Interesting. Well the sign hanging up with these "rules" was an e-mail page so SOMEONE knows about it....

Honestly, if people had a problem with multi dog families, they shouldn't ban everyone.... ever heard of getting to the root of the problem? I've heard of a two dog max rule, but come on.... ONE DOG!?!?!?! Especially around here?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Well the sign hanging up with these "rules" was an e-mail page
so SOMEONE knows about it....

Here's what Parks has just (I think within the last couple days)
*snuck* onto the Park District web site:

K-9 Field of Dreams receives updates
New restriction added to dog users
Upgrades are coming to the K-9 Field of Dreams Dog Park at Riverbend Recreation Area
beginning Monday, August 24. A local contractor will begin installing tile drainage
to the Dog Park at Riverbend to help resolve some drainage issues. The drainage project
is expected to last a week or up to 10 days, depending on weather issues.
During this time, the entire Dog Park area will be closed to all users.

After drenching has been completed, the west portion of the Dog Park will be shut down
and re-seeded leaving only the east portion open for users. Users should be aware
that a small area of grass will be disturbed, due to trenching, but straw will be used
to cover the area. Water will still be available for dogs on the east side.

The west side will remain closed until spring/summer 2010 or till further notice by HPD
to allow re-seeded grass an opportunity to re-establish. The east side will be re-seeded
and shut down after the west side has been re-opened.

After the project has been completed, all dog owners will be restricted to one (1) dog
during each visit, due to the reduction in the size of the Dog Park area.
This restriction of one (1) dog per owner will continue after the completion.

Dog owners are reminded that all dogs need to be kept on a leash, not longer than 6 feet,
while in all other public areas of the parks and dog waste bags are available
for clean-up at dispensers located throughout the park areas, and should be used.

Upgrades to the Dog Park are being funded in part by the Hancock Parks Foundation.
Additional donations and volunteers welcome.
Any further information required can be obtained at the HPD office located at
1424 East Main Cross St., Findlay, OH 45840 or by calling 419-425-7275.
-------------------------------------------------------------

I'd reall like to know if these "New Rules" are from a Board Action;
or a Staff Wild Idea gone amuck.



Next PTer to the Park ---
Please look closely at the posted "Rules" e-mail ...
see if there's any Header to determine WHERE it came from.

[shais_mom]

If this continues maybe we should try to find a new spot where we can bring all our dogs.

while i'm not sure about the particulars Upper is working on getting a dog park - I dunno if they would have a problem with us meeting there or not. We wouldn't have a shelter house with electric I don't believe tho. It would be a bit farther for you Anna.
Maybe we need to Ramp up the invitation to the cat side - If Gretchen and Douglas come that's 2 people that can "foster" a dog for a day!

[Cincy'sMom]

I am sorry, but I refuse to leave one of my dogs at home. We will bring all 3 Labor Day and plead ignorance, being from out of town. After that, well....we may just never be back at the park.

There are some nice parks in Michigan...just so far away for so many. What about Southern or Eastern Ohio? Anything closer to Phred or Anna? Findaly is no nicely centralized...this stinks!!!

[Cincy'sMom]

Staci, when you are going to Columbus again? This one sounds like it could be nice....maybe no shelters, but we proved last time, we can work around that

Crap...Rules it says not more then 2 per person. I'll keep looking...

http://www.bigwalnutdogpark.com/

WELCOME TO BIG WALNUT DOG PARK

This is the first public off-leash dog park in the city of Columbus. It consists of 3 fenced acres in Big Walnut Park, 2 double-gated entrances, pond access for the dogs to swim and lighting. There are separate small dog and large dog areas. There is a porta-potty facility on site. There is no fee to use the park but please follow park rules!

The park is located at:

5000 E Livingston Ave

Columbus, OH 43227

The park is open daily from 7am to 11pm

[Cinder & Smoke]

Maybe we need to Ramp up the invitation to the cat side -
If Gretchen and Douglas come that's 2 people that can "foster" a dog for a day!

Hey ~
KAT-Keepers are **Invited** ... and always have been.
We've even had a couple Kittys actually show up!

And since there's no "mention" of maximum numbers of Purr-Children allowed;
the KAT Purrents can bring ALL da Kats AND foster a Dawg fur the day!

I am sorry, but I refuse to leave one of my dogs at home.
We will bring all 3 Labor Day and plead ignorance, being from out of town.

After that, well .... we may just never be back at the park.

There are some nice parks in Michigan ... just so far away for so many.
What about Southern or Eastern Ohio?
Anything closer to Phred or Anna?

Findlay is no nicely centralized ... this stinks!!!

A few years ago (2005) the Three Amigos and I toured many of the newly
opened Dawg Parks in Central and North Eastern Ohio - probably about a dozen.
Most were "nice" ... but many had restrictions we didn't know about till we arrived ...
* Lotta TWO Dawgs max (I told the 3 Kids to act like they didn't know each other)
* Several were for "Residents Only"
* Some prohibited snacks & treats (2 AND 4-Leggers included)
* few had tables, or even benches, inside the enclosure
* parking was either plentiful or almost non-existing
* some were distant from the parking
* Hoomin Comfort facilities were either NONE , primitive, or distant.
* SHADE - either natural and man-made - was tough to come by
* most had NO provisions for a close-by picnic area or shelter

Long & Short of it --- Not a ONE of the Parks we visited and "tested" could
hold a candle to the Hancock / Findlay facility.

I'd suggest we try what we've done several times in the past when we heard
of one of the Park District's "Hair-Brained" and wierd ideas ...
We've contacted the "Administration" and suggested a more reasonable
solution;
then rounded up some supporters to argue for the same thing.

Hey CARRIE --- where are ya? ... We NEED You!

[MonicanHonda]

Big Walnut is nice. But there is nowhere to really have the cook out place. There's a dog max. But it is really nice. REALLY big and there is a pond to go swimming in.

I'll argue. It's not fair because A LOT of people have two dogs. They needed to at least make it a two dog minimum. One dog is just stupid.

[shais_mom]

Hey ~
KAT-Keepers are **Invited** ... and always have been.


!

I KNOW that but maybe THEY don't know that. Its just been such a dog themed event for so long I think a lot of the KatKeepers just assume it save for the few that do come and we do enjoy the company of.. Course the other thing is maybe there just aren't that many people within driving distance.But I'm all for feigning ignorance!

[Cincy'sMom]

I'd suggest we try what we've done several times in the past when we heard
of one of the Park District's "Hair-Brained" and wierd ideas ...
We've contacted the "Administration" and suggested a more reasonable
solution;
then rounded up some supporters to argue for the same thing.

Hey CARRIE --- where are ya? ... We NEED You!

I agree with this appracoh...afer Labor Day. If we call and talk to them ahead of time, we admit we know the new rule. This is so close to it taking effect, we play dumb. What is that whole thing about begging for forgiveness rather then asking perfmission and being denied?
Then after the picnic we can begin lobbying for next year. Just my opinion.