clintonhilldogrun's Profile

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August 27, 2008

Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

Clinton Hill and Ft. Greene needs a dog run. The off leash hours in Ft. Greene park are great, but insufficient for many of us. Besides the hours being inconvenient for many, not all dogs can be trusted off leash in an unconfined space. I in no way wish to undermine the off leash hours at Ft. Greene Park. I just think a dog run in the neighborhood would be a wonderful addition.

I'd like to hear from anyone who is interested in having a dog run in
the Clinton Hill/Ft. Greene area. Whether you're ready to volunteer
services or just supportive of having a dog run nearby, please feel
free to email me with your ideas. I would also appreciate input on how to go about organizing volunteers and actually approaching the community board / parks department with a proposal.

Please email me at:
clintonhilldogrun@gmail.com

I've started a google group here:
http://groups.google.com/group/clintonhilldogrun

Please JOIN the group if you support the idea of a dog run in Clinton Hill. At some point soon, we will need proof of how many people might potentially utilize a dog run.

I've been in communication with the parks dept, and it's looking like we actually have a shot at achieving this. We need your support though!!

I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone.

-Eric

Posted in Forum by clintonhilldogrun at 12:58 AM | Comments (10)

Author's Comments

Thanks for the input everyone.

We aren't trying to get a dog run in Ft. Greene park. We have three different options in mind at the moment. They are all listed at the google group I've started. At the moment Steuben Playground seems like our best bet.

http://groups.google.com/group/clintonhilldogrun

Please join the group if you support the idea even a little bit. We're trying to prove that people want this. The more people who are members of the group the better. It should serve as an online petition of sorts.


Posted by: clintonhilldogrun at August 27, 2008 10:38 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

Thanks for the advice.

Posted by: clintonhilldogrun at August 27, 2008 12:39 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

Responses to Author's Forum Comments

I would prefer a catwalk.

Posted by: James Patience at August 27, 2008 3:16 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

Eric, fyi: there has been a fair amount of discussion about a dog run in Fort Greene Park and it didn't lead anywhere. (There was no consensus about an appropriate location within the park.) So, as you take the lead on this, I recommend focusing your attention elsewhere.

I agree with Steve's observation that you should work with the local community board. Steve, no luck getting CB10 to help in Owls Head?

Posted by: g man at August 27, 2008 3:42 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

As i understand it you cannot have a dog run within the confines of Fort Greene (or any) park and still maintain off leash hours. It's one or the other.
Some have suggested looking toward the Cuyler Greene park as a possible location for the proposed dog run. I think that's a perfect spot; the park is one of the lesser used and it's green spaces are already fenced-off, meaning that no-one would be displaced from their favorite green patch.
I wish you much luck; I truly believe that well-exercised dogs make the best neighbors ( and yes, next-door neighbor with the loud yapping and obviously bored poodle, if you're reading this, you may consider that a hint).

Posted by: houseowax at August 27, 2008 6:03 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

Thanks for the input everyone.

We aren't trying to get a dog run in Ft. Greene park. We have three different options in mind at the moment. They are all listed at the google group I've started. At the moment Steuben Playground seems like our best bet.

http://groups.google.com/group/clintonhilldogrun

Please join the group if you support the idea even a little bit. We're trying to prove that people want this. The more people who are members of the group the better. It should serve as an online petition of sorts.


Posted by: clintonhilldogrun at August 27, 2008 10:38 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

CB10 has traditionally been lukewarm towards the Owl's Head dog run. Parks and the nearby co-oppers don't like the run because of its trashy appearance. Some of the latter, I'm told, are with the CB.

But we're caught in a Catch-22 because we can't do much to correct the slovenly appearance of a dilapidated fence, the encroaching weeds, the dust bowl of the grounds or even the street garbage furniture people bring into the run so they can have a place to sit (because Parks never installed benches). We're not allowed to do hardscape maintenance to Parks property and none of us have the authority to tell others not to bring kitchen chairs into the dog run.

A few of us tried to organize a dog run association two years ago but met with resistance from the old timers who thought we were on a power trip or something. They didn't oppose the concept of an organization so long as they ran it (which I'm fine with). But they have no interest in actually starting one so... another Catch-22.

We have one persistent guy who's been talking with both the CB and Parks and thinks he's making some progress. But he's a field producer for a TV show (The First 48) and is on the road 8 months of the year so that progress has been slow.

Posted by: Steve at August 27, 2008 10:53 PM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!

Very interesting, Steve. Your third paragraph reminds me of something former House Speaker Tip O'Neill used to say: "You'd be surprised what you can accomplish if you let somebody else take credit."

Posted by: g man at August 28, 2008 8:33 AM in response to Clinton Hill needs a DOG RUN!!!!!