Dog Park at Long Last
I am so excited I could just pee! Remember Daisy used to say that all the time? I miss Daisy so much, but I know that she somehow managed to get this DogPark pushed through by communicating with people when they didn't even realize it.
So this is me, Bob, HAPPY FACE!
As many of you know, the Leesburg Dog Park was a pretty controversial issue, and whereas, our rule here at Our Blogging Business is not to stir up controversy, I also have accepted the job of Reporter Extraordinaire, so I think this is important news.
This is some words that were in The Leesburg Today on their web-site and by the way, if you want to know what is going on in our town then ask your Mouse Person nicely to take you to DogPark Article in Leesburg Today and from that you can have fun finding news you might have missed.
So this is what was said:
Efforts to establish a dog park in Leesburg came full circle Tuesday evening. A project nearly abandoned earlier this year when a passive park with an off leash area along Old Waterford Road became the subject of much controversy, the dog park has now found a home in the town.
Leesburg Town Council members unanimously approved a three-quarter acre, fenced-in dog park at Olde Izaak Walton Park, a park currently leased by the town. In its approval, council members stipulated that town staff must use only the $18,570 remaining in proffer funds from the Morven Meadows Park project and can seek out private donations to cover any additional costs as well as the or annual maintenance. Assistant Director of Parks Bill Ference estimated Monday that annual maintenance of the dog park would be in the neighborhood of $12,000 to $13,000, which he said could be covered in the Parks and Recreation Department's annual budget.
Construction and implementation of the park is expected to take around six months, and Ference said that town staff would aim for an early spring 2009 opening to allow the weather conditions to be right for a dog park. The dog park area, located on the southern side of the park, will be open from dawn to dusk.
Councilman Kevin Wright said that a perk for him was the expected participation, both in donations and in offering volunteer time, of the friends group, which will operate as a nonprofit charity to help raise private donations for the dog park.
"By capping the project at [$18,570] we either have to be more efficient or the friends group can partner with us to close the gaps. Based on those parameters I will support this," he said.
Dale Goodson, a member of the friends group, said Monday he believes that the dog park at Izaak Walton was the best solution for the town and said that the friends group will be an active supporter of the park.
"I think we've finally got this to point where we have an incredibly balanced and grounded plan. It will increase the utility of Izaak Walton Park," Goodson said. "There's a lot of individuals and local businesses ready to support this. I do not expect you're going to see any real operating expense on this park."
But the line of the night belonged to Councilman Ken Reid, who concluded Tuesday's meeting with a creative retrospective of the town's journey to a dog park.
"I'm very pleased we finally settled the issue of the dog park. This issue has been dogging the council for at least three years, or, 21 in dog years," Reid said. "As you'll recall, [then Director of Parks and Recreation] Kaj Dentler and his pack sniffed out several locations, including Oatlands, and settled on Morven Meadows, but this created a lot of howling from neighbors-and folks concerned with the cost. So, we buried that idea. Let's face it, we were barking up the wrong tree. Thankfully, folks like Sandy Kane, Mary Harper and Dale Goodson kept the issue on the front burner. They were like dogs with a bone. I just hope they do form their 501c3 and start bringing in some bacon!"
So that is most of the what Leesburg Today has to say. But guess what? They forgot something really important!
My sister is going to be a part of the committee who will help this all happen. It will be called the Dog Park at Olde Izaak Walton Park. If you are interested in helping with all of this, just send an e-mail to lbest@everythingandthedog.com and she will tell you all about the plans and what is needed from volunteers, beside money. HA. That's a good joke, just like Mr. Ken Reid said in his words that were full of puns. My Mom had to explain all about puns to me, but now I get it.
This is serious reporting and just like I told you before, the serious stuff is a lot of hard work. So I'm going to take a nap and dream about what our Dog Park will look like and how much fun it will be to go there and meet new friends.
Tired from reporting,
Bob
So this is me, Bob, HAPPY FACE!
As many of you know, the Leesburg Dog Park was a pretty controversial issue, and whereas, our rule here at Our Blogging Business is not to stir up controversy, I also have accepted the job of Reporter Extraordinaire, so I think this is important news.
This is some words that were in The Leesburg Today on their web-site and by the way, if you want to know what is going on in our town then ask your Mouse Person nicely to take you to DogPark Article in Leesburg Today and from that you can have fun finding news you might have missed.
So this is what was said:
Efforts to establish a dog park in Leesburg came full circle Tuesday evening. A project nearly abandoned earlier this year when a passive park with an off leash area along Old Waterford Road became the subject of much controversy, the dog park has now found a home in the town.
Leesburg Town Council members unanimously approved a three-quarter acre, fenced-in dog park at Olde Izaak Walton Park, a park currently leased by the town. In its approval, council members stipulated that town staff must use only the $18,570 remaining in proffer funds from the Morven Meadows Park project and can seek out private donations to cover any additional costs as well as the or annual maintenance. Assistant Director of Parks Bill Ference estimated Monday that annual maintenance of the dog park would be in the neighborhood of $12,000 to $13,000, which he said could be covered in the Parks and Recreation Department's annual budget.
Construction and implementation of the park is expected to take around six months, and Ference said that town staff would aim for an early spring 2009 opening to allow the weather conditions to be right for a dog park. The dog park area, located on the southern side of the park, will be open from dawn to dusk.
Councilman Kevin Wright said that a perk for him was the expected participation, both in donations and in offering volunteer time, of the friends group, which will operate as a nonprofit charity to help raise private donations for the dog park.
"By capping the project at [$18,570] we either have to be more efficient or the friends group can partner with us to close the gaps. Based on those parameters I will support this," he said.
Dale Goodson, a member of the friends group, said Monday he believes that the dog park at Izaak Walton was the best solution for the town and said that the friends group will be an active supporter of the park.
"I think we've finally got this to point where we have an incredibly balanced and grounded plan. It will increase the utility of Izaak Walton Park," Goodson said. "There's a lot of individuals and local businesses ready to support this. I do not expect you're going to see any real operating expense on this park."
But the line of the night belonged to Councilman Ken Reid, who concluded Tuesday's meeting with a creative retrospective of the town's journey to a dog park.
"I'm very pleased we finally settled the issue of the dog park. This issue has been dogging the council for at least three years, or, 21 in dog years," Reid said. "As you'll recall, [then Director of Parks and Recreation] Kaj Dentler and his pack sniffed out several locations, including Oatlands, and settled on Morven Meadows, but this created a lot of howling from neighbors-and folks concerned with the cost. So, we buried that idea. Let's face it, we were barking up the wrong tree. Thankfully, folks like Sandy Kane, Mary Harper and Dale Goodson kept the issue on the front burner. They were like dogs with a bone. I just hope they do form their 501c3 and start bringing in some bacon!"
So that is most of the what Leesburg Today has to say. But guess what? They forgot something really important!
My sister is going to be a part of the committee who will help this all happen. It will be called the Dog Park at Olde Izaak Walton Park. If you are interested in helping with all of this, just send an e-mail to lbest@everythingandthedog.com and she will tell you all about the plans and what is needed from volunteers, beside money. HA. That's a good joke, just like Mr. Ken Reid said in his words that were full of puns. My Mom had to explain all about puns to me, but now I get it.
This is serious reporting and just like I told you before, the serious stuff is a lot of hard work. So I'm going to take a nap and dream about what our Dog Park will look like and how much fun it will be to go there and meet new friends.
Tired from reporting,
Bob
Mr. Bob! This is great news - such a swift victory! Your grandma and I were talking about me paying a visit to the good dog lovers of Leesburg and I'm just wondering if my visit (and a little lecture I give on good nutrition for dogs) could coincide with the park opening?? use your influence to find out if that's a happening idea?!
Love from Your (and Daisy's) Auntie Tracie
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Bob, This is such exciting and important news! Every town should have a Dog Park and I must say you have done a splendid job of reporting this issue! Once they get it all done, I expect that we'll hear lots of news from there from our Reporter Extraordinaire! Love, Blazer, Kitty Kimber & Vicki T
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Every town needs at least one dog park! Exciting!!!
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