Tali wrote:
Just because you have a dog, doesn't mean all all dog owners are irresponsible. Since moving here, I've been pleasantly surprised at how many dog owners really care about the neighborhood, picking up their dog poop and love DT JC because of the park. Since I've moved here, I was shocked to see 2 separate incidences of kids urinating on the grass and were encouraged to do this by the parents, who must have been too lazy to find a loo. How is that okay? Does anyone complain about kids urinating on the grass where we picnic? Seems to me the dog folks are the "eyes and ears" of the neighborhood and make it a safer place. When I'm walking home from work after dark, I do feel more comforted seeing so many people out with their dogs. Don't think it makes sense to single them out and make the park so unavailable to them.

Tali wrote:
Just because you have a dog, doesn't mean all all dog owners are irresponsible. Since moving here, I've been pleasantly surprised at how many dog owners really care about the neighborhood, picking up their dog poop and love DT JC because of the park. Since I've moved here, I was shocked to see 2 separate incidences of kids urinating on the grass and were encouraged to do this by the parents, who must have been too lazy to find a loo. How is that okay? Does anyone complain about kids urinating on the grass where we picnic? Seems to me the dog folks are the "eyes and ears" of the neighborhood and make it a safer place. When I'm walking home from work after dark, I do feel more comforted seeing so many people out with their dogs. Don't think it makes sense to single them out and make the park so unavailable to them.

Vigilante wrote:
Hmmmm? Yet according to you it's okay for YOUR outdoor cats to poop and pee God knows where?

downright wrote:
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Sutherland wrote:
All violations of park rules and regulations should be addressed. But just because one group of people violate some rules doesn't justify nor give license to another group violating another set of rules. It's an absurd proposition. Quote:

downright wrote:
To everyone who has something to say about the occasional off leash dog...go take a look at the basketball court right now. It is a sight to be seen.

not justifying at all. i agree that all dogs should be leashed and not step foot/paw in the pet-free zone. i just dont understand why people get so upset over an occasional off leash dog while not caring about how filthy parts of the park get. that basketball court is disgusting, day in and day out, not just occasionally. i think that is a much bigger problem that needs to be addressed and it never is.

Amy wrote:
As for the basketball court, there's a volunteer park cleanup group that cleans up the park every day except during the winter. I assume we're going to start up again soon. Why don't you sign up? But you can really clean up dog pee, can you?

brewster wrote:
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Vigilante wrote:
Look at those dogs tearing up the new lawns.

What they're doing isn't right either, but at least they're not pissing and crapping on the grass, and the bald spot is small compared to the historic conditions of the western lawns. They should be using the "multi-sports" court.

Sutherland wrote:
All violations of park rules and regulations should be addressed. But just because one group of people violate some rules doesn't justify nor give license to another group violating another set of rules. It's an absurd proposition. Quote:

downright wrote:
To everyone who has something to say about the occasional off leash dog...go take a look at the basketball court right now. It is a sight to be seen.

downright wrote:
To everyone who has something to say about the occasional off leash dog...go take a look at the basketball court right now. It is a sight to be seen.

Vigilante wrote:
Look at those dogs tearing up the new lawns.

coolbreeze wrote:

This is SO not what it is about. It is about selfishness. You have no more right to the park than I do, and I cannot tell you how many times I have walked my dog to the park with the intention of letting my dog roam (leashed) in the designated areas and have had to stop dead in my tracks and book it back to the sidewalk because there are unleashed dogs playing/running/roaming. Sometimes the park is deserted aside from these unleashed dogs. I am very careful to scan the park for this before entering. My dog does not always interact well with other dogs when she is leashed, and I can only let her in the dog run under certain conditions. People flouting the leash rules don't even consider the fact that they are preventing responsible dog owners from enjoying the park as well OR that my dog could very likely HURT your dog if I do enter the park and your leashed dog approaches mine. I do not understand how these dog owners don't realize that not only are they acting rude, selfish, and entitled, but they are also putting their own dogs at risk. If I was not so conscientious, your dog could be injured, and guess who would be at fault?

The next time you are playing with your dog unleashed, in an empty park, thinking you are not affecting anyone else, think again. You probably didn't see me walking by on the perimeter, having to change my route and plans upon seeing you in there.

Additionally, these unleashed dog are often not as obedient as their owners think they are. Numerous times, when approaching an unleashed dog, I will cross the street or leave the park, only to have the dog dart after mine, toward or into the street, while the owner is frantically yelling at their pet to come back.

PathH8Tr wrote:
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brewster wrote:
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Vigilante wrote:
Naw. It is all about control. Some people think they can exert some kind of control over everything in their lives. The park is empty and some guy tossing a frisbee to his dog burns people's asses because they want control, control!! Everything in its place!! Sorry, the park belongs to everybody and if no one is around the dogs will run. If it bothers you simply because you have some kind of wacky notion that things will always be the way you want it then you are already losing.

You conveniently frame opponents as irrational by refusing to acknowledge that there's lasting negative effects on the lawn long after the dog is gone. The pre renovation HP West lawns were always dustbowls in the middle with brown spots where there was grass and you'd have to be nuts to even walk there never mind sit. If you must ignore the laws and common courtesy, please do that destruction to the 8th street side and leave the dog free side alone.

+1

brewster wrote:
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Vigilante wrote:
Naw. It is all about control. Some people think they can exert some kind of control over everything in their lives. The park is empty and some guy tossing a frisbee to his dog burns people's asses because they want control, control!! Everything in its place!! Sorry, the park belongs to everybody and if no one is around the dogs will run. If it bothers you simply because you have some kind of wacky notion that things will always be the way you want it then you are already losing.

You conveniently frame opponents as irrational by refusing to acknowledge that there's lasting negative effects on the lawn long after the dog is gone. The pre renovation HP West lawns were always dustbowls in the middle with brown spots where there was grass and you'd have to be nuts to even walk there never mind sit. If you must ignore the laws and common courtesy, please do that destruction to the 8th street side and leave the dog free side alone.

Vigilante wrote:
Naw. It is all about control. Some people think they can exert some kind of control over everything in their lives. The park is empty and some guy tossing a frisbee to his dog burns people's asses because they want control, control!! Everything in its place!! Sorry, the park belongs to everybody and if no one is around the dogs will run. If it bothers you simply because you have some kind of wacky notion that things will always be the way you want it then you are already losing.

I_heart_JC wrote:
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Amy wrote:
Of course "the park belongs to everybody." But there is plenty of OTHER space for those dogs to run free, if you insist on that. (I won't get into the unfairness of letting your dog off the leash in a highly populated public space.) Why do you have to choose the area that's set aside for people only? Use the 8th Street side of the park. You don't see families spreading out picnic blankets on the tennis courts, do you? No, because there's a lawn for that, and other people want to use the courts to play tennis. The park is a beautiful public space that we can share. It's not about control. It's about making a few rules so everyone can enjoy the park in their own way.

that this needs to be explained to anyone over the age of seven is thoroughly disheartening.

Amy wrote:
Of course "the park belongs to everybody." But there is plenty of OTHER space for those dogs to run free, if you insist on that. (I won't get into the unfairness of letting your dog off the leash in a highly populated public space.) Why do you have to choose the area that's set aside for people only? Use the 8th Street side of the park. You don't see families spreading out picnic blankets on the tennis courts, do you? No, because there's a lawn for that, and other people want to use the courts to play tennis. The park is a beautiful public space that we can share. It's not about control. It's about making a few rules so everyone can enjoy the park in their own way.