comments on parks dept meeting & fri, july 17

first, my thoughts on the parks department meeting last night about the winstead proposal for timed off leash activity and dog parks in general.

i was surprised when i read the Parks, Trails and Open Space Sub- Committee and Staff recommendation that:

1. Seasonal/Hourly use of park sites is not recommended for approval due to the inability to effectively enforce and communicate with park users. (um, a) we have had seasonal closure to dogs at kathryn albertsons for years; b) we cannot effectively enforce current rules, how is this different? c) i believe that a lot of people who say "i didn't see the sign" and "it's too confusing" are looking for an easy way out. ignorance of the law is no excuse)

2. Winstead Park Proposal will be denied due to request for hourly use and the existing high volume of site activity. (according to the people who live near the park, high use occurs at specific times- which is NOT when they want off leash access.)

fortunately, the purpose of the session was to take public testimony and the winstead park residents did a great job of stating their case. the end result was that the parks department decided to explore a test of timed/seasonal off leash dog activity at several city parks, and staff was directed to see what parks might be appropriate and how the trial might work.

the neighborhood associations will have to be very active in any trial, as the successful outcome of any trial is entirely dependent on the ability of responsible dog users to educate and minimize impact to non dog park users.

a few observations:

one of the commissioners said "kids come first". i am happy to have my tax dollars spent on playground equipment and sports fields and schools and summer and after school programs, even though i don't have children, because i believe that these things strengthen our community. i do not believe that just because a child might walk across a park on their way to school (yes, this was an instance cited- that families walked across the park to school in the morning, so there could be no off leash dog use) all other use should be precluded. this is so wrong on so many levels that i am stopping right here.

one of the commissioners, who lives close enough to the trails to use them for off leash activity, pointed out that she also exercises her dog on leash when she can't use the trails, and that the winstead folks weren't being asked not to use the park, just to use it on leash. the difference being that this woman has access to an off leash area within walking or a close drive of her house. so she has an option without driving several miles to exercise said option.

one of the commissioners ( for some reason, i think he may be female rott on a flexi man who doesn't reel the lunging dog in, but i don't know for sure. if it is, it would explain his comment that he walked by a woman with his dog on leash & she seemed frightened of the dog. if a dog doesn't appear to be under control- even if they're leashed- people may have that reaction. and a dog either lunging or just pulling at the very end of a long leash or flexi doesn't appear to be under control) mentioned seeing a pile in the foothills right by a trash can and poop bag station. yep, we still have opportunity, but it's a hell of a lot better than it was, and will continue to improve.

i am all for asking dog owners to step up and be responsible. we have made progress, and will continue to make progress. peer pressure is working, it will continue to work. many of us are very vested in making off leash areas work. there will always be a few boneheads (just like there are kids who vandalize, people who speed, etc.). it is absolutely unreasonable to expect 100% perfect compliance. this is a process that is going to take some time.

this is how busy camel's back was at 6:57 this morning. will start taking photos & posting because now i'm curious.
and the parking lot-
and the trails-

12 without, 6 with. most dogs leashed where they should be (except for the guy with 2 black labs walking out from the pond area).

saw these folks coming with the black lab on leash, so i leashed up halle & echo and then the woman leashed her golden. worked perfectly.

this gal kept her lab at a heel and we all walked right by each other, on leash, no problems.

happy trails! have a great weekend!

Military Reserve 817 a.m.

Military Reserve actually looked fairly clean this morning! It was already way too hot to be out so we just did a quick loop from the Policeman's Clubhouse. Suzie and I each had 2 dogs today and encountered mountain bikers that were so kind and thankful when we leashed our beasts and moved to the side of the trail. There is still a nasty carcass at the top of the hill but other than that I didn't see any "poop at large".
Will try to remember camera tomorrow morning!

Thanks for picking up!

tranquility

beautiful tranquil morning. love that it's still cool, tho it sounds like that's going to change soon.

love the clouds looking like a fan behind the hill

these are evening primrose. they've been blooming for a while, and will for a while longer.

8 without, 4 with. all pleasant & following rules.

we did have a sheltie come charging up behind us barking. i just let halle go say hi & put echo in a sit. pretty soon i heard a yip, and the owner say "it's your own fault, you started it" (halle did her usual chase the dog then run it over b/c she's such a galoot & that's how she plays). and i'm wondering if this gal knows her dog instigates, why she lets it happen? it could be a problem with a less friendly dog. but at least she understood it was her dog.

anyway- beautiful morning.

remember the parks board meeting at the library at 4 p.m. this evening to discuss the timed off leash proposal for winstead park. be good to show some support.

happy trails!

Winstead Park Off Leash Proposal to be Heard Thursday, July 16

Hi All-

This is sort of short notice, but I'm sure that written testimony will be accepted too. The Winstead Park proposal included a request for times to be set aside for off leash activity. If you think this is a good idea- for the parks or the trails- now is the time to speak up.

Off Leash Dog Activity is important to a lot of dog owners, it's important for us to be educated and support the ideas that we think have merit. Please read the proposal and make your comments.

Marianne


----- Forwarded Message ----
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 5:52:02 PM
Subject: Winstead Dog Off Leash Area Proposal Decision to be Made by Parks & Recreation Commission


The Parks & Recreation Commission will discuss the Winstead Neighborhood proposal for dog off leash use at Winstead Park at their July 16, 2009 meeting.

The meeting will be held at 4 pm at the Boise City Library Auditorium - West Entrance.

Public comment will be taken at the meeting.


Jamie Heinzerling
Administrative Assistant
Boise Parks & Recreation Department
(208) 384 - 4060 ext. 333


Here is the Proposal:

To: Mr. Jim Hall, Director, Boise Parks & Recreation
Mayor David H. Bieter
Boise Parks & Recreation Commissioners

From: Winstead Neighborhood Dog Owners
PO Box 46021
Boise, Id. 83711
betsy4liberty@yahoo.com
attn: Kristi Rutty or Betsy Lewis

Proposal: An amendment to the leash law [Section 13-03-06 DOGS] with Boise Parks and Recreation District and the City of Boise, for all appropriate parks.

Specifics: Instead of spending money on fences or new dog areas, use existing parks with specific off-leash hours: During Daylight Savings: 8 p.m. until dark, dawn until 9 a.m. ---- During Standard Time/Winter [when the park is virtually empty], daylight hours.

Costs: Minimal—signage and some more dog-waste stations with trash cans at each site. For example, a can is needed in the far corner of Winstead where there is a post with bags, yet no place to dispose of them.

Purpose: An off-leash program allows Boiseans to recreate with their dogs throughout the community while balancing the interests of all voting taxpayers and park users. Dog owners are the most frequent visitors to Boise’s beautiful parks, utilizing them in all four seasons, in all types of weather, and every day of the year.

Studies show that dogs are highly social animals. When allowed regular, outdoor off-leash exercise they tend to be better trained and socialized, calmer, and less prone to aggression, thus adding to the quality of life in the communities where they live. In contrast, those constantly kept on leash tend to be more territorial, more aggressive and more prone to negative social behavior.

Off-leash hours in Boise would allow people to walk to their neighborhood green spaces instead of having to drive across town to the official “dog parks”: These fenced areas are dangerous for puppies, elderly dogs, and smaller breeds because of the large ones racing around. Try throwing a ball—it’s a stampede!

It’s unreasonable to expect people to “seek out a rancher with lots of land so the dogs can run,” as one officer suggested while ticketing a middle-aged couple.

Fallout of Boise’s leash enforcement: Friendships develop among neighbors who gather to throw Frisbees and tennis balls and to walk their animals. Sadly, this is no longer possible. The citations have caused such a feeling of ill will among Boiseans who’ve been enjoying Winstead for two decades, without trouble, that many have stopped using the park; others no longer donate to the Humane Society. Though we police one another, cleaning up after our own dogs [and others!], and we’re considerate toward other park users, we now feel like criminals.

Successful cities:
<> New York City, NY—The Off-leash Hours in Central Park are from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. “During the dark days of New York’s decline when few people used the parks in the evening or early morning due to crime and fear, the presence of dog owners every day of the year helped reclaim the parks.” The Off-leash policy allows a few hours each day for dog owners to meet their neighbors “across social, age, class and racial lines, and enjoy recreation time with their dogs.” This has succeeded for the past 20 years.

<> Bend, Oregon—The Bend Metro Park and Recreation District voted recently to expand its only existing off-leash park and to add six others, after a scientific study in May of 2008 showed that “off-leash recreation is a highly desired park use that is not currently being met.”

Suggestions for Off-leash Rules [hours to be posted at each site]:
~ Display tags showing current rabies vaccination and city license
~ Pick up and dispose of your dog’s waste
~ Carry a leash for each dog in your care
~ Supervise your dog, keeping it in sight and under verbal control at all times
~ Do not bring a dog in heat to any park
~ Immediately remove any dog that demonstrates aggression
~ Leash your dog when near any playground or picnickers


Winstead Neighborhood Dog Owners

the party moved

beautiful morning

lots of people out- 13 with dogs, 14 without. most dogs (including moab) on leash where they needed to be). everyone very pleasant.

we saw all sorts of folks we know- paula, laurie & daisy; ilene & bohdi; sue & keene; sam the black standard poodle & his people; betsy biking to work.

over and over when i talk to dog owners who actively use the trails they talk about the 2 legged friends they've made through their canine companions. i am no different- tracy, caralea, margie, paula, ginger to name a few. our dogs enrich our lives in many ways.

the gal with the border collie was picking up poop when we saw her, and her dog was leashed in the on leash and in a sit and then a heel, not lunging at us as we walked by. great trail behavior, thanks!

we're keeping our distance from the white dog & owner ahead of us on chickadee....

kept halle from charging daisy this morning. they live next door, and halle the big galoot thinks that charging into other dogs is a guaranteed way to get them to play. it's a habit i am trying to break. not only in she a big girl, many dogs take exception to dogs that charge up, regardless of their intention. i was glad to get her to approach gently (well, for her) today. i'm sure that paula & daisy were too.

looking for folks who would like to blog occasionally from other trails....... please email me at idswissy@yahoo.com if you're interested.

have a great week! happy trails!

Volunteer at Tour de Fat

This fundraiser for SWIMBA (southwest idaho mountain bike assn) funds new trails and trail improvements that benefit ALL users, not just mt bikers..... plus it's big fun (we did it last year)!

Hello!

Tour de Fat will be back in Boise on August 22, 2009 at Ann Morrison Park. We anticipate a great event and a really fantastic bike parade!

I am recruiting volunteers pretty much like 2008. We need people to wrist band and sell beer tokens between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Shifts will be 2 1/2 hours long. We also need parade marshalls and set up (7:00 a.m.) and tear down crews (4:30 p.m.). Swag includes a
t-shirt and beer tokens.

Please let me know if you can help us out. Proceeds go to trails and trail related projects in the Boise Front.

We are also searching for someone who wants to trade their car for a bike again this year, so if you are interested or know someone who is, please contact me.

Thanks!
Margie Rosenberg
850-7824

the party's at corrals...

there weren't too many cars in the parking lot when we got there at about 7:15, but that changed in the course of our hike...... we met up with plenty of runners, mt bikers, other dog walkers & a horse rider with dog.... everyone was very nice, polite & pleasant

happy trail dogs jackson

and benson

still water in the creek. tho it wasn't blazing hot it was muggy and warm. the dogs were glad to have water.

went up hard guy. a reminder that we are allowed access over a lot of private property and need to act accordingly, with respect for the land & animals on that property.

huge icky nasty bug! not to be confused with the tiny icky nasty bugs buzzing our heads & getting stuck in my hair & eyelashes along the walk...

floral interlude.......

and back to a very full parking lot...... most of these folks must have gone over on corrals, whereas we were on hard guy. we met up with people, but it didn't seem like as many as there are cars here.

happy trails! have a great weekend!