ITHACA DOG PARK
Our Dog Park is in the Alan Treman Marine State ParkClick on Map to Enlarge
Map of New Larger 4.8 Acre Dog Park Coming SoonClick on Map for Enlarged View
posted by Ithaca Unleashed at
10:43
Sunday
Our Dog Park is in the Alan Treman Marine State ParkClick on Map to Enlarge
Map of New Larger 4.8 Acre Dog Park Coming SoonClick on Map for Enlarged View
Friday
Dog Park to Become Permanant !
Dog park poised to become permanent
By Krisy Gashler • Staff Writer, Ithaca Journal • November 21, 2008
One year ago, meetings at City Hall were filled with upward of 50 people at a time, lobbying for and against a once-controversial off-leash dog park.
Now, with a final agreement between the city and State Parks on management of the Festival Lands only one vote away, all is quiet at City Hall and at the fenced-in dog park.
At its Dec. 3 meeting, Common Council looks poised to easily pass a final management agreement that would allow the city to retain ownership of the approximately 15-acre Festival Lands while giving New York State Parks long-term management authority over the land.
In exchange, State Parks has promised to maintain a fenced off-leash dog park and to retract its “bargaining chip” claim on the Coast Guard site on Inlet Island, said Tim Joseph, Finger Lakes regional director for State Parks. This would free the city to buy and re-sell that property for waterfront re-development.
State Parks has even put back the once-greatly disputed Dumpster, which was removed sometime after Common Council approved the off-leash area, over State Parks' strong objections.
For the dog owners, bird enthusiasts, boaters and state agencies, it's a happy ending to a long and contentious process.
“I haven't heard any complaints,” said City Attorney Dan Hoffman, noting that for Ithaca, “this is a rare occurrence.” Mayor Carolyn Peterson was not available for comment Thursday.
Bren Piller, founder of the dog group Ithaca Unleashed, said the newfound cooperation between the city and the state, along with the fully fenced off-leash area “seems to solve everything.”
“I think (the dog park is) really good for tourism, as well as for the people who live here,” Piller said. “I think it's a win-win for everybody.”
Town of Ithaca Supervisor Herb Engman, who was one of a group of environmentalists that sued the city because of concern that off-leash dogs would harm the migratory birds who nest in Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, also said the fence has “really solved the problems down there.”
“And I think everybody is very, very happy about the fact that Parks has again endorsed protection of the Hog Hole area,” Engman said. Hog Hole is a tall grass area in the park that's especially important for birds.
Joseph credited the agreement to a change of leadership in Albany, the city's “hard step” of insisting on a fence in order to renew the leash exemption, and a greater willingness to compromise on everyone's part.
“I'm not sure if people got more reasonable or if the less reasonable people got disengaged and let more reasonable people take over,” Joseph said.
Joseph, former chair of the Tompkins County Legislature, also got quite a bit of credit for helping guide the compromise.
“He has validated the legitimacy of space for people who want to walk their dogs,” said Pat Pryor, a member of the Tompkins County Dog Owner Group.
“Tim Joseph was really instrumental in making it happen,” Piller said. “It's nice to say something good about public officials.”
Under the agreement passed unanimously by Common Council's planning committee, State Parks will manage the Festival Lands for 25 years. Parks has promised not to make any changes to the city's land, outside of its adopted 1995 master plan, without the city's consent.
That master plan allows for some new amenities like a bathroom and a walkway along the edge of the marina basin, Hoffman said.
The plan also includes a new entrance road to the park north of the Hangar Theatre, but State Parks administrators currently have no interest or money to install the new road, Hoffman said.
Parks can add a new bulkhead for short-term boat tie-up, “but there's no plan for new permanent docks — that was a contentious item,” Hoffman said.
The agreement says State Parks will be willing to consider installation of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, but it doesn't obligate Parks to pay for it, he said.
The Coast Guard auxiliary has been conducting vessel safety checks and leading classes on boating safety on Inlet Island for roughly 40 years. With this agreement, the city would be able to buy and re-develop that site. A phone call to the auxiliary office was not returned.
Hoffman said, “it makes sense for that parcel to be available for a comprehensive redevelopment of that area.”
“I think it's recognized that they perform a very valuable service, but that the city feels that's not the highest and best use of that parcel,” he said. The mayor is “committed” to helping the Coast Guard auxiliary, Hoffman said, “either in any new Inlet Island development or elsewhere if it doesn't work out there.”
By Krisy Gashler • Staff Writer, Ithaca Journal • November 21, 2008
One year ago, meetings at City Hall were filled with upward of 50 people at a time, lobbying for and against a once-controversial off-leash dog park.
Now, with a final agreement between the city and State Parks on management of the Festival Lands only one vote away, all is quiet at City Hall and at the fenced-in dog park.
At its Dec. 3 meeting, Common Council looks poised to easily pass a final management agreement that would allow the city to retain ownership of the approximately 15-acre Festival Lands while giving New York State Parks long-term management authority over the land.
In exchange, State Parks has promised to maintain a fenced off-leash dog park and to retract its “bargaining chip” claim on the Coast Guard site on Inlet Island, said Tim Joseph, Finger Lakes regional director for State Parks. This would free the city to buy and re-sell that property for waterfront re-development.
State Parks has even put back the once-greatly disputed Dumpster, which was removed sometime after Common Council approved the off-leash area, over State Parks' strong objections.
For the dog owners, bird enthusiasts, boaters and state agencies, it's a happy ending to a long and contentious process.
“I haven't heard any complaints,” said City Attorney Dan Hoffman, noting that for Ithaca, “this is a rare occurrence.” Mayor Carolyn Peterson was not available for comment Thursday.
Bren Piller, founder of the dog group Ithaca Unleashed, said the newfound cooperation between the city and the state, along with the fully fenced off-leash area “seems to solve everything.”
“I think (the dog park is) really good for tourism, as well as for the people who live here,” Piller said. “I think it's a win-win for everybody.”
Town of Ithaca Supervisor Herb Engman, who was one of a group of environmentalists that sued the city because of concern that off-leash dogs would harm the migratory birds who nest in Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, also said the fence has “really solved the problems down there.”
“And I think everybody is very, very happy about the fact that Parks has again endorsed protection of the Hog Hole area,” Engman said. Hog Hole is a tall grass area in the park that's especially important for birds.
Joseph credited the agreement to a change of leadership in Albany, the city's “hard step” of insisting on a fence in order to renew the leash exemption, and a greater willingness to compromise on everyone's part.
“I'm not sure if people got more reasonable or if the less reasonable people got disengaged and let more reasonable people take over,” Joseph said.
Joseph, former chair of the Tompkins County Legislature, also got quite a bit of credit for helping guide the compromise.
“He has validated the legitimacy of space for people who want to walk their dogs,” said Pat Pryor, a member of the Tompkins County Dog Owner Group.
“Tim Joseph was really instrumental in making it happen,” Piller said. “It's nice to say something good about public officials.”
Under the agreement passed unanimously by Common Council's planning committee, State Parks will manage the Festival Lands for 25 years. Parks has promised not to make any changes to the city's land, outside of its adopted 1995 master plan, without the city's consent.
That master plan allows for some new amenities like a bathroom and a walkway along the edge of the marina basin, Hoffman said.
The plan also includes a new entrance road to the park north of the Hangar Theatre, but State Parks administrators currently have no interest or money to install the new road, Hoffman said.
Parks can add a new bulkhead for short-term boat tie-up, “but there's no plan for new permanent docks — that was a contentious item,” Hoffman said.
The agreement says State Parks will be willing to consider installation of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, but it doesn't obligate Parks to pay for it, he said.
The Coast Guard auxiliary has been conducting vessel safety checks and leading classes on boating safety on Inlet Island for roughly 40 years. With this agreement, the city would be able to buy and re-develop that site. A phone call to the auxiliary office was not returned.
Hoffman said, “it makes sense for that parcel to be available for a comprehensive redevelopment of that area.”
“I think it's recognized that they perform a very valuable service, but that the city feels that's not the highest and best use of that parcel,” he said. The mayor is “committed” to helping the Coast Guard auxiliary, Hoffman said, “either in any new Inlet Island development or elsewhere if it doesn't work out there.”
posted by Ithaca Unleashed at
18:14
Monday
BENEFITS OF OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS
Off-leash Dog Parks have many benefits - to the dog, the owner and to the community. These benefits include the physical, mental and emotional well being of both dog and owner as well as economic benefits to the business community.
To Dogs
* Dogs that exercise and are allowed to run freely are not as aggressive towards people and other dogs.
* After exercising and socializing a dog is less agitated, more relaxed and in general nicer to be around.
* Dogs have a large safe enclosed place to play.
* Frightened dogs can learn that people and other dogs can be their friends.
* Homeless Shelter dogs are more likely to be adopted when a Dog Park is available.
* Dogs that live with their owners in condos, apartments or homes with limited space will enjoy their time at the Dog Park.
To Dog Owners
* Elderly and disabled citizens need easy access within their community to exercise their companion and working dogs. Walking a dog on a leash for long distances is often a burden for the disabled people.
* Off- Leash Dog Parks afford park recreation spaces for taxpayers who were previously excluded from using park areas with their un-leashed dogs.
* People who exercise their dogs add to their own levels of physical health and decrease their levels of stress.
* Off-Leash Parks provide a place for busy people to gather and establish friendships with others. These spaces can quickly become the hub of a community.
* A well adjusted, less aggressive dog is more enjoyable and easier to handle for the owner.
To The Community
* A dog park promotes responsible dog ownership through mandatory registration and regular shots.
* The mere presence of dog owners, and their dogs, help deter crime, and frequently act as the eyes and ears of a community.
* Enclosed play areas prevent off-leash dogs from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children, and those who may be fearful of dogs.
* Dogs who get enough exercise are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively, destroy property or jump up.
* People's love for dogs often creates an important common ground, which serves to break down otherwise difficult social barriers.
* Giving dog owners somewhere to take their dogs shows that a community cares, not only for the dog owners, but for the people who complain of dogs on their lawns, sidewalks, and parks.
* Dog Parks are an asset to local economies and also promote state wide tourism when intelligently promoted by local and state Chambers of Commerce and Tourist Associations.
* Dog Park users are consumers who spend their money on goods and services in the communities where Off Leash Parks are located.
* Large flocks of geese that leave massive amounts of fecal material on parkland adjacent to the lake create a health, safety and environmental hazard. The presence of dogs can greatly reduce the numbers of geese and thus reclaim parkland that was previously unusable.
To Dogs
* Dogs that exercise and are allowed to run freely are not as aggressive towards people and other dogs.
* After exercising and socializing a dog is less agitated, more relaxed and in general nicer to be around.
* Dogs have a large safe enclosed place to play.
* Frightened dogs can learn that people and other dogs can be their friends.
* Homeless Shelter dogs are more likely to be adopted when a Dog Park is available.
* Dogs that live with their owners in condos, apartments or homes with limited space will enjoy their time at the Dog Park.
To Dog Owners
* Elderly and disabled citizens need easy access within their community to exercise their companion and working dogs. Walking a dog on a leash for long distances is often a burden for the disabled people.
* Off- Leash Dog Parks afford park recreation spaces for taxpayers who were previously excluded from using park areas with their un-leashed dogs.
* People who exercise their dogs add to their own levels of physical health and decrease their levels of stress.
* Off-Leash Parks provide a place for busy people to gather and establish friendships with others. These spaces can quickly become the hub of a community.
* A well adjusted, less aggressive dog is more enjoyable and easier to handle for the owner.
To The Community
* A dog park promotes responsible dog ownership through mandatory registration and regular shots.
* The mere presence of dog owners, and their dogs, help deter crime, and frequently act as the eyes and ears of a community.
* Enclosed play areas prevent off-leash dogs from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children, and those who may be fearful of dogs.
* Dogs who get enough exercise are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively, destroy property or jump up.
* People's love for dogs often creates an important common ground, which serves to break down otherwise difficult social barriers.
* Giving dog owners somewhere to take their dogs shows that a community cares, not only for the dog owners, but for the people who complain of dogs on their lawns, sidewalks, and parks.
* Dog Parks are an asset to local economies and also promote state wide tourism when intelligently promoted by local and state Chambers of Commerce and Tourist Associations.
* Dog Park users are consumers who spend their money on goods and services in the communities where Off Leash Parks are located.
* Large flocks of geese that leave massive amounts of fecal material on parkland adjacent to the lake create a health, safety and environmental hazard. The presence of dogs can greatly reduce the numbers of geese and thus reclaim parkland that was previously unusable.
posted by Ithaca Unleashed at
21:04