New Off-Leash Areas Proposals

[Rosie Weaver at Austin Parks Foundation]

Friends,

 

This is particularly aimed at members of the New Off-Leash Area Development subcommittee, but I thought everyone would be mildly interested.

 

I spoke with Jenna at PARD yesterday about how best to present our ideas for new off-leash areas. She has committed to reviewing all our off-leash area requests in July. She's deeply immersed in other projects right now, so I think this timeline is the best we can hope for at the moment. Jenna suggested that the following would be helpful in making the case for each new area:

• A plan of the area showing dimensions and natural barriers, as well as where people could park.
• A rough budget including a double gated fence with truck access, and some plan for fundraising (this could certainly include a grant from APF)
• A list of people willing to advocate for and help maintain the off-leash area long term.

I will be coordinating with advocates for each area and with Jenna to present the info to her in July. Hopefully, we'll have some success!

 

Working group members are:

Karen Blizzard    kb...@hotmail.com
Ari Pettigrew    apett...@austin.rr.com 
Rosie Weaver    rwe...@austinparks.org
Charlie McCabe    cmc...@austinparks.org
Beky Hayes   beksa...@yahoo.com
Suzanne Camin suz...@suzannecamin.com 
 Paul Addington  paddi...@austin.rr.com
Sheila Holbrook-White scoutm...@gmail.com 
Claire Sorenson csore...@austin.rr.com 

 

Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
701 Brazos, Ste 170
Austin, TX 78701
512-477-1566
rwe...@austinparks.org
http://www.austinparks.org

[Claire Sorenson]

Hi Rosie, thanks for the update. It shouldn't be too hard to put together
the information requested on each park that we are proposing for off-leash
status. Were you able to get a hold of maps for each of the areas we
discussed at our last meeting? It would be great to have the maps with me
when I visit parks so I can mark areas of interest. Are we still meeting on
May 19th?

Oh, and thanks for encouraging me to go back to Onion Creek. I finally
found the main trail. The entrance was so hidden that it took a while for
me to find it. It is wonderful and not too far from my house.

Claire

-----Original Message-----
From: "Rosie Weaver at Austin Parks Foundation" <rwe...@austinparks.org>

Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 16:53:46
To:<austino...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: New Off-Leash Areas Proposals

Friends,
 
This is particularly aimed at members of the New Off-Leash Area Development
subcommittee, but I thought everyone would be mildly interested.
 
I spoke with Jenna at PARD yesterday about how best to present our ideas for
new off-leash areas. She has committed to reviewing all our off-leash area
requests in July. She's deeply immersed in other projects right now, so I
think this timeline is the best we can hope for at the moment. Jenna
suggested that the following would be helpful in making the case for each
new area:

* A plan of the area showing dimensions and natural barriers, as well as
where people could park.
* A rough budget including a double gated fence with truck access, and some

plan for fundraising (this could certainly include a grant from APF)

* A list of people willing to advocate for and help maintain the off-leash

area long term.

I will be coordinating with advocates for each area and with Jenna to
present the info to her in July. Hopefully, we'll have some success!
 
Working group members are:

Karen Blizzard    kb...@hotmail.com

Ari Pettigrew    apett...@austin.rr.com <mailto:apett...@austin.rr.com>
 
Rosie Weaver    rwe...@austinparks.org
Charlie McCabe    cmc...@austinparks.org <mailto:cmc...@austinparks.org>
Beky Hayes   beksa...@yahoo.com <mailto:beksa...@yahoo.com>
Suzanne Camin suz...@suzannecamin.com <mailto:suz...@suzannecamin.com>  
 Paul Addington  paddi...@austin.rr.com <mailto:paddi...@austin.rr.com>
Sheila Holbrook-White scoutm...@gmail.com <mailto:scoutm...@gmail.com>

 
Claire Sorenson csore...@austin.rr.com 
 
Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
701 Brazos, Ste 170
Austin, TX 78701
512-477-1566

rwe...@austinparks.org <mailto:rwe...@austinparks.org>
http://www.austinparks.org <http://www.austinparks.org>

[Karen Blizzard]

Hi everyone,

I've reserved a room at Opal Divine's on West 6th Street for our meeting on May 19th.

In visiting the parks I was assigned to, I discovered that it's also informative for us to take notes about who is currently visiting/using them. For example, areas that are virtually empty on a Saturday morning--or, at the other extreme, are already being used "unofficially" as off-leash areas--are obviously better candidates than those areas where a lot of children are playing or people are relaxing and enjoying quiet time.

Until soon,
Karen

---

> From: csore...@austin.rr.com
> To: rwe...@austinparks.org
> CC: austino...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: RE: New Off-Leash Areas Proposals
> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 21:30:47 -0500

[Beth Morton]

Hi All,

 

I’m probably way late in chiming in on this, but it occurred to me the other day that some parks might be good for off-leash use only during certain hours. I don’t know if that’s ever been discussed or is an option, but I take my dogs to Slaughter Creek Park near Circle C several times a week in the morning. There are seldom more than one or two other cars in the whole park at the time. Sometimes there are others there with their dogs and they use the open areas to play fetch to exercise their dogs.

 

Would it be possible to consider using an existing park with only specific hours for off-leash use?

 

Thanks for any input or feedback you have,

 

Beth

 

---

> </html

[Rosie Weaver at Austin Parks Foundation]

Beth,

 

This idea of "time sharing" is definitely something under discussion. Lack of ability to enforce the rules is a primary concern of the Parks Department, and one we'd need to address. A pilot program in an area that has strong neighborhood support for the idea is something we can try to bring about.

 

Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
701 Brazos, Ste 170
Austin, TX 78701
512-477-1566
rwe...@austinparks.org

http://www.austinparks.org

[BCDOG]

Hello, Debra Bailey here with BCDOG-Bull Creek Dog Off leash Group...

I'd love to be involved with anything you all are thinking about at
Bull Creek District Park. No sense in duplicating efforts. I read
the group postings about once a week so I'll keep an eye out for info.

Thanks!

Debra Bailey
Bailey Solutions
www.baileysolutions.com

Rosie Weaver at Austin Parks Foundation wrote:
> Beth,
>
> This idea of "time sharing" is definitely something under discussion. Lack of ability to enforce the rules is a primary concern of the Parks Department, and one we'd need to address. A pilot program in an area that has strong neighborhood support for the idea is something we can try to bring about.
>
> Rosie Weaver
> Outreach Director
> Austin Parks Foundation
> 701 Brazos, Ste 170
> Austin, TX 78701
> 512-477-1566
> rwe...@austinparks.org
> http://www.austinparks.org
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Beth Morton
> To: austino...@googlegroups.com ; rwe...@austinparks.org
> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:28 AM
> Subject: RE: New Off-Leash Areas Proposals
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> I'm probably way late in chiming in on this, but it occurred to me the other day that some parks might be good for off-leash use only during certain hours. I don't know if that's ever been discussed or is an option, but I take my dogs to Slaughter Creek Park near Circle C several times a week in the morning. There are seldom more than one or two other cars in the whole park at the time. Sometimes there are others there with their dogs and they use the open areas to play fetch to exercise their dogs.
>
>
>
> Would it be possible to consider using an existing park with only specific hours for off-leash use?
>
>
>
> Thanks for any input or feedback you have,
>
>
>
> Beth
>
>
>
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>
> From: austino...@googlegroups.com [mailto:austino...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Karen Blizzard
> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 10:03 PM
> To: austino...@googlegroups.com; rwe...@austinparks.org
> Subject: RE: New Off-Leash Areas Proposals
>
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I've reserved a room at Opal Divine's on West 6th Street for our meeting on May 19th.
>
> In visiting the parks I was assigned to, I discovered that it's also informative for us to take notes about who is currently visiting/using them. For example, areas that are virtually empty on a Saturday morning--or, at the other extreme, are already being used "unofficially" as off-leash areas--are obviously better candidates than those areas where a lot of children are playing or people are relaxing and enjoying quiet time.
>
> Until soon,
> Karen
>
>
>
>
>
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Claire Sorenson]

Rosie, as I have discussed off-leash dog options in my neighborhood, the “ability to enforce” has been brought up often.  I went along with that for a while, until it dawned on me that the current leash laws are not well enforced either. There are just not enough park police to go around and very little is enforced.  The reality is that in many parks a lot of people are walking off-leash and risking the fines.  Establishing off-leash limits, and forming a support group, would actually create more control than is happening now.  At least that is my most recent thinking as I discuss the issue with others.  I would be happy to get a support group to agree to help patrol and educate dog owners to enforce the rules.   Claire

 

---

<BR

[Beth Morton]

I agree. I think that if owners are given the opportunity to have off-leash access to more parks during restricted hours, there will likely be fewer dog owners using the park during non-off-leash hours. I live just north of Slaughter Creek Park near Circle C and the park is usually almost deserted when I’m there with my dogs, though I use the park weekday mornings.

 

Sometimes other dog owners are there using the park with their beasties off-leash to practice fly ball or run their dogs. We could use neighborhood association newsletters and websites and well as local papers such as the Oak Hill Gazette to inform people of the changes and enforcement. Adults are like kids, I think that if we tell them in very plain English “Use it only during these hours and scoop it or you’ll lose the privilege” that folks will be more willing to speak up when others are violating park rules.

 

I usually carry extra bags and will sometimes give one to an owner and say “I noticed you forgot your bags at home. I have an extra you can have.” I’ll also warn folks that APD has stepped up patrols and is giving out tickets. Perhaps if we could provide designated times and educate folks about park cleanliness as it pertains to the privilege to use the park, folks will listen. I think we get so inundated with environmental concerns that people write it off as “another crazy environmental group whining about something that really isn’t an issue.”

 

Claire, I’ll help you with any group you put together.

 

Beth

 

---

[Claire Sorenson]

Beth, thanks so much for your offer of support. Could you send me your email address and I will forward an email that I sent out this morning to the current list of supporters.  Lets see what we can put together by July when Rosie said some of our proposals might be considered.  Have a great weekend.  Claire

 

csore...@austin.rr.com

 

 

 

 

---

[suz...@suzannecamin.com]

I agree with both of you - I also pick up after others dogs and also let mine run  off leash at times

 

I am also starting a Great Britain Neighborhood association - and will gladly email them - several wanted off leash  - we are very new so just starting

 I will also help but work 3 jobs

 

Suz

 

 

The secret of having it all ~ is believing that you do!

 

Suzanne Camin

suz...@suzannecamin.com

www.suzannecamin.com

 

512-280-1662

 

----- Original Message -----

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To: title=austino...@googlegroups.com onclick="Popup.composeWindow('pcompose.php?sendto=austinoffleash%40googlegroups.com');; return false;" href="mailto:austino...@googlegroups.com" target=_blank mce_href="mailto:austino...@googlegroups.com">austino...@googlegroups.com ; title=rwe...@austinparks.org onclick="Popup.composeWindow('pcompose.php?sendto=rweaver%40austinparks.org');; return false;" href="mailto:rwe...@austinparks.org" target=_blank mce_href="mailto:rwe...@austinparks.org">rwe...@austinparks.org

[Rosie Weaver at Austin Parks Foundation]

Claire,

 

I think this is a really good point.

 

Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
701 Brazos, Ste 170
Austin, TX 78701
512-477-1566
rwe...@austinparks.org
http://www.austinparks.org

----- Original Message -----

From: Claire Sorenson

To: austino...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2008 8:08 AM

Subject: RE: New Off-Leash Areas Proposals - thoughts on ability to enforce rules

[Bek]

It seems like PARD and APF should be involved with Capital Metro's
"TOD" (Transit Oriented Development) Station Area Planning process.
Capital Metro, City Council, etc. want each of these new light rail
stations to have green space and appealing public-use areas. Their
draft plans apparently have green space blocked out but not yet
designated for type of use.
I have left a message with Ella Rogers (Capital Metro) to ask about
land use around rail stations but haven't heard back. I don't know who
else to contact.