AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHoly Alpo! Does Sandy Springs really need a dog park?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Three years after it gained independence from Fulton County, the city remains one of the largest in metro Atlanta without a dedicated dog park.” — Text from a recent news story on ajc.com.
You know those times you read something, and even though you understand what you just read, you really don’t? I had to read the above line three times, because part of the brain saw a story that indicated a glaring unmet need in our little piece of heaven, but that was associated with a the phrase “a dedicated dog park.”
Holy Alpo — we’re one of the largest cities in the metro area without a dedicated dog park? Does PETA know this? Should Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, be called in? And where exactly was Michael Vick when this took place?
Are we really getting our knickers in a twist because the mayor and city council have not acted swiftly to create an area where our dogs can gambol and enjoy nature off-leash? Is this how we’re going to spend our citizen-capitol?
We have three dogs — Jake, Sydney and Cody — and they love going to a dog park over in Dunwoody. They can run through the woods, sniff all manner of things I won’t discuss here and run with the pack. It’s wonderful and I would be giddy as a school girl if there was something like that closer to home. And I’m sure one day there will be — but I’m not losing sleep over it.
Yes, the city said it was behind building a dog park and I’m sure that will eventually come to pass. But last week when a neighbor saw a suspicious SUV repeatedly cruising the neighborhood and called the police I’m really happy a city officer showed up in a timely manner.
When a house up the street caught fire a couple of weeks ago I was likewise glad the city fire trucks arrived quickly. I’m glad to see the building that used to house Target is going to be used by the city for something so it doesn’t sit vacant in an economy that is short on retailers needing that much space.
So the fact that we hold the distinction of being the largest city in the metro area without a dog park, to me, is as relevant as Sandy Springs being the largest city of its size.
Like many I am looking forward to having a dog park closer to home — some day. Perhaps Jake, since he is the senior dog on the Osterman homestead and something of a celebrity, will be asked to christen the first shrub.
But I think even Jake knows there are more important places we can be expending our righteous indignation when it comes to our everyday lives.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Jim Osterman
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By Jason
February 2, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
Why should Sandy Springs taxpayers foot the bill for a dog park when they can take a short trip to another city and make their taxpayers pay for doggie recreation? Isn’t that pretty much the way Metro Atlanta works? Find a way to stick the other guy with the bill while being ungrateful and bragging about it.
By Wendy
February 3, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this
Do we need anymore playgrounds?
By Jill
February 4, 2009 8:08 AM | Link to this
I take my dog to Brook Run in Dunwoody. It’s just a 10-minute drive. I’m with Jason on this one. Why not just go to Dekalb and have others pay for it?
;-)
By DB
February 4, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this
Jim, how can you really be such a NIMBY and sit there and say, “Oh, we use the Dunwoody dog park” and then grouse about how it’s not a need in Sandy Springs? I didn’t see you there last Saturday morning, though, when they had the regular volunteer clean-up — so that means that it’s ok to cross-over and use great facilities in adjoining counties (and the Dunwoody dog park is really superlative) and then sit smugly back and say, “Oh, they’re a waste of money and resources!” Keep up this fatuous bit of logic, and you’re going to find that the Dunwoody park is soon only open to residents, like other parks in the area. THEN where will you go?
Sandy Springs mishandled the whole Ridgeview dog park issue, and then compromised and set aside a space at Morgan Falls — only to discover that, wow, it had a great view of the river, let’s not waste THAT on the dogs! What they didn’t understand is that PEOPLE take their dogs to the dog park — and the people would certainly have enjoyed the view, even if the dogs didn’t. Or, heaven forbid, someone from an adjoining county might actually want to use Sandy Spring’s dog park …
Sandy Spring broke faith with the builder of the dog park and also with all the residents that agreed to the compromise spot. Yes, it’s a question of priorities — but the money had already been set aside, and, according to Sandy Springs, we’re doing pretty well, money-wise. So what’s the problem? By not following through with a dog park for our residents, in our arrogance, we may find ourselves and our dogs unwelcome anywhere else, either.
It’s enough to make me want to take my dog off-leash in a Sandy Springs council meeting!
By Jim Osterman
February 4, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this
DB:
Thanks for weighing in. My point is that, while an off-leash dog park will be a great thing to have in our community, there are more pressing things that need taking care of. If we’re going to get stirred up we need to prioritize.
You make a GREAT point on the cleanup of the Dunwoody facility. I was not aware they had a regular time set aside to go in and clean the park. I will get that on my radar. Anyone, regardless of zip code, that uses that park needs to pitch in to keep it maintained.
Jake thanks you for speaking up. God bless….
By Ed J.
February 4, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
Why don’t we start with a people park first. My Sandy Springs kids ages 5 and 9 have no place to run around freely either.
I live off Johnson Ferry. There is literally no free range public park within miles. I once tried to find a place just to kick a soccer ball with my son and ended up at Ridgeview Park.
I am thankful for the NRA around the Hooch, but surely we need a big grassy people park before we start trying to build one for the dogs. (And I have two dogs)
By DB
February 4, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this
The Dunwoody dog park has a volunteer website, www.jawitp.com (Just A Walk In The Park). They have a clean-up the last Saturday of every month:
http://www.jawitp.com/aboutvolunteers.html
If Sandy Springs residents are going to take advantage of this terrific facility, the least we could do is help maintain it! The volunteer group is very active in keeping the park clean and attractive to both people and dogs.
By Jim Osterman
February 4, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this
DB:
Thanks for the link. Sandy Springsteens — if you use the Dunwoody dog park you need to donate your time and/or money please.
By Henry D.
February 7, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
Jim, Thanks for the article, but you asked the wrong question.
Instead of “Why are we spending money in these difficult times for a dog park?” you should have asked, “Why are we building a $250,000 people park that was not requested?”
A little history here: Three years ago, $25,000 was budgeted for a small dog park at Ridgeview (a park inherited from an isolated piece of property due too the GA 400 construction off Trimble Road) which was decided by city planners and approved by Sandy Springs City Council. (In fact, Eva stated that she received more letter about the dog park than any other single issue since taking office.)
At a city hearing, local NIMBY’s (led by John Willis, remember this name) cried foul and said their lifestyles would be harmed by all those barking dogs and traffic. (Obviously, NIMBY’s always have some justification, even though they may want the overall service, they just don’t want it in their back yards!)
When told the cost to move the park to Morgan Falls was ten times more expensive ($250,000), John Willis stood up and declared that he would raise the additional money so that Sandy Springs would not have to spend any more than originally anticipated. With that promise, the city agreed to move the park to Morgan Falls.
Fast forward to late last year. According to the city, John Willis did not contribute any cash contributions of any kind during this time, but the city is going ahead with the Morgan Fall park. The city lets a contract to grade the land at Morgan Falls, and guess who wins the contract? That’s right, John Willis! The city paid him $166,000 (so far) and while looking at the newly graded land, what does he decide? The site is too pretty for dogs, so let’s make it a people park instead, the dogs can find someplace else to go.
He convinces Rusty Paul and Eva to go forward with a people park and the dogs are left out once again. As of now, a “temporary dog park”, located on a gravel pit parking lot next to the boat dock below the dam is anticipated. Throw up a fence, add some shade, and that should stop those crazy dog lovers. (Note the sarcasm.)
So, instead of a $25K dog park quietly completed three years ago, we have a new $250,000 people park being built and John Willis, the NIMBY leader, personally profiting from his actions to move the park from it’s original location.
In short, if you want to complain about spending excess tax payer money on “luxuries” like a dog park, instead consider writing about why one politically connected individual was able to reshape a $25K expenditure for a specific purpose to another, unrelated one, ten times more costly and profit at the same time. That’s the real story here.
PS I have more information and facts. If you would like to know more, feel free to contact me at the email address submitted.
By Warren Besch
February 8, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this
I am sure Dunwoody appreciates your “business”, Jim, but am not inclined to be as charitable as some who have written earlier. You come across in your article as a narrow-minded, unmitigated jackass, whose sarcasm reeks of a smug, self-righteous mentality. What a contrast with Henry D, who revealed the true nature of John Willis’ machinations. I read of the park “switch”, but the AJC omitted mention of the man behind it.