Hill Rag | May 2008 | Scramble Begins for Neighborhood Off-Leash Dog Parks

Scramble Begins for Neighborhood Off-Leash Dog Parks

by: Nancy J. Kellner

Applications are starting to roll in to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for off-leash dog parks. After years of lobbying and cajoling, dog park advocates are finally going to see their dreams come true. The process of evaluating the applications, designing and creating the dog parks is new to DPR, and there are bound to be some glitches along the way. Even so, there is every reason to expect that by the end of this year, up to three off-leash dog parks will make their debut in the District.

Director Ray and DPR Staff Say They’re Ready
It was a big surprise, confessed Clark E. Ray, Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), to see the issue of legal, off-leash dog parks near the top of his in-box when he took office in 2007. Since then, he has become acutely aware of how passionate DC residents are about this issue – both for and against. But Mr. Ray, who admitted to owning two cats, said he is determined to carry out the will of the City Council, which in December of last year enacted the regulations that pave the way for legal, DC-funded, off-leash dog parks.

Mr. Ray was addressing a group of about 50 people at a city-wide forum held March 25, 2008, in the Josephine Butler Parks Center, headquarters of Washington Parks and People (WPP), located on 15th Street, NW, overlooking Meridian Hill. WPP is a non-profit organization, which has agreed to partner with neighborhood dog-owner groups to assist in the creation of dog parks. See www.washingtonparks.net.

The forum was organized by George Kassouf, who has recently become the face of DC DOG, a long-time advocacy group for legal, off-leash dog parks in the District. WPP’s Steve Coleman was also present, as were DPR’s primary dog park contacts, Jesse Rounds, Community Planner, and Bridget Stesney, Planning and Design Officer.

There were numerous familiar faces in the audience, including ANC 6A Commissioner Bill Schultheiss and Kathy Silva, one of the city’s original voices supporting off-leash parks for DC dogs and their tax-paying owners. There were also folks seeking amplification of the dog park application process and requirements. The meeting room was very close to standing-room only, and the discussion was lively. Mr. Ray and his colleagues were generous with their time and refreshingly candid.

Some highlights:

As of the date of the forum, two applications had already been filed: one by Circle Dogs for a park at 17th and S Streets, NW (5,600 sq. ft.), and one by Newark Street Park K-9 Friends at 39th and Newark Streets, NW (11,000 sq. ft.). Newark Street Park K-9 has teamed up with WPP for its application. Public comment on these applications may be made online and are due May 6, 2008. They then go for by DPR’s Dog Park Application Review Committee, which includes a Washington Humane Society representative and a veterinarian/canine behaviorist.
DPR budget for dog parksis $1.2 million ($600,000 each for FY 2007 and 2008; DPR’s 2009 budget is expected to be reduced). Additional funds might be available from DPR’s “Enterprise Fund”, which accepts private donations and would be permitted to partner with a dog park sponsoring group.
Could these funds be re-allocated to, say, a children’s playground? It’s possible.
Time from approval to build start? At least 60 days.
Estimated expenditure by DPR for construction of a ‘basic’ dog park? At least $100,000.
DPR won’t identify potential sites, but WPP will assist interested groups.
DPR officially won’t work with the National Parks Service for dog parks on NPS land, but Mr. Ray said he’d be open to discussions with NPS representatives.
Applications vary in detail and supporting information, but the more well-thought out the application and viable the sponsoring group, the better. HillHounds application for a park at Kingsman Field (14th and D Streets, NE), filed April 23, was 222 pages – but may face an uphill battle given Mr. Ray’s express reluctance to convert any existing ‘green space’ athletic fields to a dog park.

Still unanswered:
Time-sharing for under-used athletic fields? Separate areas for small dogs? How much weight will opposition groups be given? You might say that the dog drool-drenched tennis ball is now in DPR’s yard.

Useful contacts and links:

Washington Parks and People – Steve.Coleman@washingtonparks.net
HillHounds -- Melynda Majors at hillhounds@yahoogroups.com
DC DOG -- George Kassouf at DCDOG@yahoogroups.com.
The regulations, application process, filed applications and FAQs -- http://dpr.dc.gov/dogparks.

Nancy J. Kellner is an attorney, a professional dog trainer and the owner of What A Good Dog! LLC. She can be reached online at nancy@whatagooddog.net.


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Scramble Begins for Neighborhood Off-Leash Dog Parks

by: Nancy J. Kellner
Applications are starting to roll in to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for off-leash dog parks. After years of lobbying and cajoling, dog park advocates are finally going to see their dreams come true. The process of evaluating the applications, designing and creating the dog parks is new to DPR, and there are bound to be some glitches along the way. Even so, there is every reason to expect that by the end of this year, up to three off-leash dog parks will make their debut in the District. *Director Ray and DPR Staff Say They’re Ready* It was a big surprise, confessed Clark E. Ray, Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), to see the issue of legal, off-leash dog parks near the top of his in-box when he took office in 2007. Since then, he has become acutely aware of how passionate DC residents are about this issue – both for and against. But Mr. Ray, who admitted to owning two cats, said he is determined to carry out the will of the City Council, which in December of last year enacted the regulations that pave the way for legal, DC-funded, off-leash dog parks. Mr. Ray was addressing a group of about 50 people at a city-wide forum held March 25, 2008, in the Josephine Butler Parks Center, headquarters of Washington Parks and People (WPP), located on 15th Street, NW, overlooking Meridian Hill. WPP is a non-profit organization, which has agreed to partner with neighborhood dog-owner groups to assist in the creation of dog parks. See www.washingtonparks.net. The forum was organized by George Kassouf, who has recently become the face of DC DOG, a long-time advocacy group for legal, off-leash dog parks in the District. WPP’s Steve Coleman was also present, as were DPR’s primary dog park contacts, Jesse Rounds, Community Planner, and Bridget Stesney, Planning and Design Officer. There were numerous familiar faces in the audience, including ANC 6A Commissioner Bill Schultheiss and Kathy Silva, one of the city’s original voices supporting off-leash parks for DC dogs and their tax-paying owners. There were also folks seeking amplification of the dog park application process and requirements. The meeting room was very close to standing-room only, and the discussion was lively. Mr. Ray and his colleagues were generous with their time and refreshingly candid. *Some highlights:* As of the date of the forum, two applications had already been filed: one by Circle Dogs for a park at 17th and S Streets, NW (5,600 sq. ft.), and one by Newark Street Park K-9 Friends at 39th and Newark Streets, NW (11,000 sq. ft.). Newark Street Park K-9 has teamed up with WPP for its application. Public comment on these applications may be made online and are due May 6, 2008. They then go for by DPR’s Dog Park Application Review Committee, which includes a Washington Humane Society representative and a veterinarian/canine behaviorist. DPR budget for dog parksis $1.2 million ($600,000 each for FY 2007 and 2008; DPR’s 2009 budget is expected to be reduced). Additional funds might be available from DPR’s “Enterprise Fund”, which accepts private donations and would be permitted to partner with a dog park sponsoring group. Could these funds be re-allocated to, say, a children’s playground? It’s possible. Time from approval to build start? At least 60 days. Estimated expenditure by DPR for construction of a ‘basic’ dog park? At least $100,000. DPR won’t identify potential sites, but WPP will assist interested groups. DPR officially won’t work with the National Parks Service for dog parks on NPS land, but Mr. Ray said he’d be open to discussions with NPS representatives. Applications vary in detail and supporting information, but the more well-thought out the application and viable the sponsoring group, the better. HillHounds application for a park at Kingsman Field (14th and D Streets, NE), filed April 23, was 222 pages – but may face an uphill battle given Mr. Ray’s express reluctance to convert any existing ‘green space’ athletic fields to a dog park. *Still unanswered: Time-sharing for under-used athletic fields? Separate areas for small dogs? How much weight will opposition groups be given? You might say that the dog drool-drenched tennis ball is now in DPR’s yard. Useful contacts and links:* Washington Parks and People – Steve.Coleman@washingtonparks.net HillHounds -- Melynda Majors at hillhounds@yahoogroups.com DC DOG -- George Kassouf at DCDOG@yahoogroups.com. The regulations, application process, filed applications and FAQs -- http://dpr.dc.gov/dogparks. Nancy J. Kellner is an attorney, a professional dog trainer and the owner of What A Good Dog! LLC. She can be reached online at nancy@whatagooddog.net.