Clemente Dog Park

**SGneighbor** · 03-05-2012, 01:50 PM

I heard a rumor that the dog park at Clemente will be closed. How sad. Dog owners have an opportunity to socialize and share information, which serves as a vital part of a neighborhood. Just as the SG Garden and the Civic Association serve this purpose, so does the dog park.

**BBQ KING** · 03-05-2012, 02:55 PM

Clarifications and Questions

I think Clemente park is not a dog park and is posted as such per the other thread regarding this park.

Are they closing the playing fields for all use? Also per the other thread it seems the park is used for field sports.

**Titus** · 03-05-2012, 04:44 PM

There have been reports that there will be more restrictions to access the playing fields to keep out dogs.

BBQ King is right - It Is Not A Dog Park, it is a playing field for sports despite the number of people, including myself, who use it for such as there is no other place to go within reasonable walking distance.

**mandfense** · 03-05-2012, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by Titus

There have been reports that there will be more restrictions to access the playing fields to keep out dogs.

What restrictions are going to be in place to keep out the rest of the animals in the neighborhood?

**dcss1205** · 03-06-2012, 09:37 PM

As a City recreational facility, it has a staff. And one of the staff comes to the 9th district's monthly PSA#3 community meeting to report on the Rec Center.

From that, I assume he has a Hot Line to the police for any problems.

**stawttc** · 03-09-2012, 04:50 PM

I have been attending the PSA3 meetings for 3 years and I can assure you that the Parks and Rec employee at Clemente Playground, who is a part-time employee and with whom I am acquainted, has never attended a PSA3 meeting. Further, as far as I know, he has never contacted the police about problems in the playground.

**Titus** · 03-14-2012, 09:55 AM

Here's an update on dogs at Clemente - "Parks and Recreation Dept. has decided to lock the gates to Clemente Field by Monday, April 2". Dogs will not be permitted even on-leash to enter the recreation areas. Fines will be levied.

**BBQ KING** · 03-14-2012, 01:34 PM

Curious if there will similar enforcement on Brown St near the prison.
Certainly no fence to close.

**b_fairmount** · 03-14-2012, 04:50 PM

Different situation. That is a city field; which the city can lock so only permitted user use the field. Now, you will need a permit to access the field from dept of parks and rec. What it sounds like is the field at Clemente will be locked for everyone, not just dogs. Maybe dog owners can apply for a permit to use the field. A softball dog league.

The lawn behind the prison is not a public park its owned by the prison. The prison allows people to use the lawn and playground. Yes they have the, "do not walk your dog on this lawn" sign but its not really enforceable. There is no legal force behind that sign. You can get fined for not picking up dog waste or having your dog off a leash but walking your dog on a leash and picking up after him is not illegal.

Originally Posted by BBQ KING

Curious if there will similar enforcement on Brown St near the prison.
Certainly no fence to close.

**Tartan69** · 03-14-2012, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by b_fairmount

Now, you will need a permit to access the field from dept of parks and rec. What it sounds like is the field at Clemente will be locked for everyone, not just dogs.

Wow that doesn't seem very much like a publicly-owned park then, does it? Seems like a bit of cutting your own nose off to spite your face going on here. And I don't even have a dog!

**Titus** · 03-15-2012, 10:05 AM

It will not be closed, but access will be limited. Dogs, however, will be forbidden entirely.

**Tartan69** · 03-15-2012, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Titus

but access will be limited

But what does that mean? You previously posted that the gates will be locked and b_fairmount posted that you'll need a permit. Maybe I'm misunderstanding and just need more details, but that sounds like pretty harsh restriction of public use of a public park that is paid with by public funds.

**b_fairmount** · 03-15-2012, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan69

But what does that mean? You previously posted that the gates will be locked and b_fairmount posted that you'll need a permit. Maybe I'm misunderstanding and just need more details, but that sounds like pretty harsh restriction of public use of a public park that is paid with by public funds.

Its a baseball field. Its not a park. You need a permit to use any of the fields with parks & rec and in fairmount park. My company, to use a softball field during the summer, takes out a permit to play softball every thursday night from 5 to 8 at a field in fairmount park. It will be the same way, except in the case of clemente since there is already a fence around the field they will lock the field and only give the key or combination to permitted users. Which will be PSSC and the local little leagues and schools. The remaining time it will be locked. That is the only way they can keep the dogs out.

**AbortedWalrus** · 03-15-2012, 01:18 PM

So if I want to play catch or do some batting practice with my brother on a ball field in Philadelphia I need a permit? That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard in my life.

**Tartan69** · 03-15-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by b_fairmount

Its a baseball field. Its not a park.

Well then why does the Ben Franklin HS football team practice on it? I played organized football for almost 2 decades, and know that sport is by far the hardest on grass of any activity out there. Dog poop is admittedly no fun and I agree something needs to be done to curb it somehow, but you can't tell me that it is harder on that field than football.

Listen, you have to look at the greater good here. If a dog park is not constructed SOMEWHERE close then people will walk their dogs wherever they feel like it. Dog owners are notoriously irresponsible, but that's life and we have to deal with it. So if that "somewhere" isn't going to be Clemente, then I now have to worry about stepping in what they leave behind...be it on my sidewalk or in my tree pit. We're fighting over a multi-use field when in reality we should be fighting to build a dog park.

**Titus** · 03-15-2012, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by AbortedWalrus

So if I want to play catch or do some batting practice with my brother on a ball field in Philadelphia I need a permit? That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard in my life.

I imagine it will be open somewhat maybe one gate during the day, but you'd have to ask the rec center what they intend to do. b_fairmount is right it is a baseball field and Tartan69 is right too - someplace is needed for people to walk their dogs suitably and that can control problems.

**AbortedWalrus** · 03-15-2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Titus

I imagine it will be open somewhat maybe one gate during the day, but you'd have to ask the rec center what they intend to do. b_fairmount is right it is a baseball field and Tartan69 is right too - someplace is needed for people to walk their dogs suitably and that can control problems.

Yeah I mean, keeping dog walkers out is completely reasonable to me, and as a dog owner I agree we need a dog run somewhere, but locking the entrances? That just seems insane.

**b_fairmount** · 03-15-2012, 11:19 PM

I agree that playing sports on a field, especially football, is harder on the field than dogs. I was just saying that it is not a park; it is a field. Again teams using that field have permits and it seems that it will now be enforced 24/7 by locking the gate. The field is beat up because the soil and drainage is poor, there is no irrigation system and teams use that field all the time year round.

Originally Posted by Tartan69

We're fighting over a multi-use field when in reality we should be fighting to build a dog park.

We had a dog park built. A nice, big one behind ESP and 1 person took it away. Now the entire area is locked up and no one can use it.

**catperson87** · 03-15-2012, 11:59 PM

Does anyone have a source to link to for these rumors? I tried Googling minutes for relevant meetings but couldn't find anything.

**Moonraker** · 03-16-2012, 12:32 AM

One of the Center's attendants/staff/ et al participates in the 9th Police District, PSA 3 meeting and has address the issues and concerns that the facility has had since the renovation. I do not recall the details but suggest you speak with the staff, and/or attend Monday's PSA 3 meeting, assuming he will be there as he regularly is.