Dog park coming to East Falls?

**Hypebeast** · 02-15-2012, 04:47 PM

This was proposed at the most recent EFCC meeting:

"An East Falls Dog Park?
Kelly Grieco is spearheading an exploratory Dog Park Committee of the East Falls Community Council. If interested, contact her at kells1414@gmail.com."

I for one, think this is a great idea!

It would save me from driving to pretzel park.

**billy ross** · 02-15-2012, 06:44 PM

Oops

**billy ross** · 02-15-2012, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by Hypebeast

This was proposed at the most recent EFCC meeting:

"An East Falls Dog Park?
Kelly Grieco is spearheading an exploratory Dog Park Committee of the East Falls Community Council. If interested, contact her at kelly1414@gmail.com."

I for one, think this is a great idea!

It would save me from driving to pretzel park.

I support this. Any thoughts as to possible locations? We could probably do something in the underused parkland along th river. How much space would we need? Could we formalize the space (de facto dog run) along the reservoir?

**The Rox** · 02-15-2012, 07:45 PM

Great news for EF.

Well run dog parks are great for local communities.

**dukeboards** · 02-15-2012, 08:51 PM

Tear out the basketball courts at Inn Yard and put it there. More foot traffic for Ridge, less trouble at courts, and families with dogs and kids can multi-task at the playground.

**Malloy** · 02-15-2012, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by dukeboards

Tear out the basketball courts at Inn Yard and put it there. More foot traffic for Ridge, less trouble at courts, and families with dogs and kids can multi-task at the playground.

Yes, I like this idea.

**ThinkYourSmart?** · 02-16-2012, 01:15 AM

There has been one incident of trouble at those courts in as many years as I've lived here. Show us any kind of evidence that proves otherwise.

**ThinkYourSmart?** · 02-16-2012, 01:33 AM

That said, I vote for converting the dilapidated tennis courts at Mcdevitt Park. It's already fenced and is used as a make-shift dog park by many owners.

**Naveen** · 02-16-2012, 10:12 AM

I like the idea of putting at on Ridge. More people on the Ridge, the sooner it can develop into what it should be.

OTOH, how do dog owners feel about taking their dogs down to a busy area like that. Lots of cars.

**Tom Sauerman** · 02-16-2012, 10:32 AM

Kelly's correct address is Kells1414@gmail.com. She's new to the community and needs help in pulling this off. Volunteer to help!

**Hypebeast** · 02-16-2012, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Naveen

I like the idea of putting at on Ridge. More people on the Ridge, the sooner it can develop into what it should be.

OTOH, how do dog owners feel about taking their dogs down to a busy area like that. Lots of cars.

I'm on the fence, no pun intended. A dog park should be well built and fenced in to prevent dogs from escaping and running out into traffic, so it could be a moot point. As a dog owner, you should give your dog the necessary training that it wouldn't run into the street or away from you if it gets loose.

Then again, i've witnessed incidents at pretzel park where owners leave the gate open by accident and dogs run out.

**Naveen** · 02-16-2012, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hypebeast

I'm on the fence, no pun intended. A dog park should be well built and fenced in to prevent dogs from escaping and running out into traffic, so it could be a moot point. As a dog owner, you should give your dog the necessary training that it wouldn't run into the street or away from you if it gets loose.

Then again, i've witnessed incidents at pretzel park where owners leave the gate open by accident and dogs run out.

Yeah. To me, the greater concern would be the getting to and from the park. That is, having to cross Ridge to get to the park. Especially during peak times, there are a ton of cars on the Ridge, and those drivers are not exactly neighbors looking out for the community.

**Hypebeast** · 02-16-2012, 10:49 AM

That is a good point as well.

**billy ross** · 02-16-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by ThinkYourSmart?

There has been one incident of trouble at those courts in as many years as I've lived here. Show us any kind of evidence that proves otherwise.

The people who use those courts leave their trash every time they use them. Fairmount Park cleans the park one day, and it's filthy the next if there's been alot of basketball activity on the courts. That said, Curtis Jones told me personally and unprompted he doesn't want to see anything happen to those courts. I'm sure if the community made a compelling case he'd come around, but he's starting out against it.

**billy ross** · 02-16-2012, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Naveen

Yeah. To me, the greater concern would be the getting to and from the park. That is, having to cross Ridge to get to the park. Especially during peak times, there are a ton of cars on the Ridge, and those drivers are not exactly neighbors looking out for the community.

At the least, we can soon expect a zebra stripe to facilitate pedestrian crossing of Ridge at Stanton, lining up with the new footway crossing the park - that'll be a huge improvement. I don't know whether it's getting a light or even needs a light - I think some appropriate signage should be enough to make that a good entrypoint to the park from the neighborhood.

**NCtransplant** · 02-16-2012, 01:06 PM

Why not go up the hill, to that park at the corner of Midvale & Henry (McMichael?)? I live in Mt Airy, but often drive to EF to walk my dog. I've never seen the park anywhere near crowded, and it has none of the built-in amenities (b'ball court, tables) that would have to be removed or relocated. I bet if you could get even 1/4 of the space you'd have a good-sized area that you could subdivide for large & small dogs (like the one at Schuylkill River Park).

**dukeboards** · 02-16-2012, 01:36 PM

If parents are willing and able to walk their kids across Ridge to get to the playground, then dog owners can certainly cross the street too.

Curtis Jones needs to realize that 20-30 basketball players who probably don't vote or know who he is should be less of a concern than the well-being, development and wishes of the entire community. A dog park would draw residents and shoppers to Ridge, the basketball courts deter these same groups.

A dog park in McMichael is a non-starter for many reasons.

**Speedbump** · 02-16-2012, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by NCtransplant

Why not go up the hill, to that park at the corner of Midvale & Henry (McMichael?)? I live in Mt Airy, but often drive to EF to walk my dog. I've never seen the park anywhere near crowded, and it has none of the built-in amenities (b'ball court, tables) that would have to be removed or relocated. I bet if you could get even 1/4 of the space you'd have a good-sized area that you could subdivide for large & small dogs (like the one at Schuylkill River Park).

You'll have to check with the volunteer stewards of the park.

**billy ross** · 02-16-2012, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Speedbump

You'll have to check with the volunteer stewards of the park.

How does one officially become a volunteer steward of that park? I think I and my children already are by virtue of our association with East Falls Tree Tenders and also McMichael Park, but I'd like to make it official.

**Hypebeast** · 02-16-2012, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by dukeboards

families with dogs and kids can multi-task at the playground.

That would be very cool.

If I remember correctly, there is a pretty high fence on one side that runs the length of the grass area. The dog park would only need 3 additional sides at that point. It would be a nice vantage point for dog walkers on kelly drive.

I can't speak to incidents at the park as I haven't lived in East Falls that long, but I will say that once the sun goes down it's not uncommon to see older "kids" (junior high/highschool age) in the newly built playground that probably have no business being in there (they certainly look to big for any of the obstacles in there). Whether that would curb that type of usage and make the playground more "family friendly", I don't know.