Tug of war over dog park between city, residents continues
Kelly Thomas08/31/10
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Although the West Park Off-Leash Exercise Area is generally a source of enjoyment for people and their dogs, in August it became the center of a three-way debate between park users, the city and the Northside Oldtimers.
The city closed the off-leash area of West Park for two permitted events, one the Oldtimers Unity Day picnic Aug. 7-8, and the other African Arts in the Park Aug. 14-15.
Because of a lack of clear communication, dog park users felt the city should not close the park, and in addition, had complaints about the condition in which the off-leash area was left by the Oldtimers at past events.
No one complained about African Arts in the Park, which occurred more along North Avenue than in the off-leash area.
According to lawyer Jim Wallace, who represented Northsider Randy Zotter in a suit against the city for issuing indiscriminate tickets for off-leash dogs in 2004, the city promised park users not to issue event permits for the off-leash area.
But according to Director of City Operations Duane Ashley, the city made no such promise.
Both Wallace and Ashley were present at the 2004 settlement in which the verbal agreement against permits in the OLEA was allegedly confirmed.
The Northside Oldtimers, which has held its annual Unity Day in West Park for the past four years, is stuck in the middle, and Oldtimers President Allen Turner said he isn’t sure what happened.
A major complaint, according to posts made on the Yahoo! Groups page Chat Northside, was poor cleanup of chicken and rib bones on the part of the Oldtimers at last year’s event. Veterinarians are against giving chicken bones to dogs because they can splinter in a dog’s mouth or throat and cause serious damage or death.
This year, according to both Turner and Ashley, the Oldtimers took cleanup more seriously and hired a private company to not only provide security but to cleanup as well.
Despite the company’s efforts, though, park users who did not wish to be identified said they found chicken and rib bones in the off-leash area well after the event, though they agreed cleanup was more thorough this year.
Several park users said they felt it was not appropriate to hold an event with food that could potentially kill a dog in an area that was used as a dog park 360 days out of the year.
Ashley’s response was to ask if an entire event should be moved because a few people want to exercise their dogs, and he added that the city did not want to create a dog park in that area, but did so anyway at the community’s request.
Ashley said he was setting up a meeting between all parties concerned for early September, and that if he needs to organize a community meeting, he will.
Aside from feeling like the city went back on its word, Wallace explained park users’ other complaints, which also stem from last year’s Oldtimers event.
Wallace said park users had to deal with event-goers harassing them while they walked their on-leash dogs through West Park last year, and that the Oldtimers put up “no dogs allowed” signs, whether they were on- or off-leash.
Turner confirmed that the group was responsible for putting up the no dog signs, but added that the group had been thinking about safety and said he did not know of any harassment
Reverend David McFarland of Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church said he walked his dog through West Park during last year’s event and was not harassed or bothered.
This year, the Oldtimers did not put up “no dogs allowed” signs because the city told the group it was not allowed to, Turner said.
Another complaint park users had, according to Wallace, was that they did understand why the city allows such a large event to happen in such a small area of the park, when no other parts of the park have a dedicated purpose like the off-leash area.
Turner’s response is that West Park makes the most sense for such a big event. Not only do they get electricity from the Aviary, he said, but the event fills the entirety of West Park, and East Park is simply not large enough.
“In terms of size, it’s the proper place. In terms of convenience it’s the proper place,” he said.
He added that because of how much the event has grown in the past few years, it may be time to find a bigger venue that could better accommodate the thousands of people who attend.
Comments
- Northside Chronicle
- September 15, 2010
- @Dog Owner: The city doesn't, and never did, want to put up a fence in West Park because it would ruin the aesthetics and open-air feeling of the Commons, according to Duane Ashley.
- Dog owner
- September 07, 2010
- The solution to this problem seems simple enough. Why not fence in a section of the park for the dogs? The dogs would be safe, the dog park would stay open, and the picnic people would probably stay out. As the old saying goes, fences make good neighbors. I really never understood the dog park down in West Park without a fence. It seems that dogs could get away from the owners. I know we all like to think our dogs listen, but we do not know the mind of a dog and what can make them run. Also a note to the writer of the article. Not only do vegetarians oppose their dogs eating chicken bones but any dog owner knows a chicken bone is bad news for dogs.
- Kirk B. Burkley
- September 04, 2010
- I suggest we all take a step back and calm down. I have been taught that when there is a problem in any business or organization it is typically a breakdown in process or the lack of good process to begin with. In rare situations the problem is with an individual, but when that happens the person should be removed from the organization immediately. Here, I think we have an issue that centers on process and procedure. Clearly, the Old Timers have the right to congregate and have built a highly successful event that attracts thousands of people. On the other side, residents of our community are right to ask that the community be respected by anyone that uses the park. (Steelers fans are especially included in that request). I suspect that the "tug of war" mentioned in the Chronicle is not just about the Old Timers event. The Old Timers had the unfortunate position of being just one of many events in the park in July-August, including African Arts in the Park, PROMISE and Venture Outdoors. I imagine that the described "tug of war" would have been relatively non-existent had the Old Timers been the only event this summer. Similarly, I suspect that had those events been a little smaller, the "tug of war" would not have made its way into the Chronicle. In other words, it is likely the size and frequency of events in the park that heightened the tension, not the people involved. I will tell you that while I did have one group of guys yell at me about my dogs (there are always a couple in every crowd), the vast majority of people I encountered while walking my dogs were not only nice, but came up to pet the dogs and chatted with me for a while. We need to keep in mind that historically residents have not confined their concerns to the Old Timers. I have regularly heard concerns from people regarding other groups, including, the church youth groups that play Frisbee and leave pizza crust in the dog park. Of particular note was the Children's festival. This was a very large event that continually received criticism from neighbors regarding noise, trash, parking, etc. Eventually, the Children's festival determined that West Park was not the best location and moved elsewhere. I suggest that the best way to take race out of this debate and help lower the tension is to focus on process and procedure – not people. If we, in conjunction with the City, set reasonable rules and regulations for the park at the front end, we can better avoid this sort of issue on the back end. For example, should there be size limits on events in the park? Should there be noise limits? Should groups using the park be required to show that they are providing adequate parking, security, clean up, etc? Should the City limit the number of events in any given month? With the exception of the expected few instigators in any crowd, I am positive that the vast majority of people on all sides of this issue are good people who want to do right by each other. By setting reasonable rules and regulations for use of City Parks, with specific focus on the size of the event and the park to be used, we can better create an environment where tension is reduced and community use of public assets is celebrated by all.
- Willie D
- September 02, 2010
- Whay about when the Steeler have a game ? no parking and garbage. Also we are talking about 4 days a year. if you love your dogs try and send some of it to humans. .
- Anon
- September 01, 2010
- The various charges of racism here are outrageous and cowardly. Is that the only way people know how to respond to legitimate concerns of the people that live here? Fact - the City closed the dog park without consulting anyone in the community. Fact - the Old Timers did not consult anyone. Fact - there was significant trash left in and around the park after the event, including beer cans and bottles. Many people have lots of pictures. Fact - cars were parked illegally all over the neighborhood any many residents have difficulty finding a place to park. Fact - the Aviary had to cancel it's bird shows due to the noise. Fact - the event in the park was not diverse and made no attempt to be inclusive or address community concerns. New Fact - if someone disrespect you or your family or your property and that person happens to be black, you aren't allowed to do anything about it. I suppose the Rev
- Rev. Dave
- September 01, 2010
- As a West Park neighbor (our church, alleghenyuu.org is right across the street), this event is something that can be celebrated! Thousands of people gathering to enjoy their connections to the neighborhood and each other... that's a good thing. That racism is seen lurking behind this is not a surprise to me. The history of race tension in this neighborhood goes back at least to the encouragement of "White Flight" back in the middle of the last century. There's a context there. Sad, but there. Making a racist mountain out of a dog-saving mole hill can be a serious impediment to real racial justice. I hope we can keep perspective. It's a relatively new event that has to work things out. We all have to work things out together if we want this community to thrive. The more understanding, the better. Sometimes conversations contribute to understanding. Sometimes conversations inhibit understanding. I hope whatever ways the City or the neighborhood or the Old Timers themselves converse, that those conversations are fruitful, respectful, and that they contribute to building up understanding in our diverse community. End of sermon.
- Trash
- September 01, 2010
- William - there was a considerable amount of trash after the event concluded. I am a resident of the area and I know what I'm seeing. There were pop cans floating in Lake Elizabeth, empty potato chip bags littered alongside the sidewalks and more. What an eyesore, hopefully next year clean-up will be better and event-goers will be more respectful of the environment.
- Emily Ramos
- September 01, 2010
- This is an interesting article. I walked through the oldtimers event last year with my dog and was loudly told by several people that I was not allowed to have my dog there.
- William W Moore
- September 01, 2010
- How was the neighborhood trashed? What proof do you have to make this statement? The event brings back people all over the country for fun and fellowship. Is that not a good thing?
- Julie Peterson
- August 31, 2010
- Firstly, this is not a racial issue and I love that it's "anonymous" that decides to throw that out there!. Put your name to your comments, or are you ashamed to?? The Old Timers needed the space for the thousands of people who attend their event, even if they didn't ask for the dog park those that attended would probably use it anyways and how could you possibly stop people from setting up there? As a resident and supporter of what the old timers are trying to do for youth in our neighborhoods I walked through the park with my 12yr old newphew that day, the vibe was fun and relaxed, as they intended it to be. The issue that residents have is that the City didn't keep their end of the bargin, the rules should apply to all events, full stop. Anonymous, ofcourse you're anonymous...why stir things up. I haven't heard anything from the Old Timers saying they were worried about racial tension in the park that day and the complaints from dog owners are based on people, again full stop, dropping litter and food and not cleaning up after themselves, believing that someone else will, stop trying to stir something up that has nothing to do with why people are complaining, you yourself should be ashamed.
- Anonymous
- August 31, 2010
- This is unfortunate. There is an underlying racial tone under this. It is unfortunate for a place that is as diverse as the northside would have these kinds of comments to share. We should all be ashamed of ourselves that in 2010 we are still having these battles.
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