Back to the Drawing Board: Plan B for Dog Park Won't Work
On Friday, a Stone Mountain city council member asked the Stone Mountain Memorial Association (SMMA) about moving the city's controversial dog play space to an area in Stone Mountain Park, but it can't happen, SMMA leadership said.
Stone Mountain city council member Steve Higgins on Friday met with Bob Cowhig, Stone Mountain Memorial Association's director of planning and development, about the possibility of relocating the city's controversial dog park to an area of Stone Mountain Park.
Higgins suggested a wooded area off a trail into the park. The trail begins at the Visitors Center on Main Street in the City of Stone Mountain and meanders into Stone Mountain Park.
Through e-mail correspondence, Cowhig told Patch that the location is in the park's natural district and would require clearing one to two acres of trees.
"They are welcome to keep the park in the current location but that’s all we have to offer," Cowhig wrote in his e-mail. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association owns the land on which the dog park sits, at Poole and Third Streets.
"I didn't think the park would be interested," Higgins told Patch Friday. "They said they had talked about a dog park previously and the consensus was they don't want a dog park in Stone Mountain Park because it's too much trouble."
"That spot would require quite a bit of work and they're not in favor of cutting any trees," Higgins said.
Higgins had also inquired about another part of the park property that's clearer, but it's mostly open to the public only for educational purposes, he said.
If the city relocates the park, it would have to put the property back in the shape it was before it became a dog park, requiring plowing it up and reseeding it, Higgins said.
Under the agreement with SMMA, the city can only use the property as a dog park, Cowhig said in an e-mail: "If the city were to abandon it reverts to green space at the city’s expense."
The Stone Mountain city council voted unanimously in December to close Red Dog Park until further notice. Nearby residents told the council that there were ongoing issues such as the noise level, parking on private property and people arriving with their pets during off-hours. People in favor of the dog park said it built relationships, brought business to the city, and exercised and socialized their dogs.
Higgins said he's continuing to investigate options.
The city council plans to discuss the dog park at its retreat on Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 a.m. at the new City Hall, 875 Main Street. The meeting is open to the public but there will be no public comment period.
Take our Patch Poll: What should happen to Red Dog Park?
Beth Beery
9:40 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The park should be reopened in the current location. Rules should be clearly posted at the park and on the city's website. All other dog parks in the area have rules posted and there is no evidence of arguments between nearby residents and dog park users. The rules should include : accepted hours of use, approved parking locations, and aggressive dogs should be prohibited. A description of aggressive dog behavior will be necessary. There should also be a warning of the city's right to close the dog park and ticket parking violators if rules are not followed.
Beth Beery
Irene Marsden
12:07 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The closure is largely due to ONE resident who lives across from the park, a mean and spiteful man who thinks it is still 1850 !
Lucas Roberts
9:42 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I like the voting feature!
I defiantly miss the dog park. I've been into town a few Items, and it is defiantly missed.
What about Wade Walker?
That park seem under used.
Tya
10:06 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
As we all very well know, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The individual who collected 81 neighborhood names on his petition for last week's meeting could have received them from people who may not really feel strongly about the dog park as he does or may even be indifferent about it all together. They may have just signed to get him off their front porch. Is the financial cost of moving the park worth it?If he wanted to keep his neighborhood quiet he most realize, that if Stone Mountain ever want to catch up with other communities, noise will come with community development along with tourist.
The members of the council need to visit other dog parks and find out what others do. As for parking, they failed to provide spots for us to park (unlike at other parks who did provide parking for dog owners).