[SheridanPDC]

Sheridan finally put in a Dog Park! It's within walking distance of my house, only takes about 10-15 min to walk there. I've taken Riley 3 times this week and she LOVES it! She already knows exactly where we're going when we head out the door and she wags the whole way there. She gets more energy out than just going for a walk. Today was the first day there was another dog there, a stocky pittbull puppy. He kinda overwhelmed Riley (and his owner) with his super excitement, but Riley still had a blast. I've never been to a dog park before they opened this one, it's such a great way to get the pooch a bit of excersize!

[yessirnosir]

That's really neat! No dog parks near us so we take ours for walks, runs, hikes, drives. All that sort of stuff. Most creatures - and that includes us - weren't designed for sedentary lives.

[Miss RDA]

Lucky you. Wish they would have designated dog parks here in the UK. Lucky for me I have a nature reserve, marshland and a big lovely park with acres of land 5 minutes walk away. My dogs have each other and our guests, but for a lone dog, it's a great way to socialize with other dogs and humans who actually like them. You'll be suprised at some of the twits I run across who are terrified of dogs or because of their culture think dogs are dirty.

[Wyoming53]

Lot's of controversy with Sheridan's Dog Park.

The Lions club built the park for the kids to play. Current Mayor and city council decided to turn it into a dog park. Not all of it, but enough so the kids can't play baseball.

Mayor did that without telling the community until they were putting posts in. Most folks that lived around there got togther a petition against it. Petition was ignored and fencing continued.

The people are pissed. Although, I've been past it a zillion times and seldom is it used. Family pic-nic's every now and then but rarely used.

I hope enough people get involved with their dogs and use it. If they don't, the Mayor has a lot of pressure to put it back to original.

The second part that makes it controversial is that land in another part of the city was purchased for the express purpose of turning it into a dog park. City has had that land for a couple of years and have don't nothing with it. It's barbed wire and weeds.

Wonder why they took an existing park away from folks?

[Miss RDA]

Excuse my ignorance, but I have this image of places like Wyoming as less densley populated, with lot's of open areas, but I'm sure the cities are like any other cities in the USA. I didn't think a dog park would be a big priority.

[RVer]

We have lots of dog parks. One has the mud pits for dogs. These large ditches were built with soft sifted dirt, no rocks. The park maintenance keeps it wet with blasts of water. The dogs go crazy rolling in it, splashing in mud and running and skidding in it like little kids. This is something every dog lover has to experience. Many doggie parents speak of their dogs who are shy around others but after rolling in mud their personalities just change to a non shy playful pup.

When it's time to go, the park provides several fenced in showers so doggie parents can bathe their doggies. Bring your own shampoo though.

[Hoosierland King]

That's pretty cool that you now have a dog park. The municipality that I live in has had plans for a dog park for a few years now but lack of funding and feasibility are what hold the plans back.

[summerville]

Yes, that is VERY cool, Sheridan! We sure don't have anything like in our state, that I know of, anyway. I bet Riley is in seventh heaven!

[Miss RDA]

RVer said:

We have lots of dog parks. One has the mud pits for dogs. These large ditches were built with soft sifted dirt, no rocks. The park maintenance keeps it wet with blasts of water. The dogs go crazy rolling in it, splashing in mud and running and skidding in it like little kids. This is something every dog lover has to experience. Many doggie parents speak of their dogs who are shy around others but after rolling in mud their personalities just change to a non shy playful pup.

When it's time to go, the park provides several fenced in showers so doggie parents can bathe their doggies. Bring your own shampoo though.

Texas may lead in the amount of people they execute in the Western world, but they sure do love their dogs. Austin, where I once lived is one of the...no strike that. IS the dog friendliest place I have lived. There was a nice dog in park in Encino, Ca I would go to when I lived in the Valley, but Runyon Canyon was a place I could lose myself in thought and my dog could roam.

Then I returned to So Cal to live on 10 acre ranch and lot's of orange groves and lot's of open land I could roam. Didn't need doggie parks any more.

[summerville]

RVer said:

The dogs go crazy rolling in it, splashing in mud and running and skidding in it like little kids.

Do you mean, kinda like TalkStates members who latch on to the same thread, skidding, sliding, quoting, contributing, and lovin' it?

[SheridanPDC]

Wyo, I herd about that mess a few days ago... I don't get the paper so I had no idea what a big deal it was. My mom filled me in when I told her I took Riley to the park. It seems odd to me that the city just kinda put it up without any public input, and I can understand why it made people upset. Especially when there's another plot of land that was supposed to be used... I wonder what Kinskey's plan for that is now?? However, like you said the park was rarely used... I too have driven by it countless times in the last 10 years and could count on one hand the # of times I've seen the field they fenced off being used. In the last week or so I've driven past and almost every time there has been at least one dog & owner in there. I'm trying to go every morning, though it's a bit cold right now for going early.

RVer that mud pit park sounds FUN!!

There's plenty of beautiful walking trails around here too, but Riley dosn't get as much energy out. I have arthritis, so I stick with low-impact walking rather than jogging. So the dog park is a perfect solution for us- I get low-impact exercize and Riley gets to burn 10 times the energy she would just going for a walk :)

[Wyoming53]

I'm glad it's getting used. Haven't been to town in a couple weeks so haven't been by there.

Not sure what the City is planning for the already designated area for a dog park. haha

[RVer]

raggy dee ann said:

Texas may lead in the amount of people they execute in the Western world, but they sure do love their dogs. Austin, where I once lived is one of the...no strike that. IS the dog friendliest place I have lived. There was a nice dog in park in Encino, Ca I would go to when I lived in the Valley, but Runyon Canyon was a place I could lose myself in thought and my dog could roam.

Then I returned to So Cal to live on 10 acre ranch and lot's of orange groves and lot's of open land I could roam. Didn't need doggie parks any more.

You reminded me of something. One of our favorite places to visit is Dana Point, California. Just north of Dana Point is Laguna Beach then Newport Beach. Just north of that is a beach (cant remember the name) with the usual signs all over. This time the signs are different.

All the signs say NO LEASHES OF ANY KIND ALLOWED. IF YOU NEED A LEASH THEN YOU WEAR IT. I like that. That's my kind of town. Screw the people, this is a dogs world. Lots of RVs are always parked there and hundreds of dogs run wild. It's the greatest fun on earth. I get right on the sand and in the water and play with all these strange dogs. I love when they jump all over me.

I guess ya gotta love dogs. I mean not just say it but REALLY love dogs. Raggy you know where I mean? I guess I can google it. I just dont remember the name of that beach where dogs rule.

[yessirnosir]

I'll take a stab at it: Huntington Beach? 'Course this is coming from a guy who's never been west of the Mississippi. Sounds great, RVer!

[Wyoming53]

I drove by the park in Question. They have ruined it for people. They took OVER 80% of the park and fenced it off for dogs. Completely rediculous in my opinion. I think it's good that we finally have a dog park, but to take an existing park, donated and built by the Lions Club for children, and cut over 80% away from the kids is just wrong.

Which one should have priority? The kids, or the dogs? In this area of town, there are no schools for kids to go play on a play ground. Nearest school is 2 miles away. What should elementary and middle school kids do now?

They did put in a couple of swing sets and other things, in the little bitty space they didn't alot to the dogs.

[Miss RDA]

RVer said:

You reminded me of something. One of our favorite places to visit is Dana Point, California. Just north of Dana Point is Laguna Beach then Newport Beach. Just north of that is a beach (cant remember the name) with the usual signs all over. This time the signs are different.

All the signs say NO LEASHES OF ANY KIND ALLOWED. IF YOU NEED A LEASH THEN YOU WEAR IT. I like that. That's my kind of town. Screw the people, this is a dogs world. Lots of RVs are always parked there and hundreds of dogs run wild. It's the greatest fun on earth. I get right on the sand and in the water and play with all these strange dogs. I love when they jump all over me.

I guess ya gotta love dogs. I mean not just say it but REALLY love dogs. Raggy you know where I mean? I guess I can google it. I just dont remember the name of that beach where dogs rule.

I'm not that familiar with that end of Ca. I lived in the San Fernando Valley, Ventura and Santa Barbara. Not that familiar with Orange County and the beach towns that way.

[RVer]

Wyoming53 said:

I drove by the park in Question. They have ruined it for people. They took OVER 80% of the park and fenced it off for dogs. Completely rediculous in my opinion. I think it's good that we finally have a dog park, but to take an existing park, donated and built by the Lions Club for children, and cut over 80% away from the kids is just wrong.

Which one should have priority? The kids, or the dogs? In this area of town, there are no schools for kids to go play on a play ground. Nearest school is 2 miles away. What should elementary and middle school kids do now?

They did put in a couple of swing sets and other things, in the little bitty space they didn't alot to the dogs.

Where is this park? Maybe Long Beach? I dont remember any fences or kids area. This park is for the dogs and their parents. Are you saying some of it was stolen from the dogs for kids? I guess I'm thinking who was there first? Then again....why can't we all share?

[Wyoming53]

RVer said:

Where is this park? Maybe Long Beach? I dont remember any fences or kids area. This park is for the dogs and their parents. Are you saying some of it was stolen from the dogs for kids? I guess I'm thinking who was there first? Then again....why can't we all share?

I'm talking about the park that the OP started this thread about.

Originally, at the park, we did share. People and their dogs could all play. But dogs either had to be well trained, or on a leash. Now, they've taken 80% of it and fenced it off so untrained dogs can run free.

So now, owners can take their untrained dogs and let them enjoy the area that our kids can no longer enjoy.

I certainly understand a place for dogs. And the city purchased land for that express purpose. But the land they bought for a dog park sets idle. Barb wire fence, tall weeds. Nothing has been done.

So, the Mayor and his minions decided to take a well established park that was purchased, built and then donated to the city by the Lions Club, many years ago. They took that park and turned it into a dog park. Well, 80% of it.

I love dogs. But when I lived in an apartment, I knew better then to have a dog. Anytime I've lived where I had enough room, I've had a dog. That's why I'm looking for a dog now, I'm on 5 acres. Lots of room for a dog to run.

I just think that what they've done is wrong. But that's this Mayor. He's screwed up a lot of things since he was re-elected. He was pretty good last term, but this term, the other side of his mouth is speaking. And not for the people. We have streets that are unpaved. Still gravel. There was a 10 year plan drawn up, money was collected, bonds were purchased. Last year he took money from that pot and upgraded some streets in the expensive part of town and delayed the graveled streets by another 3-5 years. His explaination was there wasn't enough money to pave the streets that needed it.

Sorry, kind of getting off track here. I could go on for hours telling what this yahoo has not accomplished.

[SheridanPDC]

Our city's politics have been a joke with Kinskey in office, I agree. On the dog park, I did a little asking & reading... apparently the city bought 40 acres of land south of Sheridan that lies in a 100 year old flood plain, 10 acers of which was supposed to be set aside as a dog park. Apparently, and this is just what I've herd, people complained like CRAZY about putting the dog park in these 40 acres, which is to be called South Park, because a dog park would "disturb wildlife". They are going to put "adventure trails" in South Park in addition to a regular walking path, to enhance wildlife viewing oppertunties. Supposedly there has also been a stink about allowing bowhunting in South Park in the futue, as one of the city-limits hunt areas. After this and several other failed attempts to put in a dog park at several other locations, the Mayor pushed through putting a DP into Lions park without it going before the public. Lions Park was selected based on the fact that it is Sheridan's least used park. Again, not sure how much fact this is, it's just what I've herd. Dosen't make what Kinskey did right, but...

The other thing, which who knows if it will work? They are still going to schedule sports practices at Lions park (the converted dog park in question). Durring the youth sports season, the park will be closed to dogs at certain times for practices (they have left the baseball cage up). After a years time, the city councel will review how things are working out, and at that time the fences may come back down. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

In the mean time, I will use the heck out of it My dog's trained, but the leash law is explicit. No leash = ticket. I've met other dogs in the Bark Park that were also very well trained (with the exception of that pittbull puppy), so it's not just a place for people to let their ill-manered dogs run wild, or for people who live in apts... I have a large backyard & room for Riley to run, but the Bark Park is more interesting for her, with new sights/smells & lots of new friends!

I agree that it was done in a sleezy fashion, not allowing public input and all... I'm a bit torn though. I keep comming back to the fact that I've hardly ever seen this park being used by people in the last 10 years. And especially if it's true that folks shot down the idea of putting the Bark Park in the designated South Park area... Oh well. Maybe it'll work for both, if not, we'll see in a year which way it goes.

*On a side note, not related to the park, the streets really tick me off. A lot of the roads need some serious fixing, and I think they should take priority over all of the "cosmetic" work that is being done in Sheridan...

[Wyoming53]

I should correct myself a bit. When I say well trained, it's probably different then what most folks think of.

For instance. Your dog may be well trained. But get your dog out there with 8 or 10 dogs playing and if you give a command, will your dog hesitate? Or obey? If your dog is out of hearing range, can you still command the dog? My last dog, I could. Completely trained to hand commands and would respond even out at 300 ft. Made no difference if there were other animals around. Even if my dog flushed some birds, and in the middle of the flush she would look at me for next command. To proceed or set or point. Whatever I wanted her to do.

Having a dog park, to me, is like the track at the high school. Several people will drive 4 or 5 miles to the High School so they can walk around the track to get exercise. Huh? I can kind of understand it in the middle of winter because they keep the track clean. But I would think that would be for older folks. Younger folks need the excercise of uneven surfaces to help strengthen ankle muscles and such.

In Sheridan, no matter where you live, you can be on a county road in less then a mile. No leash law in the county. If a dog is well trained, you can keep them in the ditch and have no worry about the occasional pickup going by.

For some people a dog park makes sense. Medical restrictions, elderly, etc...

How are people doing cleaning up after their pets? That would be a big concern with them having sporting events on the same grounds. I can see it now "My son was sliding into third base and slid right past it. It's going to take three washing to get the smell out of his clothes."