miakoda
01-27-2006, 12:05 PM
Dog-gone it! Neighbors bark about dog park
Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:54 PM EST
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=288 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=photo-right>http://www.thecrier.net/content/articles/2006/01/27/front/park.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo-right width=288>Frolicking and barking dogs are disturbing residents near Brook Run’s off-leash park. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo-right align=middle><!-- AdSys ad not found for front:middle -->
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By Cathy Cobbs
For The Crier
It’s not all wagging tails and canine cavorting at Brook Run’s new dog park.
Surrounding residents are complaining about loose dogs wandering into their neighborhoods and persistent barking during the park’s open hours.
In addition, several are questioning the fact that the off-leash area was conceived and built without a public hearing, and that it was never included in the park’s master plan.
Beverly Armento lives in the 60-home Lakeview Oaks community, which abuts Brook Run to the west. She says that parts of the fence around Brook Run are damaged, and several dogs have escaped into the subdivision.
“We have recently hosted several large dogs, at least one scaring me at 5:30 a.m., going out for the newspaper,” she said. “It is very easy for dogs to simply walk over the fence from Brook Run and come into our Lakeview Oaks community.” <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=photo-left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo-left width=288></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Frank Lockridge, president of the Lakeview Oaks Homeowners’ Association, said he has gotten several phone calls about the “escapees,” and that at least four instances of wandering canines have occurred in the short time the park has been open.
“I walked the fence line, and what’s happened is that the fence has been damaged by falling trees,” Lockridge said. “A dog can basically walk right through the fence. “
“I know of a man who came through the neighborhood who had lost two Dalmatians - they got free and were running towards Shallowford Road the last time someone saw them,” Lockridge said.
Another neighbor, Diane Contino, said she hears large groups of dogs barking a few feet from her back yard most of her waking hours.
“The barking is loud and persistent and the noise level is such that I can hear the activity from inside my home at all hours of the day and evening,” she said.
The park officially opened January 17 at Brook Run, which is located the near the corner of Tilly Mill Road and North Peachtree roads.
The move was spurred by community members who formed a group called Just a Walk in the Park and had been lobbying the CEO and others to support the construction of an off-leash dog park. The facility is not in the park’s master plan, a fact that had some wondering if other elements would be installed within the park without any public input.
There was an informal request for the off-leash park made in November. More than 900 people signed a petition asking for a dog park at Brook Run and the JAWITP group put together a presentation package to give to Jones and other officials.
The group then invited Jones and his dog, Henry, to Brook Run Park November 12 to discuss the possibility locating a dog park behind the residential dormitories at the far end of the park.
Construction began in early January, and the park opened three weeks later.
Both Armento and Contino said they are not against the idea of a dog park, but wonder why surrounding residents were not consulted in the process.
“The problem is that this decision to create a dog run was made unilaterally, without the commission’s input and without broad community input,” Armento said. “At the least immediate neighbors, my community, should have had a voice.”
“I respect and understand the dog park philosophy, and I feel dogs (and their owners) should have a place to enjoy themselves,” Contino said. “But, because of the placement of the park, and the noise level, I am no longer able to enjoy my home.”
Armento said she has sent a letter to Jones asking him to meet with the neighbors and “to call a halt to the dog run while you and the community reconsider this decision.”
She said she hasn’t heard back from Jones or his office as of Monday. The Crier was unable to reach a representative from Jones’ office for comment about the complaints.
Lockridge said he is also in the process of drafting a letter to Jones asking for the off-leash area to be relocated away from residential areas.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:54 PM EST
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=288 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=photo-right>http://www.thecrier.net/content/articles/2006/01/27/front/park.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo-right width=288>Frolicking and barking dogs are disturbing residents near Brook Run’s off-leash park. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo-right align=middle><!-- AdSys ad not found for front:middle -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
By Cathy Cobbs
For The Crier
It’s not all wagging tails and canine cavorting at Brook Run’s new dog park.
Surrounding residents are complaining about loose dogs wandering into their neighborhoods and persistent barking during the park’s open hours.
In addition, several are questioning the fact that the off-leash area was conceived and built without a public hearing, and that it was never included in the park’s master plan.
Beverly Armento lives in the 60-home Lakeview Oaks community, which abuts Brook Run to the west. She says that parts of the fence around Brook Run are damaged, and several dogs have escaped into the subdivision.
“We have recently hosted several large dogs, at least one scaring me at 5:30 a.m., going out for the newspaper,” she said. “It is very easy for dogs to simply walk over the fence from Brook Run and come into our Lakeview Oaks community.” <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=photo-left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo-left width=288></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Frank Lockridge, president of the Lakeview Oaks Homeowners’ Association, said he has gotten several phone calls about the “escapees,” and that at least four instances of wandering canines have occurred in the short time the park has been open.
“I walked the fence line, and what’s happened is that the fence has been damaged by falling trees,” Lockridge said. “A dog can basically walk right through the fence. “
“I know of a man who came through the neighborhood who had lost two Dalmatians - they got free and were running towards Shallowford Road the last time someone saw them,” Lockridge said.
Another neighbor, Diane Contino, said she hears large groups of dogs barking a few feet from her back yard most of her waking hours.
“The barking is loud and persistent and the noise level is such that I can hear the activity from inside my home at all hours of the day and evening,” she said.
The park officially opened January 17 at Brook Run, which is located the near the corner of Tilly Mill Road and North Peachtree roads.
The move was spurred by community members who formed a group called Just a Walk in the Park and had been lobbying the CEO and others to support the construction of an off-leash dog park. The facility is not in the park’s master plan, a fact that had some wondering if other elements would be installed within the park without any public input.
There was an informal request for the off-leash park made in November. More than 900 people signed a petition asking for a dog park at Brook Run and the JAWITP group put together a presentation package to give to Jones and other officials.
The group then invited Jones and his dog, Henry, to Brook Run Park November 12 to discuss the possibility locating a dog park behind the residential dormitories at the far end of the park.
Construction began in early January, and the park opened three weeks later.
Both Armento and Contino said they are not against the idea of a dog park, but wonder why surrounding residents were not consulted in the process.
“The problem is that this decision to create a dog run was made unilaterally, without the commission’s input and without broad community input,” Armento said. “At the least immediate neighbors, my community, should have had a voice.”
“I respect and understand the dog park philosophy, and I feel dogs (and their owners) should have a place to enjoy themselves,” Contino said. “But, because of the placement of the park, and the noise level, I am no longer able to enjoy my home.”
Armento said she has sent a letter to Jones asking him to meet with the neighbors and “to call a halt to the dog run while you and the community reconsider this decision.”
She said she hasn’t heard back from Jones or his office as of Monday. The Crier was unable to reach a representative from Jones’ office for comment about the complaints.
Lockridge said he is also in the process of drafting a letter to Jones asking for the off-leash area to be relocated away from residential areas.