On this lovely, 82 degree March-madness-weather day, I decided to stop by the Portage Park Dog Park (aka Dog Friendly Area - DFA) and take a look. Is it true what our neighbors and clients saying: nice but small? I heard that the waste bag dispensers, donated by our hospital, have finally been installed, and that advertising our clinic's support for the Dog Park project was against the Park District's rules. I learned a remarkable story from Darby today; we chatted on the phone for nearly an hour. She is the godmother of this awesome dog enclave, formerly called "the horseshoe pit", located on the Northwest side of Portage Park on W. Berteau Ave. Oh, but she did not mention the doggie drinking fountains, and the bulletin board, and the nice benches... It is far nicer than I thought it would be! Only because I have seen other DFAs in the city, how tiny they can be (think Challenger Park), and what disastrous dirt baths they may become.But let's start from the beginning. Darby Linderman recounted a story that began 8 years ago with a large group of roughly 50 dog owners who thought the DFA would be a nice amenity to have in Portage Park. Their dream was big; a non-existing Dog Park was even christened Pawtage Pack at one point. Sadly, the fundraising was difficult, or perhaps the interest of a local government wasn't all there for a while.
In 2010, Darby, a newcomer to the area who was also a newlywed with a puppy, found out that Alderman Tom Allen was planning to set aside funds to make improvements to Portage Park. A few days later Darby decides to follow up about any prospects for an off-leash Dog Park. Janis Taylor from Chicago Park District confirms the availabilty of the funds and the absence of a community leader to spearhead the DFA project. Darby basically has no choice but to rise to the occasion. The money is there, and the opportunity is ripe. It seem like the right thing to do.
Still ahead was a huge challenge: in order to obtain the funds, Darby had to submit a petition signed by community residents to demonstrate the need for an off-leash dog park. An extensive petition campaign began. Some of you may remember pages of signatures in our reception area, and many of you sided with the cause. In the end, Darby obtained exactly 730 "yes-es" and 12 "no-s". Signers addresses then had to be verified and mapped out, this whole stack of documents was presented back to the Chicago Park District for approval.This must have been around the same time that information leaked to the Nadig newspaper, and which made the possibility seem real, official. The ball started rollin, and Darby embarked on the awareness raising campaign. A formal committee was formed and worked tirelessly during the Farmers' Markets that year, passing out flyers and letting the community members know, asking them to get involved and support the idea and help in any way they could. Later in 2010, Darby along with other committee members - Carrie Bruggers, Nicole Hrycyk, Nadia Whiteside and Eileen Dohnalek - organized a fun-filled Dog Halloween Parade and Best Costume Contest at Portage Park that attracted over 50 participating dogs. The chief idea was to reaise awareness and further the idea of the DFA and get the community involved, but the committee also managed to raise a symbolic $101 through a raffle sponsored by local businesses. This event, by the way, was such a blast that we would love it to become a tradition.
The Dog Park Committee began holding meetings to discuss the next steps that need to be taken. Once all permits and government funds came in, they got to work with the help of Alderman Tim Cullerton & Mary Oliver. The project broke ground in August of last year, and by October - voila! - new off-leash Dog Park came into existence. This DFA is .11 acres in size or, well, mid-range. Of the eighteen Chicago Park District's DFAs six are smaller than this park, the other six are equal to or slightly larger than Portage, and the remaining five range in size between .20 to .38 acres. The rationale behind the "nice but small" DFA was: a) to provide a place where dogs can legally socialize and play off-leash, b) where chances of getting hurt or injured are minimized by dogs unable to race very fast, and c) where owners can exercise better control over their dogs. The dog park size had absolutely nothing to do with the wishes of industrious volunteers who brought it into existence. Ironically, they have to endure showers of unfair criticism from uninvolved public.
It did take quite a bit of volunteer effort to get it going. Darby herself has hauled 50 lb. bags of pea gravel from the nearby Crafty Beaver, and the committee has developed a website and a Facebook Page. Looking back on her experience, Darby notes that all was accomplished without an instruction manual. The guidance came from Park District in the form of reminders of what was illegal or prohibited. Pet loving communities call her from as far away as Wisconsin to get tips and insight on starting a Dog Park! Darby is extremely grateful to the Dog Park board members and committee members, Alderman Tim Cullerton and Mary Oliver of the 38th Ward, Janis Taylor and the Chicago Park District, to the Portage Park Adivsory Council (aka Friends of Portage Park) and the Portage Park Supervisor, Debbie Groh and former Park Supervisor Michael Nimietz, who all have been instrumental in making the Dog Park become reality. So what is next?
Currently, e-mail updates are being sent out to over 130 people, but only a handful of committee members have regularly been showing for the monthly meetings held on the 3rd Wednesday every month. Ashley Kandaras, our hospital manager, also joined in. Veterinarian Cindy Olsen is planning to come and give talks on various topics related to pet health for the benefit of the Dog Park and our pet loving community in general, including cat owners. She is looking for suggestions on topics that may be of internets to you: anything ranging from weight management and nutritional counseling to parasite prevention and control, to caring for your puppies or aging companions. Please e-mail us your ideas at: communications@portagepark.com!
When I saw the Dog Park today, it was teaming with happy dogs and their owners. Everybody was socializing, enjoying themselves and talking about how nice the Dog Park was. I saw some info posted on the bulletin board, the kind that no one ever reads. Again, this is where Park District holds a monopoly over the contents. I would very much like to see the Community News, Dog Walkers Wanted and Local Events section there. The bulletin board is definitely underutilized. It lacks one key acknowledgment such "...and the medal for the outstanding community service goes to..." There has got to be a way to let everyone know.
Lina Meyer
Hospital Administrator
Sincerely,
Dr. Roger Schrock
Portage Park Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic
