Volunteers needed for the 2011 Dog Paddle! Click here for more info!

Meeting Minutes – Public Meeting

06/07/11

Attendance:

• Board Members: Janet Cowen, Sally Dodd, Shannon Hutchinson, Merinda Tiffany, Linda Gorton
• Parks & Recreation: Jerry Hancock, Chris Cooperider
• About 40 people from the community

Welcome & Introductions: Janet Cowen - President

• Friends of the Dog Park has been in existence for 11 years & has raised over $100,000
• We have developed standards now for all the dog parks in Fayette County. All future dog parks will meet these criteria (fencing, entrances, etc.)
• Our signature fundraiser is the annual Dog Paddle (always the Saturday following Labor Day)
• Lexington’s Dog Parks are a Private / Public Partnership:
• City owns property (Friends of the Dog Park cannot afford property in Fayette County)
• Friends of the Dog Park pays for fencing and amenities
• Parks & Recreation pays for maintenance & provides trash pick-up, bag refills, mowing, etc.

User Groups: Shannon Hutchinson – Treasurer

• User group members are ambassadors for the dog parks
• They will notify Friends of the Dog Park & Parks & Rec of maintenance issues
• See new link on website for more details

Yahoo Groups / Facebook / Website: Merinda Tiffany – Secretary & Webmaster

• Yahoo groups are available for each dog park (connect with other park users, information from Friends of the Dog Park is always sent to the Yahoo Groups)
• “Why does no one answer emails?”

Information from Parks & Recreation: Jerry Hancock – Director of Parks & Rec, Chris Cooperider – Deputy Director of Parks & Rec

• Please notify Parks of maintenance issues (holes in fences, lack of poop bags, garbage cans, etc.)
• The new plan for Jacobson Dog Park was discussed

Other Topics & Questions That Were Discussed:

·        Discussed Large Dog / Small Dog Area at Wellington & Masterson

o       This is a VERY popular feature at Coldstream

o       Paddocks have not been designated to allow closure of one side for mowing, re-seeding, maintenance, etc.

o       Who gets what side? One is more area, but other area has shade or water…

o       Small dogs are getting hurt by large dogs

§         When this happens, Animal Control should be called! Or the police.

§         Animal Control has been asked to temporarily patrol Wellington occasionally

o       Can’t the whole park just be closed for maintenance instead of overcrowding one paddock with everyone?

o       Perhaps sides should be designated as “Gentle” vs. “Rough Housing?”

·        People need to spread out away from entrance gates

o       Some dogs are becoming agitated & territorial as new dogs enter & new dogs are being bombarded when entering

o       Can’t we take away all the chairs so people are made to walk around?

o       Can’t we add more seating away from the entrances?

o       “Park users do not understand dog behavior & are forcing socialization”

·        Maintenance Issues:

o       Poop bag dispensers are empty at Wellington quite often

o       Can bags be added at far end of Coldstream?

o       A trash barrel has been removed at Masterson

o       A dog park user has routinely fixed the gates at Wellington

o       Can we please fix the giant mud hole at Wellington & Jacobson?

o       When will we add lights to the dog parks?

o       For any maintenance issue at the dog parks, please contact Parks & Recreation. This includes poop bag refills, trash, mowing, holes in fence, etc.

·        One person complimented us on the parks – “very beautiful parks in Lexington”