Park Designs Uninspired

The second public planning meeting for the 13th Street Park (aka the Dog Park), Central Park and the Metro Canopy was held on 6/14/05. There was a fairly good showing of dog park users, as well as neighbors concerned about the dog park and park plans in general.

There was a general concensus that the concepts presented by HoK for all three sites were uninspired and failed to fit the character of Clarendon. Furthermore, all concerned with the 13th Street park (both dog park users and neighbors) agreed that the concepts presented for the multi-use park failed to meet the functional requirements previously expressed.

Several neighbors strongly expressed their concerns and complaints about the dog park. The main complaints are as follows:

• Barking
• Illegal parking
• Dogs off-leash outside the park
• Visual appearence of the park
• Perception that no one is enforcing rules
• Failure to involve and inform neighborhood representatives

Although it is tempting to say that the complaints are overstated and just an effort to stop the plans for a Community Canine Area (CCA), that would be a serious mistake. The reality is that the dog park is part of the neighborhood and, to many, not a desired part. It is our responsibility to hear the concerns of our neighbors and to show our committment to being good neighbors by taking appropriate actions to address them. Most of the neighbors at the meeting appeared ready to at least tolerate the dog park, and seemed willing to work with us.

Please help to insure that a substantial portion of the 13th street site remains a dog park by respecting our neighbors, following all the rules of a CCA, and reminding others to do the same.

See you at the park.