I am working on opening a dog park in downtown Cincinnati on Eggleston. There is an area of city owned property between the overpass of Gilbert and I-71.  It appears to be about 2 acres (maybe more).  Once this is approved (hopefully in April) the area will need to be mowed(bushhogged), landscaped, fenced, plumbed, waste receptacles installed, benches installed, shade structures erected, and a few other odds and ends.  Hopefully finished by May.

 

The plan is to make this a membership based dog park as other major cities have.  The purpose of the membership is cover upkeep, and verification of proper vaccinations for each pet participating.  The cost will be between $40-$50 per year.

 

If anyone is interested in helping me generate funding for the project, or would like to volunteer in another capacity that would be great.

 

Let me know.

 

Mic Foster

The Pet Athletic Club

513-621-1300

 

 

huh....I'm not real sure what to think about this  :|

 

On the one hand it is good that there is the residential support neccessary to facilitate a 'private dog park' downtown....but on the other hand, should there be a 'private dog park' downtown??

 

Does anyone have more info on these other examples from other 'major cities'

 

..mrgmfoster??

Is your potential dog park for that area where a surface lot currently exists??  If so then that would be great!!!  Now that I have read more about you (in the other thread)...I understand the concept more now.  Thx, any more info would be greatly appreciated...and who knows I might even be interested in helping with this park thing down the road.

Is this space east of I-71, north-east of Eggleston and west of the 471N-71N ramp?  That looks like a large block of flattish land...if it's not there, then where exactly is the space you're talking about?

 

Here are a few examples of the kinds of parks i am talking about.  The concepts are the same, but not necessarily the rules, layouts etc.

http://www.stldogparks.org/pages/open_u_city.html

http://www.piersonbarkparks.com/

http://www.quietwatersdogpark.com/

 

Howard County

 

Ellicott City

Off-Leash Area at Worthington Park on Hillsborough Road, Ellicott City.

Hours: dawn to dusk daily except closed Thursdays Fenced, trees, parking $30 annual permit or $4 daily permit required.

 

http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/cityparks/dogs.htm

http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/books/us2006/0971874255_int04.pdf

http://www.annarbordog.com/parks.cfm

http://www.clintontownship-mi.gov/Default.aspx?alias=www.clintontownship-mi.gov/recreation

http://www.oakgov.com/parksrec/activities/dogpark.html

http://www.ci.northville.mi.us/Community/ParksAndFacilities/DogPark.htm

 

PLEASANT RIDGE

Directions: Take I-696 to Woodward, go south on Woodward to first turnaround, then head north on Woodward to Sylvan. Turn right on Sylvan, then left on Indiana and take until it deadends. Area is about a half mile long by 150 feet wide. Benches, limited parking, water fountain. Registration for park pass card and fee required. Yearly fee is $25 for residents, $50 for non-residents, with proof of a current rabies vaccination, valid for remainder of year.

 

http://www.westbloomfieldparks.org/parks/wb_park_kf.shtml

http://www.shaggypines.com/

 

Here are just a few examples.  

 

The idea is not that the dog park is private, but instead that it is safe from aggressive dogs and unvaccinated dogs.  The fee cover maintenance of the park and organization of all the records.  

 

The space we are considering is actually on Eggleston under the Gilbert Ave. overpass and the I-71 overpass.  It is shaped like a very long piece of pizza. The land needs some work...bushhogging and leveling, but will work very well.  

 

I got the zoning approval yesterday and I am about to start working on the lease from the city.  My goal is a 99 year lease for $1.  A couple of my friends set this up on another piece of property, and it has been great.

 

 

The downside to this land....2/3 belongs to the city, and 1/3 the state.  The city seems pretty cool with the idea (especially since they don't have to pay for it), but I can't get a feel for the states attitude.  I can't imagine why they would care.  I will start my proposal to the state this weekend.

 

The process in Cincinnati is long, but no so complicated.  I will send the proposal to Tom Klumb, and he will verify that the proposal is accurate.  The proposal is then forwarded on to the city council and then voted on.  I met with David Crowley yesterday and got him on board so I think my odds are good at the city level.

 

Anyway, if anyone wants more info please let me know.  Our goal is to be open by May 1st so the city can enjoy the park all summer long!

 

Mic  

 

 

 

 

 

 

can anyone drawy out where this is on google earth or something?  i cant seem to understand where this is.

I used google earth to pin point the location and hear is what I found.  Apparently google earth hasn't been updated in a few years because it shows a road through the middle of my dog park.  The street is no longer there and this is all a grassy area.

 

The park is to be located in between the two interstates where the picture shows some grassy area and a street running through in the center of the image. 

 

Hope this helps...

 

thanks!

Yeah, that's the old Eggleston off-ramp they used during the Ft. Washington Way project...wow, that's cool...

 

good idea.  Not many potential uses for land in between two highways...a dog park is one of them though.

Well, the one to the left is just the Gilbert Avenue Viaduct, not really a highway, but yeah, still an inhospitable chunk of real estate.

It is already kind of noisy and that is always the big concern with urban based dog parks.  We will see how things go.

Do you mean the noise of the highway agitating the dogs is a concern?  Or do you mean the noise of the dogs agitating the neighbors is a concern?

 

i think he means the noise of the dogs agitating the highway traffic is a concern  :wink:

"Bow-wow-wow-yippee-oh-yippee-yay."

.... George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

"Bow-wow-wow-yippee-oh-yippee-yay."

.... George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

 

Atomic Dog was just a George Clinton solo project.  WOOF!

 

"Atomic Dog"

Cute dog....bring him by the PAC somtime......

I live just north of OTR, and have a dog. I am all for a dog park. Most dog owners I know use The SCPA grass field on Sycamore or drive out to Otto Armledder park near lunken on wooster.  I am all for another one though, public or private.  Keep us posted!  I know many downtowners with dogs.

I see many people with dogs downtown, so I can only imagine that a dog park would be very successful.

Downtown Cincinnati dog park in preliminary stages

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/dtdogpark0318.aspx

 

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney has convened a committee of stakeholders to explore the idea of a downtown dog park, and the Downtown Residents Council (DRC) has pledged its support.

 

The dog park, which would likely be located on city-owned land off of Eggleston Avenue, would give dog owners a place to socialize...

 

Sources: Mic Foster, owner, Pet Athletic Club; Chris Wiedeman, Downtown Residents Council

Great news! It looks like otto armleder dog park at lunken is going to be under water for a long time, more alternatives the better!

Not downtown, but I thought this might be interesting for some people and there was no other spot for it to go...

 

Tricked-out Greater Cincinnati dog park will put teeth in Pet Stop brand

Newtown prototype should put firm on more owners’ radars

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/12/story8.html

 

What began as a business-expansion strategy is ending up as a little slice of dog heaven in Newtown.

 

Perimeter Technologies Inc. of Blue Ash, which makes electronic pet-containment systems, is building a three-acre recreation complex for dogs as part of a prototype retail outlet for its marketing subsidiary, Pet Stop Fence Systems...

 

 

Any updates?  I haven't heard of anything for some time now...

Slattery hopes to draw 3,000 local dog owners willing to pay $395 for annual memberships, or $25 for one-day guest passes. Pet Stop owners will be offered a discounted membership rate. The compound will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dogs will have to pass a temperament test, and owners will be asked to offer proof of vaccinations in order to gain access.

 

Wow...395 a year is pretty steep but $25 for a 1 day pass so your dog can play is just crazy. I can't imagine it working during a recession but I hope I'm wrong.

So whatever happened with the downtown dog park idea? I noticed the domain name expired. Was it one of those issues where the government red tape killed the idea? Or was there lack of interest for a park with a $50 fee?

 

(I't probably a moot point for me, b/c I'll keep taking my dog to the free dog park near Lunkin as opposed to a membership park)

Just sent an email to City Manager Dohoney ([email protected]) requesting some more information...

 

City Manager Dohoney:

 

I remember reading last year sometime about efforts to create a dog park downtown.  How is that process going and are there any updates related to those efforts?  The website for the effort - www.downtowndogpark.com - appears to have died and nothing has been made public since the original press releases.  Thanks for your time and service.  I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Rando - a week and still nothing?

Nope...I sent his office an email regarding another matter about two weeks ago.  Patience is a virtue.  :-D

What about dog park areas in dt Chicago.

 

Great idea.

Incorporate Cincy's with the Banks/Cincinnati Riverfront Park!

This is ridiculous. If you want a park buy up some land and donate it to the park district. Get some volunteers to keep it up and call it a day. Charging 45 dollars, what a crock.

Any time I think of dog parks I think of elitism. They're often a sure sign of massive gentrification by young professionals who are preparing for child-rearing by taking the re-requisite in dog ownership. And a shift in the idea that parks should be for neighborhood kids - to the idea that parks should be for dogs. But one that is privatized and costs more than a monthly cable bill... I agree with Lanskeith...a little ridiculous. It seems like a social club for elite pet owners. Taking their dogs on "play dates". Pshht.

 

I guess if I were in charge, I would approve it for the sake of economic development but it's kind of sad how much money people spend on their dogs.

The dog park in dt Cincy should def. be free...DUH!

Well a lot of people are hesitant about moving to a downtown or heavilly urban area because they say that it's not a good fit for animals, as there is no yard to run around in, and many public spaces (i.e. Fountain Square) ban dogs.  A dog park might be one of those things, like perhaps a full service grocery store, that would help lure people who are on the fence about moving downtown.

The dog park that would be charging would not be a public park run by the City. So while that dog park plan is floating around I believe there is a second initiative coming out of City Hall to incorporate public dog parks in/around downtown (these would be free). I know there has been some discussion about having a little dog park incorporated into the new Washington Park design. These wouldn't be big like the Mt. Airy forest park...just little areas like this:

 

Pet cemetery pitched for old landfill

Better than big-box store, neighbors say

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090223/NEWS01/902230352/1055/NEWS

 

Part of the closed Gray Road landfill, the best use of which has been debated for years, could become a place to bury animals.

 

Developers are pitching to community councils the idea of turning seven acres into the Willows of Spring Grove pet cemetery. The cemetery would include a spot for service dogs, sitting areas, walking paths, a reflection pond and a dog park, according to the Spring Grove Village Community Council, which has endorsed the project...

 

 

INTERESTING!

With a $50,000 grant from P&G, it appears Downtown is finally getting a dog park!

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100305/NEWS01/3060362/

Great news! Perfect that P&G's HQ is in the background in the pic too.

Mic,

I see the Eggleston dog park has become a reality. How did you do it? When does it open?

 

Congrats!

For all the latest project details, pics, etc... you'll need to check out their Facebook group page below.  A fence is up, trees are planted and a big cleanup of the area just completed recently.  No official opening is set but it is available for use during the day.  They have done a pretty good job making this happen!

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DowntownDogRA/