Comments on: EDITORIAL – Special interests have park needs, too http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/20/editorial-%e2%80%93-special-interests-have-park-needs-too Website for the SnoValley Star Newspaper Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:11:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: david http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/20/editorial-%e2%80%93-special-interests-have-park-needs-too/comment-page-1#comment-695 david Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:33:53 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=1020#comment-695 Off leash dog parks are absolutely 'special interest' and dog owners are not entitled to the public paying for their dogs to run off leash. In my opinion the needs of kids (skaters) is more important than that of dogs, but that aside, just because so many people have dogs, and no private property on which to let them run off leash, does not mean the public should be paying for the needs of dogs and their owners. Off leash dog parks are absolutely ‘special interest’ and dog owners are not entitled to the public paying for their dogs to run off leash. In my opinion the needs of kids (skaters) is more important than that of dogs, but that aside, just because so many people have dogs, and no private property on which to let them run off leash, does not mean the public should be paying for the needs of dogs and their owners.

]]> By: Jan Carr http://snovalleystar.com/2008/08/20/editorial-%e2%80%93-special-interests-have-park-needs-too/comment-page-1#comment-686 Jan Carr Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:14:43 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=1020#comment-686 I don't know about skateboarders, but according to the Humane Society, nearly 40% of total households in the country own dogs (1.6 on average). I would think those numbers would move them beyond a "special interest" group as far as entitlement to recreational space in a park system is concerned. Viewed from a national perspective, new dog parks seem to be moving from a trend to a near tidal wave. There is no central clearing house keeping track, but it appears we are now approaching 3000 in total -- 66 new parks have either been approved or opened just since August 1, 2008 (I am writing this on August 20). I would hope these numbers will give city officials some perspective on local demand for an off-leash dog park. I don’t know about skateboarders, but according to the Humane Society, nearly 40% of total households in the country own dogs (1.6 on average).

I would think those numbers would move them beyond a “special interest” group as far as entitlement to recreational space in a park system is concerned.

Viewed from a national perspective, new dog parks seem to be moving from a trend to a near tidal wave. There is no central clearing house keeping track, but it appears we are now approaching 3000 in total — 66 new parks have either been approved or opened just since August 1, 2008 (I am writing this on August 20).

I would hope these numbers will give city officials some perspective on local demand for an off-leash dog park.

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