Birmingham resident Susy Richmond's dog Frannie doesn't mind the rainy weather. Frannie frolicked at the dog park Tuesday afternoon, the opening day of the park.Credit Laura Houser
It was a rainy day, but that didn't stop dog lovers from Birmingham and the surrounding areas from heading out to the opening day of the Birmingham Dog Park on Tuesday.
"Having a dog park is a very important part of the community," said Bloomfield Township resident Steve Knight, who stood huddled in the rain Tuesday with his wife Jennie, Birmingham resident Susy Richmond, and their furry friends, Hazel and Frannie.
The dog park opened Tuesday at the southeastern edge of the Lincoln Hills Golf Course, off 14 Mile Road, after years of planning and negotiation. The park will replace the one at the Springdale Golf Course and Park, which closed in 2004. Dogs will have a little less than one fenced-off acre to roam from dawn until dusk. There is no fee to use the park at this time, although Birmingham Director of Public Servces Lauren Wood said the city is considering requiring residents to purchase a $20-$25 annual pass (twice that amount for nonresidents) next year.
The dog park is a little smaller than planned and supporters hoped, but Wood noted that it was about time Birmingham built a new park for its furry friends. "The people who have dogs really want to take their dogs somewhere, and there are a lot of dogs in this community," she said.
The Springdale dog park closed in 2004 after a court ruling said the park didn't meet the deed restrictions for the property. After that, a group of community members teamed up with the city to find a new home for the park.
It took years for both groups to agree on a location, Wood said. Dog owners wanted a peaceful location as well as a parking lot, but the city also had to consider the possible disruption to neighbors.
"A lot of people just felt that they didn't want the noise or traffic congestion," said Carol Gluckman, a Birmingham resident and dog park supporter.
Both groups finally agreed on the Lincoln Hills Golf Course site in spring 2009, with a wooded area set aside with its own parking lot. The budget for the project was $15,000, with another $3,000 coming from resident donations. Wood said she was unsure how much the city ended up spending, but noted the budget included funds for new sod, signage, fencing, seating, trash cans, doggie bags and more.
The project was nearly finished in November, but the park opening was delayed until the Lincoln Hills parking lot could be repaved. For now, Wood said the city doesn't have plans to spend any more money on the park during the winter.
Gluckman and fellow resident and dog lover Pam Anderson are excited about the park opening.
"I was really upset when the old dog park closed," Gluckman said. "Not only is a dog park great for socialization for a dog, but it's great for the owners of the dog, too."Anderson agreed. "The dogs have a good time and it's a plus for everyone when dogs are continually socialized," she said.
Knight and his dog, Hazel, recently returned from a hunting trip in northern Michigan and Hazel was itching to run. With no dog parks in the surrounding area, Knight said he has been taking Hazel to Bloomfield Hills Middle School to stretch her legs.
Richmond said that because she lives near Oak Street and Old Woodward, she had taken her dog, Frannie, to Greenwood Cemetery. After Frannie chased down a few deer, Richmond said she knew she had to find somewhere else to take her dog.
Gluckman said she doesn't mind paying for an annual pass and will continue to bring her dogs Allie and Kipper to the park no matter what the cost.
"I certainly don't have a problem with that; many of the dog parks are doing that," Gluckman said. "If it's going to be something to help defray the costs of maintenance and upkeep, then it's OK."
The park will evolve over time and add amenities after its official opening, Wood said. "We received a lot of support and a lot of people in the community are looking forward to it," she said.
"Having a dog park is a very important part of the community," said Bloomfield Township resident Steve Knight, who stood huddled in the rain Tuesday with his wife Jennie, Birmingham resident Susy Richmond, and their furry friends, Hazel and Frannie.
The dog park opened Tuesday at the southeastern edge of the Lincoln Hills Golf Course, off 14 Mile Road, after years of planning and negotiation. The park will replace the one at the Springdale Golf Course and Park, which closed in 2004. Dogs will have a little less than one fenced-off acre to roam from dawn until dusk. There is no fee to use the park at this time, although Birmingham Director of Public Servces Lauren Wood said the city is considering requiring residents to purchase a $20-$25 annual pass (twice that amount for nonresidents) next year.
The dog park is a little smaller than planned and supporters hoped, but Wood noted that it was about time Birmingham built a new park for its furry friends. "The people who have dogs really want to take their dogs somewhere, and there are a lot of dogs in this community," she said.
The Springdale dog park closed in 2004 after a court ruling said the park didn't meet the deed restrictions for the property. After that, a group of community members teamed up with the city to find a new home for the park.
It took years for both groups to agree on a location, Wood said. Dog owners wanted a peaceful location as well as a parking lot, but the city also had to consider the possible disruption to neighbors.
"A lot of people just felt that they didn't want the noise or traffic congestion," said Carol Gluckman, a Birmingham resident and dog park supporter.
Both groups finally agreed on the Lincoln Hills Golf Course site in spring 2009, with a wooded area set aside with its own parking lot. The budget for the project was $15,000, with another $3,000 coming from resident donations. Wood said she was unsure how much the city ended up spending, but noted the budget included funds for new sod, signage, fencing, seating, trash cans, doggie bags and more.
The project was nearly finished in November, but the park opening was delayed until the Lincoln Hills parking lot could be repaved. For now, Wood said the city doesn't have plans to spend any more money on the park during the winter.
Gluckman and fellow resident and dog lover Pam Anderson are excited about the park opening.
"I was really upset when the old dog park closed," Gluckman said. "Not only is a dog park great for socialization for a dog, but it's great for the owners of the dog, too."Anderson agreed. "The dogs have a good time and it's a plus for everyone when dogs are continually socialized," she said.
Knight and his dog, Hazel, recently returned from a hunting trip in northern Michigan and Hazel was itching to run. With no dog parks in the surrounding area, Knight said he has been taking Hazel to Bloomfield Hills Middle School to stretch her legs.
Richmond said that because she lives near Oak Street and Old Woodward, she had taken her dog, Frannie, to Greenwood Cemetery. After Frannie chased down a few deer, Richmond said she knew she had to find somewhere else to take her dog.
Gluckman said she doesn't mind paying for an annual pass and will continue to bring her dogs Allie and Kipper to the park no matter what the cost.
"I certainly don't have a problem with that; many of the dog parks are doing that," Gluckman said. "If it's going to be something to help defray the costs of maintenance and upkeep, then it's OK."
The park will evolve over time and add amenities after its official opening, Wood said. "We received a lot of support and a lot of people in the community are looking forward to it," she said.
Are you excited for the new dog park? Did you take your dogs anyplace else to run?
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