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Dog owners keep pushing for dog park in Stony Brook Reservation
By adamg on Thu, 10/20/2016 - 9:17am
The Bulletin reports on the efforts of the Dog Park Association of Southwest Boston to convince the state to turn the long shuttered Thompson Center in Hyde Park into a dog park. In addition to general state inertia, the group also has to contend with advocates for children - who say the center should be restored to its original use as a park for kids with disabilities - and senior citizens.
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Comments
Why not do both?
Make it a park for dogs and disabled kids, who might benefit from some impromptu pet therapy?
Nice idea. However there
Nice idea. However there would be too much liability involved. Dog bites kid. Dog bites senior. Rabies shot not up to date......it goes on and on
As it is, dogs get into fights with each other at these dog parks, that is enough to worry about.
Thompson Center
The Thompson Center has been shuttered for a long time with no plans or money by anyone to do anything with the site except for the proponents of this dog park. Their plan is sound and they've raised a lot of money and support to do it. An off-leash dog park is so needed in southwest Boston, it's a shame this is being held up.
Meeting the needs of the community
I am supportive of the dog park, especially as one watches the issues of unleashed dogs in the Arboretum.
But I can understand the frustrations of the advocates for the disabled wanting to reclaim Thompson Center and the once wheelchair accessible paths. We have many members in our community with physical disabilities who are often silenced or excluded from recreational and social activities due to inaccessibility or a lack of committment by local and state government funding to provide opportunities. It's a real problem for families. Consider how many of us hop in the car and head to Blue Hills, or even ride the T into the city to have dinner in the North End. Now imagine doing that when you have a child in a wheelchair. Think about the challenges these families face. Consider playgrounds that go up all over Boston. How many are accessible for children in wheelchairs, or those with cerebral palsy? Many other cities build accessible playgrounds that EVERY child enjoys. I'm sure many of those families are still upset that the Thompson Center closed. One of few accessible sites and accessible programming that was meant for their families gone. A place they felt welcomed and don't have to struggle to get to, or worry about stares from people when their child behaves in an atypical way due to his/her disability.
Why can't both needs of our community members be met?
First we should divert tax money
To the first catnip garden, public gold fish pond or bird cage. So sick of these peoples DogPrivilage!
I'm a cat lover/owner
But the problem with the cat playground is that they would immediately eat all the catnip and then go on a drug-fueled feeding frenzy of the fish and birds. And THEN they would scratch up all the new furniture and fall asleep.
Dog park
Not to sound cold but people with disabilities and the elderly can go to any park. There are plenty of parks dogs cant go to so it would make sense for this to be a dog park. Ive never heard of a park designated for the elderly/special needs. I cant imagine the park would be used by these folks in the bitter cold of winter whereas it would be likely to be used by dogs/dog owners since the outdoors is the only place pets can use the bathroom.
So nope, im not in favor of a park exclusively for the elderly/disabled. Seems like a waste of money. We need a dog park. We also need a fun/entertaining REASON for people to come to hyde park. A dog park is more likely to get people here since many people own dogs.
Dog Park Stony Brook
I knew this Thompson Center when it was for Handicapped children and the
elderly . It was a blessing for so many families with handicapped children in wheelchairs and special needs children to enjoy the outdoors.
It was also a place where senior citizens could go to have a picnic and enjoy
programs there for them as well as fresh air and shade.
The Dog Park people should look elsewhere as Thompson Center is not feasible for a dog park in that community ..
Dog Park
The Dog Park People have already been told by DCR they cannot put a dog Park at Thompson Center.
DCR has no money and will keep up with their Parks. Playgrounds ,beaches and pools, as well as Ice Skating/Hockey facilities.
Please stop saying it should be there you need to move on and find another place.
Re
People can say whatever they want. Sounds like you need to move on. There aren't that many handicapped people around in need of a park. If i were handicapped and living in quincy I wouldnt take a trip to hyde park for a park.
NIMBY
Barbara, It really is a perfect spot for a much needed facility .
The Federal Government has decided that you can't Isolate either the Handicapped or Seniors,It's unconstitutional. I'm pretty sure the law doesn't apply to dogs.
This initiative would take an eyesore and make it into something to be proud of.
Not sure where your protectionist attitude comes from.Please try to develop as a human, it's 2016 and the power trip you're on is less than flattering.
Barbara and minions,"Making things better by keeping them the same"
Dog Park
There is some misinformation here. There isn't a push to return it to a park for disabled children. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all parks be accessible and that separate facilities do not meet the requirements. After the ADA was passed in the late 70's the park was closed. It was then used for different reasons by the a variety of groups until 2001 or 2002. Since then is has been unused and has been vandalized over the years. The picnic tables and benches have all been burned, there is glass and other paraphernalia scattered about, and it is consistently used for illegal activities.
Because the park was built to accommodate children with disabilities, it therefore has the ability to be a dog park that is wheelchair and handicapped accessible for owners with dogs or who just like dogs. There could be an area for owners with service dogs to use as well. The Dog Park Association would raise the funds for the development and maintenance of the park.
Dog Park
I agree that there's some misinformation floating around. First and foremost, this is not a done deal. The DCR has money (matching those funds that we raised) and is very interested in having a dog park in this area. The recent petition that has been circulated has over 650 signatures! (https://www.change.org/p/angelo-scaccia-support-the-new-dog-park-propose... - please sign!) While this park would serve the city, we have made a point of getting Hyde Park residents on board. I am one of them.
The Thompson Center is 9 acres. In no scenario is the dog park taking up that kind of space. Nor does the scenario involve dogs running around and knocking people over. That's exactly what a dog park works to prevent. A very small percentage of the park would be fenced in so that dogs could run off-leash IN THAT SPACE ONLY.
There is room for nearly all of the proposals in this space. There are lots of paths, wheelchair access, and beautiful areas for picnic tables and more.
As a city, Boston is far behind other major cities in terms of designating space for those citizens with dogs who need a place to run.
I take my dog every day to the Dedham dog park (which is not handicapped accessible). And yet, I live walking distance from the Thompson center.
The difference between an abandoned area and an active park is significant for home values, children's health, neighborhood safety, and more.
Yes, there will be some funds spent on the dog park. State funds (as it is part of DCR) used to enhance our quality of life within the city seems a pretty good use of those funds. I realize that there are many other worthy causes but they are not mutually exclusive. In addition, we have raised some on our own and could potentially get sponsorship from local pet stores.
A dog park here will be a win-win.