Dog Run For Oakland Update: August 2009: By Ryan Robinson
So, the petition signing is over. The letters have stopped. The emails have been sent. What has been done?
After a great turn-out on petitions and sending emails back and forth, I actually got to meet Karen Marcalus and Betsy Stagg from the Town Council In May during my school’s Student Government Day Council Meeting. They both told me that they liked the idea and the real only place to put it would be the Pleasureland property. However, the town does not own it but plans are in the works. They even told me, “The way it’s going, we might not have it bought or work might not start on it until your in college.” (That’s in about 4-5 years.) However, I did send all of the council members an email regarding the end of the petitions. I only received two back after sending it about a month ago. Here were the questions I asked:
1.More than 400 signatures on the petitions were from the people of Oakland. That’s about half of all of the petition signers. What is your opinion on the number of Oakland signers to the petition?
2. After talking to two councilwomen, they say that the best place, if it were to be put, the Pleasureland area would be best suitable for a dog run. However, the town would need to buy the property from the owner. When do you “plan” to buy the property and what do you have envisioned for the site? Would a dog run fit there in your opinion?
3. Would any of you bring up the topic of a Dog Run in a council meeting and see where it would go and ask Oakland townspeople attending the meeting their opinion?
Here are the responses:
“Ryan,
Thank you for the information concerning a dog park. As Council President Marcalus said in her reply to you, this type of project needs a lot of consideration. We are currently planning long term goals and since we all received your email, I will bring it up at our next planning session in August. The cost of Pleasureland would need grant money which we are currently seeking. For now I suggest you contact us again in September after our planning session. We also have a list of requests from other residents/departments that we are also considering.”
-Pat Pignatelli
“Ryan – As Requested:
Question 1 Answer: Ryan, I have not seen the petition and I do not know the circumstances of the signing (was it passed around at a party, left at a pet shop? Does it contain names, addresses, signatures etc.), so it’s hard to comment, except to say that it is obvious that you worked hard.
Question 2 Answer: Buying and financing property takes time, but it’s in the works. I think a dog park might be one good use, but that remains to be seen.
Question 3 Answer: Sure, but the dog run, if made a part of the plan, would be just that – a part of a larger open space plan. As we know from rebuilding the tennis courts, there are many different opinions – pro and con. In my opinion, the question would be how a dog run would benefit the t own both esthetically and financially – and that’s not for any one group to dictate, but for the governing body to decide after looking at all the pros, cons. opinions, costs and other factors.”
-Karen Marcalus
So, I hope to attend a council meeting shortly but plans change and things come up. If you are ever at a council meeting, please bring it up and post what they say. I hope to come to one on the townspeople’s behalf.
-Ryan Robinson
PS: Emails for questions and comments are welcome, too!
DogRun4Oakland@yahoo.com
Below is the original article:
The Journal is supporting Reporter Ryan Robinson’s efforts to promote a dog run for Oakland. Visitors can read his original article from last summer that included a poll, and the follow-up article that details the responses he received from Oakland officials.
The petition below is offered to supplement the same one which is available at, JB Pet Supply, Oakland Hardware, RBARI, Staples, Animal Hospital (behind JB), Frank’s Pizza, and Oakland Java.
The Petition
[[petition-1]]