[BCNnet] Update re:Cook County dog parks
judymellin
judymellin@netzero.net
Wed, 7 Jan 2004 18:32:03 -0800
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Many of us feel that this issue goes far beyond the dog runs. We are =
extremely concerned about the allocation of public land to ANY private =
use, whether it is dog runs or horse training areas or garden clubs. =
The Forest Preserve 68,000 acres belong to the taxpayers, not to any =
special interest group.
While the dog runs are the current "hot button" topic, I feel we need to =
stress the core mission of
the FPD which is to "preserve, protect and restore the natural land" and =
allocating any land with fences and fees does not meet this core mission =
statement. =20
By the same token, if the FPD is to permit any more dog runs (and I'm =
hoping everyone will oppose that), these are the very issues that need =
to be dealt with. Far beyond the initial cost of a fence is the =
maintenance (and those of us involved in restoration work know that =
EVERY fence comes down) and the liability issues. What has to be looked =
at is not only what happens if a dog gets loose and attacks someone but =
what happens if one dog attacks another- or attacks an owner or one =
owner attacks another- within the fenced area? =20
This is a huge issue and must be dealt with in full knowledge of all the =
"what ifs". I have been writing to the commissioners about the whole =
issue of allocating land to individual groups but, if that concept does =
not fly, then all of these outside issues have to be addressed.
For those of you who may not have seen it, the Pioneer Press carried a =
story in its issue near River Forest. This is from that article:
"Realistically, we'd like 25 acres," said Linda Funk of Elmwood Park, =
who has been scouting sites for the group. "They'd like to put us by a =
freeway and we don't want an undesirable location or a site with a small =
acreage of land. Out of 68,000 acres of forest preserve land, we should =
be able to find something."
Nearby parking is important, Funk said. The group also wants a site =
with water, shelter and a rest room or portable toilet."
Unfortunately, Chicago Ornithological Society has drawn up a proposal =
advocating the granting of land for dog parks. This is from their plan:
The CCFPD has within its land management guidelines specified that no =
more than 12% of its holdings (currently at about 68,000 acres) be =
developed for recreation, COS recommends that no more than 0.5% or 340 =
acres of CCFPD be designated as DFAs.
B. Individual DFAs should not exceed five acres.
This would allow 68 of these or one per 1000 acres of FPD land. =20
Judy Mellin
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Dennis Nyberg=20
To: BCNnet@ece.iit.edu=20
Cc: guarinodd@JUNO.COM=20
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: [BCNnet] Update re:Cook County dog parks
To consider the liability that will be incurred because of the dog =
facilities 'inconsequential' is a huge mistake.=20
The liability needs to be carefully investigated. Does the dog owners =
group have enough insurance to pay for the settlement that the County =
will end up paying for the Dan Ryan Woods attacks. I suspect that a =
settlement of a million dollars or more would end up on the forest =
preserve district.
What about breaks in the fence? Who is responsible for maintenance of =
the fence. If a dog escapes through a breach in the fence and attacks =
someone outside the fence is the FPDCC liable? Why not?
This is a case where the propose facility is not paying its full cost =
but rather transferring the real cost to the FPDCC without the FPDCC =
knowing it.
Dennis Nyberg, TWSRP
At 03:15 PM 1/7/2004 -0500, you wrote:
FYI: Commissioner Suffredin withdrew his resolution (described =
below) based on Supt.Bylina's info that no new dog parks will be =
considered until the Beck Lake DFA pilot is evaluated in June.
=20
Additional info that you may have missed in yesterday's emails: it =
has been determined that the dog groups/owners pay the cost to build the =
DFA. Any extra cost the FP may have to incur is considered =
inconsequential (and thus not a reason to reject DFAs -- so don't bother =
mentioning it in any letters you might send).
=20
Randi Doeker
Chicago
=20
=20
=20
In a message dated 1/6/2004 2:02:38 PM Central Standard Time, =
bobolnk@ix.netcom.com writes:
Tomorrow at the Cook County Board meeting, Commissioner Suffredin =
will introduce a motion to put a moratorium on any new dog parks in the =
Cook County Forest Preserves, to allow for further public discussion and =
evaluation of the Beck Lake pilot project.. This will allow time for =
all the issues to be sorted out and a good approach to be developed. =
Can you send an e-mail to your County Commissioner requesting that they =
support this resolution?=20
To find out who your commissioner is and how to contact him or =
her, check this website: http://www.cookctyclerk.com/
Judy Pollock
jpollock@audubon.org=20
Dennis Nyberg, Steward
Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve
owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook Co.
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<DIV>Many of us feel that this issue goes far beyond the dog runs. =
We are=20
extremely concerned about the allocation of public land to ANY private =
use,=20
whether it is dog runs or horse training areas or garden clubs. =
The Forest=20
Preserve 68,000 acres belong to the taxpayers, not to any special =
interest=20
group.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>While the dog runs are the current "hot button" topic, I feel we =
need to=20
stress the core mission of</DIV>
<DIV>the FPD which is to "preserve, protect and restore the natural =
land"=20
and allocating any land with fences and fees does not meet this core =
mission=20
statement. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>By the same token, if the FPD is to permit any more dog runs (and =
I'm=20
hoping everyone will oppose that), these are the very issues that need =
to be=20
dealt with. Far beyond the initial cost of a fence is the =
maintenance (and=20
those of us involved in restoration work know that EVERY fence comes =
down) and=20
the liability issues. What has to be looked at is not only what =
happens if=20
a dog gets loose and attacks someone but what happens if one dog attacks =
another- or attacks an owner or one owner attacks another- within the =
fenced=20
area? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This is a huge issue and must be dealt with in full knowledge of =
all the=20
"what ifs". I have been writing to the commissioners about the =
whole issue=20
of allocating land to individual groups but, if that concept does not =
fly, then=20
all of these outside issues have to be addressed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For those of you who may not have seen it, the Pioneer Press =
carried a=20
story in its issue near River Forest. This is from that =
article:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
face=3DArial>"Realistically,=20
we'd like 25 acres," said Linda Funk of Elmwood Park, who has been =
scouting=20
sites for the group.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>"They'd like=20
to put us by a freeway and we don't want an undesirable location or a =
site with=20
a small acreage of land.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Out of=20
68,000 acres of forest preserve land, we should be able to find=20
something."</FONT></P>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Nearby=20
parking is important, Funk said.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>The group also wants a site with water, shelter and a rest room =
or=20
portable toilet."</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT=20
face=3D"Gill Sans MT">Unfortunately, Chicago Ornithological Society has =
drawn up a=20
proposal advocating the granting of land for dog parks. This is =
from their=20
plan:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">The=20
CCFPD has within its land management guidelines specified that no more =
than 12%=20
of its holdings (currently at about 68,000 acres) be developed for =
recreation,=20
COS recommends that no more than 0.5% or 340 acres of CCFPD be =
designated as=20
DFAs.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">B. =20
Individual DFAs should not exceed five acres.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT=20
face=3D"Gill Sans MT">This would allow 68 of these or one per 1000 acres =
of FPD=20
land. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Gill Sans MT"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Jud</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">y=20
Mellin</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT=20
face=3D"Gill Sans MT"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: =
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT=20
face=3D"Gill Sans MT"></FONT><BR> </DIV></SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dcsnp@uic.edu href=3D"mailto:csnp@uic.edu">Dennis Nyberg</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3DBCNnet@ece.iit.edu=20
href=3D"mailto:BCNnet@ece.iit.edu">BCNnet@ece.iit.edu</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A =
title=3Dguarinodd@JUNO.COM=20
href=3D"mailto:guarinodd@JUNO.COM">guarinodd@JUNO.COM</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, January 07, =
2004 2:21=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [BCNnet] Update =
re:Cook=20
County dog parks</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>To consider the liability that will be incurred because =
of the=20
dog facilities 'inconsequential' is a huge mistake. <BR>The liability =
needs to=20
be carefully investigated. Does the dog owners group have enough =
insurance to=20
pay for the settlement that the County will end up paying for the Dan =
Ryan=20
Woods attacks. I suspect that a settlement of a million dollars or =
more would=20
end up on the forest preserve district.<BR>What about breaks in the =
fence? Who=20
is responsible for maintenance of the fence. If a dog escapes through =
a breach=20
in the fence and attacks someone outside the fence is the FPDCC =
liable? =20
Why not?<BR>This is a case where the propose facility is not paying =
its full=20
cost but rather transferring the real cost to the FPDCC without the =
FPDCC=20
knowing it.<BR>Dennis Nyberg, TWSRP<BR>At 03:15 PM 1/7/2004 -0500, you =
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=3Dcite cite=3D"" type=3D"cite">FYI: =
Commissioner Suffredin=20
withdrew his resolution (described below) based on Supt.Bylina's =
info that=20
no new dog parks will be considered until the Beck Lake DFA pilot is =
evaluated in June.<BR> <BR>Additional info that you may have =
missed in=20
yesterday's emails: it has been determined that the dog =
groups/owners=20
pay the cost to build the DFA. Any extra cost the FP may have =
to incur=20
is considered inconsequential (and thus not a reason to reject DFAs =
-- so=20
don't bother mentioning it in any letters you might=20
send).<BR> <BR>Randi=20
Doeker<BR>Chicago<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>In a message =
dated=20
1/6/2004 2:02:38 PM Central Standard Time, bobolnk@ix.netcom.com =
writes:<BR>
<DL>
<DD><FONT face=3Darial>Tomorrow at the Cook County Board meeting,=20
Commissioner Suffredin will introduce a motion to put a moratorium =
on any=20
new dog parks in the Cook County Forest Preserves, </FONT><FONT =
face=3Darial=20
size=3D2>to allow for further public discussion and evaluation of =
the Beck=20
Lake pilot project</FONT><FONT face=3Darial>.. This will =
allow time=20
for all the issues to be sorted out and a good approach to be=20
developed. Can you send an e-mail to your County =
Commissioner=20
requesting that they support this resolution? <BR><BR>
<DD>To find out who your commissioner is and how to contact him or =
her,=20
check this website: </FONT><A =
href=3D"http://www.cookctyclerk.com/"><FONT=20
face=3Darial =
size=3D2>http://www.cookctyclerk.com/</A></FONT><BR><BR>
<DD><FONT face=3Darial>Judy Pollock<BR>
<DD>jpollock@audubon.org =
<BR></FONT></DD></DL></BLOCKQUOTE><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP>
<DL></DL>Dennis Nyberg, Steward<BR>Cranberry Slough Nature =
Preserve<BR>owned=20
by the Forest Preserve District of Cook Co. =
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