Tulsa World: Pet lovers unleash ideas for Tulsa's first dog park

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Pet lovers unleash ideas for Tulsa's first dog park

By KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer
Published: 5/30/2008 2:07 AM
Last Modified: 5/30/2008 2:54 AM

A group of dog owners met Thursday night at a Brookside home to discuss how they can work together to help create a dog park in Tulsa.

If they succeed, it would be the first park of its kind in the city.

The meeting was held less than a week before the Tulsa Park and Recreation Board is set to discuss the possible creation of a dog park at Johnson Park and a proposal to form a task force to study the issue.

Bill Jackson said he lived in New York City for many years and had high praise for the dog parks there.

"I guess the question going around here tonight is: 'Why can't this be a reality here?' " he said.

The host of the gathering, Bobbie Cowan, said there was a lot of Internet traffic about a dog park, so she thought a meeting would give people a chance to sit down face-to-face to discuss the issue.

Another objective of the meeting was to gather information on possible locations, funding and budget matters prior to Tuesday's park board meeting, Cowan said.

"It's during working hours, so it might be difficult" for some people to attend, she added.

The park board will meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Henthorne Community Center, 4825 S. Quaker Ave.

Mayor Kathy Taylor, who did not attend Thursday's meeting, previously has said she is forming a group to determine where to create a dog park for the city.

"Tulsa deserves to have a dog park like other cities have. There is clearly a desire by the public to have a park dedicated to dogs, where dogs can roam freely without being leashed," she said.

Earlier this month, Tulsa Animal Control ticketed several dog owners for having unleashed animals at the arboretum in Woodward Park.

That park was never built to be a dog park, Taylor said.

Taylor said a few areas are being considered, one which is Johnson Park. She also said private donations have been made to help fund a park.

Susan Day said she is not picky about where the city puts a dog park. She just wants a place where Sadie, her brown Mountain Cur, can run free while learning to socialize with other animals.

"I don't want her to be home all day and then just walk her around the block," Day said.

World staff writer P.J. Lassek contributed to this story.

Kevin Canfield 581-8313
kevin.canfield@tulsaworld.com
By KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment vermejojoe, (5/30/2008 8:47:02 AM) Gee, the concept of a dog park first came up in 1993, was discussed extensively with the park board then, and shot down by then-mayor Susan Savage. Way to go,Tulsa...only 15 years to make something happen. Does anybody really wonder about why Oklahoma City has buried Tulsa,s claim as the most progressive city in the state? Tulsans need to begin demanding better leadership. The combination of a visionary and the charisma and leadership ability to stop the devisivness in Tulsa would be nice. Maybe Bob LaFortune isn't too old to make a comeback.
	Report Comment Diana D, madill (5/30/2008 11:07:17 AM) I am so happy to hear there is a dog park coming to tulsa. i was born there, in what used to be St. John's Hospital and I have always loved that old city, so since I am a native please put small shaded areas to keep sun off the dog's when resting. They can be short to the ground that only a dog could fit in. Just four poles and a little angled roof nothing fancy. Go Tulsa!
	Report Comment Scott Smith, (5/30/2008 11:23:36 AM) Great news!! I have been working with our neighborhood homeowners association to get a dog park built in our neighborhood. The response was an overwhelming 'yes' when I brought it up at the last meeting. I look forward to a city wide park too!! Some suggestions: shade (as mentioned above) and doggie friendly drinking stations, water for swimming, and separate pens for small and large dogs.
	Report Comment Jeff in Tulsey Town, (5/30/2008 11:44:39 AM) Uh, this is for "righton"... I don't think you know what the concept of a dog park actually is. It's not just a place to walk your dog. It's a fenced-in area where your dog can be off the leash to run and play with their owners and possibly other dogs. In other words it's a safe place for your dog to be a dog.
	Report Comment bobbie04, tulsa (5/30/2008 3:40:53 PM) For anyone interested in volunteering or simply obtaining more info, there is a yahoo groups with all of the information and soon it will have the next meeting date. Under yahoo groups search for tulsabarkpark since i cannot link directly to the site.
	Report Comment alan3303, (5/30/2008 4:07:58 PM) I guess I am confused by the purpose of the meeting. As I understood it at least one dog park was going to be built with the 2025 plan at Mowhawk park. The plan for the park, among other things, is at the link below: Item 18 refers to a 'bark park' is this not going to be the dog park?? Ufourtunatley I am not allowed to post the link because of some stupid Tulsa World policy on forums. But if you go to mohwaks official web page and look for "Mowhawk Park Strategic Plan Update" you should find the map.
	Report Comment Kilgore Trout, (5/30/2008 5:12:21 PM) Hope Susan Day has a carry and conceal permit to use Johnson Park. It is in a dangerous area in Tulsa. What planner came up with the idea of Johnson Park? We live by Whiteside Park and it has a big area that would be nice for a park. Mohawk Park and Johnson Park are not where I'm taking my teenage daughters with "Sadie" our Cocker Spaniel. Oh, we have gone to the Arboretum. It is fun with very nice dogs and people. Hope Tulsa can have a fun place to go with some trees and shade.
	Report Comment SuzyQ, (5/31/2008 12:02:51 AM) I would love to see a dog park somewhere in Tulsa. But why do we have to bicker over every little tiny subject that comes up? All you grumpy people just needs to kiss a dog..........that'll make you happy!!
	Report Comment janeh, (5/31/2008 11:48:11 PM) Of course Tulsa should have dog parks. They are good for the dogs and they are good for the neighborhoods. Every decent city has them. They are happy, clean, social places. Yes, shade trees are necessary.....in all parks, especially in Oklahoma.
	Report Comment jaenosjelantru, Tulsa (6/2/2008 9:27:41 AM) Tulsa needs a dog park in an area that is centrally located and useful for all tulsans. Putting a park at mohawk park or at 61st & riverside is a bad idea. There is too much crime in the area of johnson park. Mohawk is too far north for most people. I will not let my wife use either park unless I'm there; even with our dogs. This is the dialogue we need to have and its a shame the city doesn't recognize that citizens want it.

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