My name is Patches and I love going to Newhall Park to play in the Paw Patch, the fenced dog park just past the Bocce courts. I used to chase any bird I saw but now just plod about to smell the smells and stand guard against marauding starlings.
I have my people take me there early in the mornings on weekends, and we try to leave before the assholes show up with the gangsta dogs, attitude and hangovers. There’s a nice group of dogs that have their people bring them in the afternoons before sunset. Very nice.
Now I hear (finally) that Concord City Council is considering again the request to install lighting at the Paw Patch! At first I thought this was great idea, but then began to think about it. It just doesn’t smell right and here’s why:
1. This just isn’t the time to spend money on such a luxury. Only police dogs deserve that kind of respect.
2. Sadly, spending money on lights for the Paw Patch won’t keep the idiots out and the only thing it will do is better expose the ton of poop that negligent owners don’t bother to clean up. Watch your step.
3. Among the soccer players and seasonal Bocce player sightings, there is enough activity at Newhall to make strolling on leash with your people at dusk a relatively safe and enjoyable experience. Lights not required.
4. One concession Council ought to consider, though, is unlocking the gate so dog owners could park in the gravel area past the Bocce courts to accommodate the many senior pets that visit the Paw Patch. How hard could that be? And it won’t cost anything!
Woof.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Concord Goes to the Dogs
I attended the City Council Meeting tonight (Jan 5) and there was a discussion about the issues around the Dog Park Lights at Newhall, but to the delight of the 20 or supporters of the lights, the City Council voted 5 to 0 to put the Lights in.
The comments from the City Council were amongst other things:
1. We need to support the community spirit brought on by the dog walkers
2. $41,000 will not bring any police
3. The lights and extra activity may keep undesirable people out of the park
The comments in favor of the Park Lights were mostly
1. Dog walking is good mental health for the dogs and the people
2. Light is good
3. There is a community of unity amongst dog owners
4. There lights cannot be seen that much
5. We are the good people who use the park
6. Things have changed and there are more dog owners now than homeowners opposed to it
The comments against the Park Lights were mostly
1. This is not the time to spend $41,000 on Dog Park Lights
2. The increase in park traffic will make it hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys since the Parks are suppose to be closed after dark
3. The park was first given a dog run because it was only going to be used in day light hours
So at the end of the day, the money which will come from the General Fund *though there was/is an effort to have the money shifted from the Park and Recreation Fund*, will be spent and the Dog Night Walkers will have their light.
Wooof….
The things that bother me about the proposal before the City Council on Monday Jan. 5 is:
1. When the dog run was first put in there was a commitment by the City to have it only during day light hours. I do not understand what has changed that such an agreement is now null and void?
2. At time when we just broke our commitment to 5 of the 8 police that were put into training for the Concord PD, why should we spend $41,000 to have dogs play after dark?
3. According to the staff report the increase in usage is about 12%, is this worth $41,000 when we are shutting down the city offices and not making good on the police officer needs for the city?