June 10, 2009 DOA Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Carolyn Duffy, Dot Natale, Vito Shimkus, Heidi Rosen, Sharon Blumberg, Alanna Alexander,
Lauren Sessions, Jon Goviet, Becca Lewis, Maureen Chamberley, Derek Feres, Peg O'Connor, Dan Hirschhorn and Arnie Zacharias.
- 14 people in attendance of whom 10 were members of the DOA.
- Introduction by DOA Program Coordinator of the DOA Steering Committee, President and Member of the Board of Directors of The Friends of the Schuylkill River Park.
- Announcements were made: Annual Fall Festival happening Oct.17, 2009 with raindate Oct 18. Looking for dog related vendors and activities. Also looking for leads/ introduction to businesses willing to offer services/gift certificates for the Annual Fall Festival Raffle/ Silent Auction. Please contact info@phillyfido.net
- Looking for volunteers to help out with the Dog Run and the rest of the Park- will be staining benches in the Dog Run in the near future.
- Update and discussion on the dog run dog fountain: cost to replace - $10,000 - is to dig up the old drain pipes that are blocked because of all the rocks and limestone dumped down the drain.
- Showed plan view of the Schuylkill River Trail Connector Bridge and how it will impact the dog run.
Open Discussion
Fountain:
- Waiting until the connector bridge is built is far too long to wait to have water for the dogs.
- Becca suggested looking at the Nelson Brand frost free horse waterer system.
- Remedies for the dog fountain: raise foundation, make larger concrete area around the fountain, make better drainage ie hill, open concrete drain.
Cigarette Butts in dog run:
- People need to dispose of their cigarette butts properly - in a waste bin not on the ground of the dog run. One cigarette butt if eaten by the right size dog could kill the dog.
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- How to deal with people throwing their cigarette butts on the ground in the dog run?
- Cigarette ashtrays? -- thought that this would attract people to smoke.
K9 Grass:
- Very expensive, there are cheaper products that we can get from stadiums but it isn't antimicrobial.
- If lower cost could replace more often.
- One member had done extensive research on the product and wasn't convinced about the product and has opted not to use in home.
Children in the park:
- Rules don't allow children under 12 years of age to be in park unless accompanied by an adult.
- Should the rule be changed?
- It is what the children are doing - running, chasing the dogs. This can create a situation for dog owners in which they are liable for dog bites etc
- How to deal with unaccompanied children in the dog run: social pressure - everyone needs to be behind everyone else and back each other up.
Dog Poop:
- How to deal with dog poop ?
- Bigger signage at eye level inside the park along the fence - saying something like "Have you picked up your poop today?"
- Signs in Fitler square are cute, attractive and polite.
Dog Membership :
- Pay a small fee to get into the park: $.50
- Is it feasible?
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