Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v14n04)
Reader Random Rippling - Broad Ripple Bark Park open house - by Taylor O'Neal
posted: Feb. 17, 2017
Don Colvin, Deputy Director of Indy Parks Planning, presented some renderings of potential improvements to the dog park. Those improvements include artificial turf, specifically designed for dogs, to be put in at the most heavily used area of the dog park (right near the entrance where it is currently a muddy/sandy area). He had different types of turf samples for people to see and feel and explained the process of how it all works and how it would be installed. He then moved on to talking about agility equipment. He had some pictures of different styles and on the renderings he had some potential placements that could be a good flow through the dog park. Lastly, he talked about extending the fence on the eastern border of the dog park out about 10 feet (almost to the property line) which would increase the size of the dog park about 10,000 sq ft.
Don Colvin, Deputy Director of Indy Parks Planning, at the open house.
image courtesy of Taylor O'Neal
Don opened the floor to questions and comments. The open forum was a mixed bag of opinions. The first few people who commented were not for the artificial turf. Don had to clarify that really our only options at this point would be to do the turf or to leave it how it is. In the past it's been seeded, it's been over seeded, he's laid sod down, and year after year it just becomes a muddy mess (from the grass going dormant in the winter months when we still have people and dogs walking all over it, so it just dies). Don explained how most new dog parks are putting artificial turf in their parks because of the longevity and durability of it. He gave the name of a park in Cincinnati, Washington Park, that has it and encouraged the attendees to look it up and look more into the turf. One major item that was brought up by attendees was getting a shelter with benches at the dog park. Don said he looked very much into it and gave the cost rundown for it. A small dog park was requested by several people, asking if the satellite dog park behind the Family Center could be turned into a small dog park. Don said that that could be doable, but major upgrades to it would have to be done, leaving no money for the main dog park improvements.
Final decision on the dog park will not be open for a vote, but Don does want to get preferences from the members, so he did go around the room taking preferences.
I think this was a great opportunity for people to see the reality of how far the $15,000 will get us (which isn't very far). Members asked how they could be more involved and how they could do more fundraising. I told them of 1 or 2 potential events in the future that we may have (we're still working out all the details) for fundraising. I also invited them to join the Friends of Broad Ripple Park, which is a great way to become more involved, not just with the dog park, but with Broad Ripple Park as a whole. The Friends of Broad Ripple Park meet every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:45pm at the Broad Ripple Park Family Center.
image courtesy of Taylor O'Neal
image courtesy of Taylor O'Neal
image courtesy of Taylor O'Neal
image courtesy of Taylor O'Neal
alan@broadripplegazette.com