Self Sustaining Dog Park Headed To Riverside

[Ernest Street]

Plain and simple.."The Riverside Dog Park" should happen.
Somewhere in the county there must be enough dirt to fill up the mosquito hole.

[RockStar]

As a frequent visitor of the Springfield dog park, I have to say that, as a park, it's nice. But, just as with every dog park, there's people who think they can just sit there and not tend their pets. The difference, I've found, is that at the SDP those pets are often un-spayed/neutered pit or pit mixes. I feel like I have to "profile" the park before I let my dog in sometimes.

There's a ton of parks in Rside that could be partitioned for a dog park. But it won't happen, because Riverside people don't like change. 

[John P]

That would be great.  As a downtown resident, I would much rather drive to a Riverside dog park than bring Jackson to the one in Springfield.  That park is run down and surrounded by homeless.  It's pretty uncomfortable.  I'm not asking for Dogwood Park on Salisbury in Springfield, but an improvement would be nice.

As a rental property owner all around jacksonville, this comment is stupid. Never had, heard of or seen any problem with any homeless person and the dog park. Plenty of homeless in riverside too. Opinions are like assholes everyone has one. I still think the highway so low maybe a problem for the riverside park. Mosquitos are easy to kill.

[John P]

As a frequent visitor of the Springfield dog park, I have to say that, as a park, it's nice. But, just as with every dog park, there's people who think they can just sit there and not tend their pets. The difference, I've found, is that at the SDP those pets are often un-spayed/neutered pit or pit mixes. I feel like I have to "profile" the park before I let my dog in sometimes.

There's a ton of parks in Rside that could be partitioned for a dog park. But it won't happen, because Riverside people don't like change. 

Boone park would be the best park space. Its huge and not used enough.

[tufsu1]

That would be great.  As a downtown resident, I would much rather drive to a Riverside dog park than bring Jackson to the one in Springfield.  That park is run down and surrounded by homeless.  It's pretty uncomfortable.  I'm not asking for Dogwood Park on Salisbury in Springfield, but an improvement would be nice.

I used to bring my dog to the park in Springfield (she's since passed on)....the park is less than 5 years old and a pretty far cry from being "run down"....as for the homeless, I have far more of them walking around on the streets around my downtown complex than I see in that park.

[ben says]

As a frequent visitor of the Springfield dog park, I have to say that, as a park, it's nice. But, just as with every dog park, there's people who think they can just sit there and not tend their pets. The difference, I've found, is that at the SDP those pets are often un-spayed/neutered pit or pit mixes. I feel like I have to "profile" the park before I let my dog in sometimes.

There's a ton of parks in Rside that could be partitioned for a dog park. But it won't happen, because Riverside people don't like change. 

Boone park would be the best park space. Its huge and not used enough.

+1. Everytime I walk by, I'm amazing at how big that place really is.

[downtownjag]

That would be great.  As a downtown resident, I would much rather drive to a Riverside dog park than bring Jackson to the one in Springfield.  That park is run down and surrounded by homeless.  It's pretty uncomfortable.  I'm not asking for Dogwood Park on Salisbury in Springfield, but an improvement would be nice.

Are you kidding me? 



Springfield's dog park is awesome, well-attended and appreciated.  Everybody knows you and your dog, a real sense of community. 

And I am happy for Riverside's dog park. 

After all, the world can't have too many places for dogs to run free.

I, in fact, am not kidding you.  Thank you for the photo of the kid running from the young wolf.  I was approached by two different homeless people  asking for drugs and or favors for cash, ON ONE occasion.  There was also a bum outside the park yelling at all the dogs in the park.  Ever been to an actual dogpark like Dogwood?

[downtownjag]

That would be great.  As a downtown resident, I would much rather drive to a Riverside dog park than bring Jackson to the one in Springfield.  That park is run down and surrounded by homeless.  It's pretty uncomfortable.  I'm not asking for Dogwood Park on Salisbury in Springfield, but an improvement would be nice.

As a rental property owner all around jacksonville, this comment is stupid. Never had, heard of or seen any problem with any homeless person and the dog park. Plenty of homeless in riverside too. Opinions are like assholes everyone has one. I still think the highway so low maybe a problem for the riverside park. Mosquitos are easy to kill.

Great argument, because Landlords are notorious for their ability to see the problems with the rentals they own.  Why don't you get your nose out of my opinion, if it is like an asshole.

[downtownjag]

OK, I'm cooled off now.  I apologize if I've offended anyone about this park.  I suppose we won't see eye to eye on everything.

[Jimmy]

Very pleased to hear there's forward momentum on this.  I was in Riverside Park with my dog yesterday.  He and I will appreciate once it's leash-free! 

[hooplady]

OK, I'm cooled off now.  I apologize if I've offended anyone about this park.  I suppose we won't see eye to eye on everything.

The Springfield dog park is owned by the City and is free...Dogwood Park and the proposed Riverside park will be fee-based, correct?   I think the more options the merrier, but when comparing them you have to take this into account.  There are certainly more folks using the space in Confederate Park now that it's a dog park; it's a lot more vibrant than it used to be, but it still has its challenges.

But what do I know, I'm a cat person - we take them wherever they order us to.

Go Riverside!  Woof!

[Kaiser Soze]

I was approached by two different homeless people  asking for drugs and or favors for cash, ON ONE occasion. 

That's pretty awesome.  I hope you made a crack like "only if we do it doggystyle" or something similar.  Would have been really funny considering the locale and all the barking dogs.

[metrodude]

what is the status on this park? when will it open?!  anxious to see this open up.

[mtraininjax]

OK, a status update on the Riverside Dog Park, you can read all about it at this link, http://www.riversideavondale.org/index.php?id=236

I attended an event last night at a Riverside house on Lancaster and we were informed by Carmen Godwin that the John Gorrie Foundation (Wayne and Delores Weaver) had graciously donated $50,000 for the park. We're getting close to the goal amount. Between Jim Love's City money and the Weavers and everyone else, we are getting super close, but we could always use more help. RAP can only do so much, it is up to us, the local residents and folks who support dogs and animals to facilitate the change.

If you are wondering why it takes so much money for.....a dog park. Well, FDOT did not leave Riverside better than how they found it and there is a lot of debris and "stuff" buried under the I-95 overpass and this "stuff" has to be removed. If anyone knows how to get FDOT to pay for cleaning up their mess, RAP would love to hear from you. Otherwise, this would have already been done and operational.

Per some of the hosts last night, the park will operate as any normal city park, from Dawn to Dusk. There will not be a charge to enter, as far as I could tell last night, it is a city park. If you can purchase a brick, that would be great, if you want your name on a bench, lamp post, or trash can, please help. There will be more events and we want to provide a place for Riverside Avondale to go with their dogs.

[Dog Walker]

^  Good news!  Final design drawings are on the Riverside Avondale web site too.  Looks like it is going to really nice looking.  Entrance will be from College Street and there is also a proposed plan for FDOT to redo that part of College St. with narrower lanes and angle parking.

Now that there is no longer an entrance to I-95 there the road is too big and will be put on a diet.

The landscape entrance will be paved with bricks that you can get for a donation and have your name on them.

BTW, I've walked along the sidewalk next to the retention ponds for several years and have never noticed any increase in the mosquito population.  You would think that stagnant retention ponds in the shade would be breeding areas so FDOT must be doing something to control them.