A short-term micropark success... let's not stop there.
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If there was ever a testament to how much Buffalo needs a dog-park, then Sunday was it. Hundreds of dogs gathered, to bring their owners together at Buffalo’s LaSalle Park. And if you think that a dog-park is all about the dogs, think again. This was a wonderful way to meet other people who have one huge commonality… the love of animals.
The dog-park is also the first step towards creating a series of micro-parks downtown. If the organizers succeed in bringing this amenity to our waterfront, then the accomplishment sets a precedent for… say… a skate-park. There are so many activities for the twenty and thirty-something age groups... If you are a mom or a dad that has a child who is interested in skateboarding, then it is you who should be making your voice heard loud and clear. Dr. Reed Stevens, Jay ‘Micropark’ McCarthy, and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt have gotten the ball (or stick) rolling on the dog-park. There is a momentum building to bring another park to Buffalo. Without additional voices we might not see a skate-park. Watch the vision unfold in the Run for Rover video… and send an email to Jay McCarthy and let him know that the skate-park is next. Are we going to let insurance problems stand in the way of giving our youth the same outdoor physical activities that just about every other town and city in NYS have? Why should Buffalo get the short end of the stick again?
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NBJOHN
Again.....Reed, Jay, and the volunteers deserve a round of applause and all the kudos’ for this. I will leave out the career politicians’ name that showed up.... Mr. 90k do-nothing. A few people ,some hard work and ambition- kind of what is missing from state government. And again from my other comment, it is amazing what a few hard working individuals can do, and what our state/county/local politicians cannot or do not want to do.
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AtwaterLouse
NBJohn, this is a great illustration of my point to you the other day that most people around here are MUCH more interested in having Sam Hoyt and others arrange for more govt spending than they ever are for having them control spending or make serious tax cuts.
There's absolutely no limit to the spending items we around here can think up and lobby for.
After all, the NYS budget rose by only three times inflation last year!
So with that modest an increase, why shouldn't we have more and more parks?
It's not as though we have fewer and fewer people or anything! Oh wait, that's right yeah we do - never mind that one. Well, what I meant to say is it's not as though we have trouble finding funds to sufficiently maintain the parks and playgrounds we already have in Buffalo! Oh wait, yeah we do that too. Well dammit we need Hoyt to get money for us for another park - well for the children!
Would it be rude of me to ask how was is possible for teens to somehow manage to grow up ok in Buffalo in the 70s, 80s, 90s with sufficient activities to be a lot less fat than they are these days without having a... what is it exactly, a micro skating park with govt-subsidized insurance or some such thing?
There's zero doubt in my mind that the ratio of calls to Sam's office every year is about 10:1 in favor of new spending requests vs. requests for spending cuts and tax cuts combined. Wouldn't be surprised if it's actually 100:1 or even higher.
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bflo_gal
We do need a 'permanent' daily dog park. This is a quality of life issue and there are dog parks in every thriving city and even in many of the growing suburban areas across the U.S. Dog owners develop life long friendships, meet neighbors, and establish community relationships during regular visits to the dog park. Building strong communities is an excellent way for towns & cities to increase property values, decrease crimes, and significantly improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Perhaps adding more of these kinds of 'micro-parks,' like skate parks, will help convince our young people that WNY is a great place to live and influence them to stay here and contribute to growing our community. What have we got to lose? Seems like a win-win situation to me...
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moonshine
A dog park is a quality of life issue? Does anyone except your dog take you seriously in real life?
Why don't you buy the land and install the park yourself if it is such a fabulous idea?
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AtwaterLouse
Ok, you've all convinced me. I was being a heartless anti-dog anti-teen cheapskate. Yes, these are great ideas. Everything that sounds nice to have is a great idea. What can it hurt? A new special park for dogs, and another new special park for skaters. Of course. Then we should figure out something the government can do for cats and their human companions. They might not want a park but why should they be left out with nothing? Maybe some public scratching posts or subsidized catnip. Something for birds too, please. More public birdbaths and bird feeders. Maybe a special park where parrots can talk to each other. And the squirrels, they deserve something - and ferrets, yes of course. And some cities have a special park with chess tables - why not Buffalo? Do we hate the idea of chess players in our parks? And why don't we have more govt-subsidized lofts for artists? I know we're building a few but why just a few? Some people who apply for those few will be rejected. Do we hate art? And clearly more government funded museums can't hurt - canal, weather, underground railroad, aviation, architecture, Millard Fillmore - a museum in every pot. Fewer people, fewer jobs - but clearly one good answer is more of everything. The taxpayers need to provide more things to do for our young people. And our young dogs. And for our old people - more senior centers. I hope someone from Hoyt's office is writing all this down and makes sure to get all this funded and soon - otherwise we will blame him. Excelsior, baby.
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DavidScott
Such a small, simple idea can have such a big ripple effect in building a sense of community. Pets are such a important part of people's lives, and if the land isn't being used on a regular basis anyway, why not make it a "win-win' situation. And Moonshine, what do you propose the park be used for? A bitter human run? Just a thought.
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