Barkyard Catches A Big Break and Finds A New Home
It's official. The Barkyard has a new, permanent home. This is tremendous news for dog-owners all over the region. The former site of the four-legged micropark served its purpose for a year, and that was all the time supporters needed to show that the amenity was one that the city could not do without. Recently a Barkyard fundraiser managed to wrangle in $35,000 to go towards a fence when the future site was to be chosen. And with this most recent announcement, Mayor Brown has upped the ante with an additional $25,000 commitment that will go towards site improvements, and regular maintenance coverage.
At peak times, The Barkyard has drawn 2000 people a week to the waterfront romping grounds. Those are huge numbers that far surpassed any and all park expectations. The future Barkyard home will include a water hookup and a fountain for both large and small canines ($10,000 price tag). $15,000 will be allotted towards benches, shade and facilities to make the space comfortable for humans and their pets (year 'round). Dog park supporters are now getting ready to raise an additional $25,000 in the form of matching grant moneys. The Mayor's Impact Team will be working with the SPCA, BuffOLA, Crisis Services (among others) in order to share in the community investment.
The new location for The Barkyard will be situated near the driving roundabout at LaSalle Park - not far from the current location. The spot will add visibility to the program, which should in turn draw more dogs to the spot. This first micropark will hopefully lay groundwork for future microparks like the skate plaza and the fishing park. Success breeds success in this case, as various groups are already moving forward with plans for the skate plaza.
Photo: Reed Stevens, Mayor Brown, Jay 'Micropark' McCarthy
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d_a_n
that dog looks dead.
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NorPark
Don't worry, the dog is more likely than not just 'playing dead', and not actually dead.
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Hoss
I really wish the City would fix the broken playground equipment at the Rose Garden playground. A water fountain and some shade for the thirsty children and other humans that frequent this location would be nice as well.
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scottnorwood
Well rather than wishing Hoss, why not do something proactive and make that your mission. The only reason that the Barkyard materialized and gained support is because of Jay McCarthy and others. They are exactly the type of people we need to make this city the type of place that we all want to live.
I too am the type of person who wishes more than does, so I am not picking on you or anyone else. I simply wanted to thank those who actually carry something out for all the hard work they do. Thanks Jay and all the others who put forth the effort to make the dog park a reality.
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sbrof
A picture of the reason for the park.. a tired little dog. Animals, like humans, need exercise and the BuffOLA provides the perfect place to run around. Remember a little over a year ago when there wasn't one in buffalo. Now there is a another amenity for city and county residents to use and enjoy.
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tonyarmani
why doesnt anyone reach out to companies like PetSmart or PetCo for additional funding through advertising? I know we are already plagued by millions of advertisements a day, but if the park is really hitting 2k + ppl/day, that could be some serious ad $$s paid out by a big name sponsor.
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Hoss
Hey scottnorwood... I am fully aware that many things need proactive people to get done. I also happen to be missioned out at the moment. Anytime I write a letter to any official other than LoCurto I end up with a BS housing citation anyways. But I hear ya... I really do.
It's great that the dog owners of this city now have a legitimate place to go, and I'm not knocking it by any means. They should have it. Most every city I have ever been to/lived in, had this kind of location. It's just bewildering with the amount of property taxes we pay here (I'm not anti-taxes by the way) that basic things such as broken playground equipment can't be fixed, or prioritized in a timely manner. Roads don't get plowed on weekends, the grass in Delaware Park gets mowed 3 times a summer (except for the golf course), slides and swing sets lie broken, libraries are shut down, the teachers don't have an honored contract, yet we have police video cameras popping up all over the city, and dogs will now have small and large fountains to drink fresh water from when they play. Isn't there like a giant river like a couple hundred feet away? Kids need water too, and in my opinion, they are an overwhelming priority over dogs. I was in my daughters school today. The supposed "best" public elementary school in the city. The exposed pipes in the bathroom were literally dripping rust down the walls, and all the windows were peeling paint. We get letters home looking for donations of glue-sticks and scissors, and other basic school supplies, yet dog walkers (who ironically, will most likely drive to LaSalle park), will have some shade and fresh drinking water provided for their animals. I don't get it. Priorities seem kinda skewed to me. Politically motivated I'm sure, but nonetheless...
With all that said, congratulations to all those that worked hard on getting this park legitimized and financed. Hopefully the skate plaza will be next:)))
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Dan
Hoss> Isn't there like a giant river like a couple hundred feet away? Kids need water too, and in my opinion, they are an overwhelming priority over dogs.
Considering the taxes in the region (highest property taxes in the country) and what you said, one would think that the Buffalo area would have five or ten dog parks ... like many other metropolitan areas its size. Instead, there's an overgrown, fenced-off area that used to enclose an old baseball diamond, and that's it. I also wonder why there's no public skate park, when it's something that is a standard amenity in most other cities. Maybe it's an Upstate New York thing; after all, the Rochester area doesn't even have a single dog park, period.
That being said, I wonder where the tax money goes, too. When I lived in Denver not too long ago, my annual property tax was $750 on a house that was far more expensive than the average-priced house in the Buffalo area, and municipal services were excellent. Streets were clean, parks tended, median landscaping fresh and well-maintained, and schools good, while municipal workers got salaries that were equivalent to, if not better than those in Buffalo. Buffalo's situation can't all be because of unions.
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Hoss
I agree Dan. I'm not one to whine about taxes, but I just don't understand it. I partly grew up in Colorado myself, and my father's house in Boulder is more than twice the value of mine, yet his taxes are less than half. His electricity is also half what we pay. They have skate parks, and dog parks, and pools, and actual bathrooms at playgrounds. Bus stops have rubbish bins, and the massive bicycle trail system gets plowed before the streets even do. They have people on the dole (percentage wise, more people living in poverty than NY State), and plenty of unions, so that argument is mute as far as I'm concerned. Just drive 30 miles down the thruway, and even gas prices (local taxes) drop 15-20 cents a gallon.
Don't get me wrong, I like good roads, safe neighborhoods, well paid teachers and cops, clean parks, modern libraries, etc... and am willing to pay for them, I just don't fully comprehend the discrepancies between other municipalities. Even those within our own state. Seems like there is some serious screwing going on around here. Seems like the corruption has been going on so long that people just go with it at this point.
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carlmalone
The Mayor actually referred to the dog as "Hoyt" several times during his little skit. Casey came over and setpped on the dogs neck. It was funny being there, but in hindsight, maybe a little out of line.
Good for Jay for getting this all going and keeping it all on track. He deserves all the props here.
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buffawakening
to dan and hoss... the reason buffalo has higher taxes than say, denver, is mainly because of the fact that we have only a percentage of the population we once had while we have facilities to serve the thousands of people who left us. (though not well upkept) we have a huge park system and a very large beurocracy for a city of 300,000. then you through in the fact that a large percentage of the city property is owned by the church (non taxable) and that complicates it more. the houses that once were home to families that paid a good amount of money into the city caupers are now very low income houses and are rarely taxed at all. simply put... the people who paid for the olmstead park system, all the streets to be plowed, the police and fire force, and city development have all left. we only have the ones who dont make enough to pay any taxes. so for those who can afford to pay taxes, they will be taxed to death. thats what happens when you live in the 2nd poorest city in the country. :(
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Hoss
That kinda makes sense buffawakening (actually the best explanation I've heard thus far), but how does it explain the high tax rate in say, Amherst? From what I understand, they pay even more than us city folks. They don't have the abandoned housing stock, empty streets, or rampant poverty that Buffalo has. Perhaps as you said, it is the bloated bureaucracy (and all the secret dealings that keep this system afloat) that continue this fleecing.
Now I'm probably being naive here, but every time I get my County tax bill, I wonder what it is even for. They shut down my local library. They did a crap job maintaining the city parks (that's apparently ending anyway), I have never seen a Sheriff driving down my street. What does the County do exactly? Do they share funding, and services, and responsibilities with the city? I can see their usefulness in rural areas that want to coop services, but is that the case in Buffalo? Other than the County lock-up, what is their stake in the city? I'm not trying to be snarky, Just trying to learn how things work around here?
Sorry to take this kinda off topic dogpark fans. It is all connected though...
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distas
quit your bitching. In my eyes citizens are getting a reward for their efforts of raising $35,000!!!! They deserve it!!! People who own dogs are USUALLY responsible, educated, well to do citizens...... so why not keep dog owners who reside in the city happy by providing an area where their family members can play....... not to mention attracting visitors from all over Erie county to downtown Buffalo and our waterfront.....some people just dont get it......
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buffawakening
hoss... i share your interest for what the county involvement exactly is. i live in the suburbs... lancaster... and the only thing that i ever see that the county is responsible for is como park. i too never see county police. i think that buffalo and WNY in general would benifit greatly if the county played a bigger role in the city, like maybe taking over the park system for example, to take the burden of city citizens since many People outside buffalo use it. some erie county sherriffs wouldnt hurt downtown either.
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Hoss
Hey distas, don't you think "bitching" had something to do with the dog park becoming a reality?
I guess "some people just don't get it..."
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distas
haha
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