Day Two At Brookdale Dog Park

I think montclair should hire 1 maybe 2 full time officers for the park. we have the money. It's just a matter of time before spastic parents (like the ones at children's sports games) shoot each other.

Most people that own dogs are 'chill. Not like type 'A' soccer parent a-holes.

Agreed. Let the dogs sort out their differences. People, it's a dog. They growl sometimes.

Oh my word. When profwilliams sees the hose for spraying down dogs he's going to insist upon having one for the playground. Personally, I think this is one of the nicest offleash dog areas around. I take my dog to the one in Washington Square Park regularly (it's near my office) and this one has much more to offer.

Miss Martta, what a typically Republican sentiment that has no place in the Peoples Republic.

Wow..a hand held shower..wait 'til the youngsters explore the possibilites it offers.

I'd like to see one of those showers installed in the aisles of supermarkets or dept. stores so that you can spray recalcitrant brats when they act up.

You know I'm just kidding, dontcha?

Oh please, you are dead serious!

(And I can't say I disagree!)

Where do you park when you go?

Did you know that the Montclair town council is considering limiting parking on the dead-end streets that abut the park in order to discourage people from bringing their dogs to the dog park.

There are two parking lots in the park and there is parking on one side of the drive through much of it. If I lived on one of those side streets I would also want the town to discourage people from parking in front of my home unless they are coming to visit me.

"Did you know that the Montclair town council is considering limiting parking on the dead-end streets that abut the park in order to discourage people from bringing their dogs to the dog park."

This would not surprise me one bit. So typical, trying to find negative ways to raise revenue. What have a dog park if you are going to make it difficult for people to use?

What=why

the shower is excellent for pug dogs. Many have ended up at the Vets office for heat exhaustion. someone was wearing the thinking cap!

I think it's not to discourage the use of the dog park, but to give some piece to tax payers who happen to abut the park. I agree with jerseygurl.

A shower for the dogs? Oh for f---'s sake.

When the Star Ledger had it's Brookdale Dog Park story on the cover the other day, they highlighted on a resident from Clifton (Passaic County). Seems that non-tax paying dogs will also be enjoying the dog park...courtesy of tax-paying Essex County residents.

i was there for that...if i see her there again, i'm going home.

99% of the owners there are not like that, but all it takes is one to ruin everything. she wont be a "regular" im sure.

Yes, and portions of the Green Acres funding came from other counties.

It's not only "tax-paying Essex County residents" who paid for this.

have you ever been to a park in another county? Should they stop you and ask for ID?

"A shower for the dogs? Oh for f---'s sake."

Well, they CAN get kinda ripe after all that running around. Now if there was a shower for marsupials, I'd don't think we hear you griping.

All of you dog lovers out there know that, sometimes, 'Rover' has a penchant for rolling around in another dogs 'doo-doo'. At times like these, this shower is worth it's weight in gold, or at least silver.

"Did you know that the Montclair town council is considering limiting parking on the dead-end streets that abut the park in order to discourage people from bringing their dogs to the dog park."

My friends live on that street and they are tired of people peeing in their backyard, litering the park and their yard and hogging up all the parking on their street. It has little to do with the dog park and more to do with piggy people.

So the folks near Brookdale want fewer people parking on their street? Shocking! We all want fewer people parking on our streets. The folks who live near MHS want don't like so may people parking on their street. The folks near Bloomfield College don't like it either.

To all I say 'suck it up'.

I live near BHS and it means lots of traffic, no free parking spots for visitors, and lots of garbage. But I knew that when I moved in, and so did the folks near Brookdale. If they didn't want folks parking on their street then they should't have moved to a house NEXT TO A PARK. They get the enjoyment of having a park close by but they don't want people to park on their street? Please! If people are peeing on your lawn or litering, call the police, or move. Otherwise, deal!

"My friends live on that street and they are tired of people peeing in their backyard"

What street is that? there are lots of streets that dead end on Brookdale park.

I bring this up because they weren't talking about PEOPLE they- the town council- were talking specifically about the dog park

Good post SSP. How much control do you have, as a homeowner, over the public street in front of your house? Isn't it public property? So, unless someone is doing something illegal such as peeing, littering, making noise, there's really nothing you can do about it.

I just became a homeowner about a week ago and I would never dream of telling someone they can't park on the street in front of my house!

I live on one of these dead-end streets, and most definitely do not have a problem with people parking on the street. However, there is an issue with people putting their bag of dog crap in our empty garbage cans after the trash or recycling guys have done their pick-up. This is most likely done by someone who is walking by, and not driving there. Then I have to reach in the can and pick up this bag to place it in my own garbage can, which sits for a week in my garage. I don't own a dog, but my garage sure smells like I do! It's really inconsiderate.

Plus, people throw their empty water bottles in our cardboard recycling, which causes the guys to leave it all on the curb -- because now it's all mixed up. Why can't people use the trash cans in the park and take their recycling home with them???

Congratulations Miss M! May your new home bring you much joy.

Wow becky, you're being very nice calling that inconsiderate. If I caught someone putting poop in my garbage I would probably react in a more anglo-saxon sort of way. Unbelieveable.

Thanks, SSP. It will once we're all unpacked!

Yes, Becky, agreed. Those people have a lot of nerve.

Ha! I'm pretty close to hiding in a tree and scoping out the perp a la Lynette on Desperate Housewives. In my mind, this is all the work of one person. Or I could put a *discreet* sign on the can with a dog doing his business and one of those red circles with the line through it!

Miss Martta, congratulations! And just in time for the holidays, how great.

Miss M; SSP, We live across the street from Watsessing park on Cleveland Terrace. A nice little street off the beaten path with a beautiful view of the park. I love the location. We do get our share of inconsiderate 'visitors'. We've had to call the police on a few occasions when there was blatant drug use happening or when someone was having a loud argument in the middle of the night, etc.. Fortunately these occurrances are rare and I don't mind picking up the occasional pile of fast food litter.

For me, the benefits of living next to a park outweigh any problems that it poses.

I do feel for the folks that live next to Brookdale as only a former 'offender' can know. There were times in the 1970's that my friends and I would drink beer and carouse over by the tennis courts. From time to time a homeowner would ask us to 'cool it' and we would always comply, as we were decent kids with a respect for propety, etc.. I have to think that it must have been a source of continuing irritation for the people that lived next to the park to have to endure, not only us, but also other 'parties' that would be almost continuous in nature, especially during the summer months.

Thanks, Becky. Why not be evil and put a spring-loaded Jack in the Box with a scary talking clown head (a la Pennywise the Clown from "It") that says, "Don't even THINK about throwing your poop here!"

Miss Martta, I LOVE the way you think!

Miss Martta, they are dawgs, for crying out loud. They're supposed to stink. Even the cows that roam the streets of Mumbai and are revered by the Hindus stink to high heaven. But no, our suburban doggie princes and princesses have to have little doggie showers. Jeezus, has the world gone mad?

And who wants a wet dog in their car? Ick. Unless there's a doggie hair dryer they stand under?

I don't even toss my baggie into my neighbor's can when I can see the garbage truck down the street.

Ha, remember when you could drive in circles through Brookdale? Just endless circles around the park. In IROC-Z's. Drunk with loud music? That would sure please the neighbors.

Bitchin' Camaro Bitchin' Camaro I ran over my neighbor...

The races down the straight away, the chick in the vette with the bumber sticker "you beat it, you eat it" who never lost? No wonder they changed the traffic pattern. (I must admit the need for neighborly education at the time, chevelle 454 ss hole at the time)

I am very fond of animals (I own 3 cats and a dog) and I'm a resident of the Brookdale section of Bloomfield. I frequent the park quite often. However, I think the dog park is ridiculous, not because of the noise, but because we spent $300,000 plus on DOGS, when the money could have been spent on more rides for the CHILDREN, or perhaps a pool for the PEOPLE.
What is this world coming to?

The money was not spent for the dogs. The money was spent for the human companions.

There are already several playgrounds in the park, soccer fields, track, archery field. Why not a place for people to bring their pooches to run free?

I think the dogs are happy walking around on their leash. From what I have observed, I have not seen many dogs making use of the rides. Most simply chase and bark at each other. I would not feel comfortable letting my dog roam freely. He's quite tame, but you never know what an animal (my dog or someone else's) is going to do.

The kids can always use more rides. Or perhaps seniors/disabled individuals would like their own walking path. Perhaps we cold have built a level rollar blading/skating path. More arts and crafts programs for disadvantaged kids during the summer. A swimming pool. Minature golf. Honestly, I can think of 100 plus better ways to spend $300,000 tax payer money.

I think the dogs are happy walking around on their leash. From what I have observed, I have not seen many dogs making use of the rides. Most simply chase and bark at each other. I would not feel comfortable letting my dog roam freely. He's quite tame, but you never know what an animal (my dog or someone else's) is going to do.

The kids can always use more rides. Or perhaps seniors/disabled individuals would like their own walking path. Perhaps we cold have built a level rollar blading/skating path. More arts and crafts programs for disadvantaged kids during the summer. A swimming pool. Minature golf. Honestly, I can think of 100 plus better ways to spend $300,000 tax payer money.

I think the dogs are happy walking around on their leash. From what I have observed, I have not seen many dogs making use of the rides. Most simply chase and bark at each other. I would not feel comfortable letting my dog roam freely. He's quite tame, but you never know what an animal (my dog or someone else's) is going to do.

The kids can always use more rides. Or perhaps seniors/disabled individuals would like their own walking path. Perhaps we cold have built a level rollar blading/skating path. More arts and crafts programs for disadvantaged kids during the summer. A swimming pool. Minature golf. Honestly, I can think of 100 plus better ways to spend $300,000 tax payer money.