Brookdale Dog Park Has Neighbors Growling

I feel for the folks that are facing a summer of barking.

Personally, I like the sound of barking dogs but I know that not everyone can handle it.

My neighbor has some doggies that bark quite a bit and I can tune it out. Plus their my buds and I'm their cookie supplier.

I hope the pine trees help. They should do a dense packet of arborvitae. That might work.

The only thing that will work are those big, beautiful highway sound barricades.

Seriously though, was noise even a part of the discussion of where to put the park?

No.

They put it where the unofficial dog park already stood.

Dumb.

And what about the cars/traffic on those streets that dead end into the park?

Didn't think about that either, huh?

(Well at least they have the water fountains.)

Maybe they should turn those water fountains into waterfalls to create some lovely white noise of gushing water.

What noise???!!! I'm there nearly every day and I frankly do not feel the noise is excessive. Screaming maggots . . . now that's noise pollution!

Prof,

I think those streets that dead end into the park always had significant use by park going folks - especially dog lovers. As you pointed out, this part of Brookdale Park has always been a tradional place to let dogs off the leash.

Ask the woman who complained if she would like to sell her house to me. I'm in the market and would love that location.

nice of Joe D to make some changes but these upset neighbors will never be satisfied. The change in hours are meaningless. Very few people come to the dog park after dark and officially the park is closed so the police can eject anyone. As has been pointed out dogs and their owners have been congregating at the same spot for years before the dog park existed although not on the scale that now exists. If you build it, they will come. The locals who know about the access from Chester will continue to use it.

The prof (my some miracle of randomness, no doubt--there couldn't possibly be any other explanation) is right. The problem here is that the dog park is successful--people and their dogs are using it. Who'd 'a thunk?

Mellon,

But the traffic now does not compare to that in the past.

I'm wondering how the success of the Brookdale dog run will affect the "unofficial" dog run at Mills Reservation. We've actually stopped going to Mills altogether due to the fact that so many dog owners bring their dogs and let them run around unleashed. One time, a couple of large dogs running far ahead of their owner actually jumped up on my toddler, knocking him over. The dog owner's response: get over it.

We need doggy police! They'll have little uniforms and pensions. Imagine a St. Bernard in a uniform flashing his badge and licking evildoers into submission. Take a bit outta crime, indeed!

some people just need to grouse. this time it's barking dogs in a public park causing unrest, next time it will be the sound of laughing children causing complaints!

If you knew how much of the day they spend sleeping, you wouldn't be nominating them for police work. Although if there's the opportunity for a pension... Best we could do is to catch some evildoer in a web of drool.

"some people just need to grouse."

That's it. Maybe we should import some grouse into the park so they can grouse about the grouse.

"this time it's barking dogs in a public park causing unrest, next time it will be the sound of laughing children causing complaints!"

Wow....talking about a reach

I really don't think the laughing children complaint process would go too far. And last I checked, children were still considered people. Not really a valid comparison.

I don't blame the home owners near the dog park complaining. I wouldn't want to listen to a barking dog all day. And what about all of the crap all over the place caused by the 50% of the dog owners that feel that it's their birthright to allow their dog to crap anywhere they want and NOT clean it up.

That dog park was a stupid idea. Now when I jog in the park, I need to run by a gauntlet of dogs barking while displaying their teeth at me.

A big Huh? to the last post? There was always a "dog park" at that same exact location. When I used to go about 12 years ago it had ballooned up to about 40 dogs on the weekends from about 9am to noon.

Now there are dogs, again, in the exact same place, but in an enclosure.

Back then, there was no garbage can, now there is.

So, let's see, dogs in the same place, people still parking on the dead end streets adjacent to the park, garbage cans now so possibly less poop on the ground, similar level of noise unless dogs have been getting louder in the last few years.

And running a gauntlet...how could this be worse than when the area was not fenced in?

Maybe Ol' Hari's gotten slower in his old age.

I have heard that neighbors will complain about the tennis courts next.

Tennis players are parking on the dead ends streets near the courts and the constant grunting and noise of rackets connecting with balls is driving the neighbors crazy.

After all, it is *their* park and not the publics!

"There was always a "dog park" at that same exact location"

I've lived in Montclair near the park for 20 years. There might have been some trees that were used by dogs running around and maybe even Essex County might have called it a dog park but there was never anywhere near the number of dogs currently using the park.

If it was a dog park before the recent re-construction it was the best camouflaged and most underutilized dog park in the history of dog parks.

Sort of reminds me of the folks complaining a few years ago, after buying a severely discounted house abutting the train tracks, about how loud the trains are and how they actually use a whistle when approaching a station. Shocking indeed. A train on the train tracks.

except, of course, prior to their purchase, the dog park didn't exist. Oh and prior to their home purchase the running of exciting un-leashed dogs in the park was illegal. But other than that, the situations are identical.

I've been walking through that area of the park to barking dogs for 22+ years last time I checked.

How nice!

But, you're absolutely right, that fancy new fence makes a ton of noise.

Sorry ROC and Hari, but you're wrong. I've been going for almost 13 years, the age of my dog, and it was always there...in the exact same location. It was a smaller group during the week, but mushroomed on the weekends. It may never have had the total number of dogs that visit now, but it was always about 40 dogs or so at the same time on the weekend mornings.

At least now it seems more contained and cleaner.

Did the same neighbors complain when it was an "informal" dog park? Did they complain when the county put forth the proposal?

Face it, you bought a house next to a public park. Some negatives, as well as positives go along with this. I bought a house across from a school. Should I start complaining that cars park on the street during school hours?

Seems to me that before the dog park, people complained that there were too many dogs running loose in the park. Now that they have a contained dog park, they're complaining about the barking. News flash: Dogs bark! If this is the worse thing to happen in your lives, consider yourself lucky. I, for one, would much rather hear dogs bark than motorcycle engines (sorry, Cathar!), garnage trucks or ambulance "sireens," as my aunt in Texas calls them.

My suggestion, Miss Martta, would be to have cats instead. Purring (which is what properly tuned and mufflered bike engines do) is so much more soothing than barking.

Cathar, you know as well as I do that no self-respecting cat would subject him or herself to a "cat park."

In Malta, Miss Martta, the climate is warmish the year-round and the locals consider it good luck to feed strays. So cat colonies abound, so successfully that the Anglican Church in the capital of Valletta has a sign, with a picture of a cat on it, saying "Please don't let me inside during services." The entire country seems a "cat park" sometimes.

But during all the 10 days I spent there, I never once saw the doggie breed called "Maltese." (There is, however, a guy who surfcasts in Sea Bright who always has three of them with him.)

Awww, how cute! It's funny, sometimes the name of the breed has nothing to do with its country of origin. Labradors, for example, actually come from Newfoundland, not Labrador.

One of my cats, Tiger, is purring impaired. For some reason he can't produce a sustained purr. He tends to grunt when I give him attention.

He does a great Ray Charles imitation when I scratch the root of his tail. He swings his head from side to side and closes his eyes. I'm thinking about putting some video on youtube when my job gets eliminated and I have more free time.

MellonBrush, like this video?

STL,

Yes! Orange Tabbies are the best!

I have another cat that can say 'water'. Well, it sounds like water. He makes a big fuss whenever I put a fresh water bowl down. Very funny.

Thanks for the link. The music was very funny too.

:)

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

For the sake of accuracy, several of those complaining about the noise have lived on the streets involved for 30 or more years. There have been no train tracks or dog parks nearby during that period.
As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.
Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!

{{{{Miss Martta raises hand}}}}

For the sake of everyone else, n.schott should learn to only hit the "post" button once. His/her words are simply not so important as to warrant multiple postings.

I really feel for the folks living close to the dog park. I used to go to the "informal" park when I first moved out of the city...13 years ago. Not wanting to get the summons that was always threatened, and becoming a stay-at-home-mom changed my need for such a park. We installed a fence in our back yard. Now, my children are older, I have a new puppy, and we have enjoyed the legal socialization of the dogs. What a GREAT park! I was truly happy to see it come together.

To tell the truth, I never gave any consideration to the neighbors, and what they must be hearing, or dealing with. Having people cut through your yard only antagonizes your own dog's barking, which can disturb your own day-to-day life, which I feel has to be respected while in the sanctity of your own home. I never used the cut through, but drove to the park, but maybe now that people know what a problem this is, they could change their ways? Maybe?

That said, no matter what the hour, incessant barking (you know the kind, and it is different from other types of barks) is a nasty nuisance. In part, it is a symptom of an owner who has not properly conditioned their dog to behave properly. And this is evident in an owner IGNORING the barking, or being so frustrated as to say "I don't know what to do about the barking," or my favorite, "he won't listen to me." Yelling at a dog to be quiet, is silly, when a stern "sshh" a corrective pull on their choke leash, topped off with a firm stare in the eye should get their attention. Crying babies aren't welcome in a movie theatre, and incessant barking shouldn't ruin a wonderful park experience for the rest of us responsible adults.

I truly wish, that instead of making such a hasty decision to rework this park, and reallocate a TREMENDOUS amount of money to "redo" and "reduce" this park, the county would have held an open forum for a joint solution. Perhaps we could have come up with some guidelines to be posted at the park, just as there are guidelines posted at swimming pools and gyms. The users could police each other, esp. when it came to excessive barking. Perhaps, once aware of the annoyances and abuses suffered by home owners the dog park users would have had an opportunity to change their ways.

The users couldn't do anything about the portable toilet, so to me, covering or sheilding that view is well worth the $$,

Now that decisions have been made, I think it's important to voice my MAIN objection. The time factor. To have this park closed in the early morning between the hours of 6a.m. and 8 a.m. is unreasonable. Any dog owner, who actually works in Manhattan, or commutes to any other place, is going to be sorely dissappointed. Having a well exercised pup/dog before the day begins is the only sure way to maintain a low level of anxiety for both the dog and the owner. Knowing your dog is exercised enough to prevent her or him from chewing bits of furniture really can give both dog and owner, peace of mind. As a stay-at-home-mom and dog walker, I have no need for this park between 6 and 8 am. But it really isn't fair to have a dog park closed until 8.a.m.

As far as the money, I could definitely see that money put to better use planting trees around the dog run, or having a community garden in Brookdale Park. There are lots of folks (in nearby apartments) who would love a little plot of land to plant their own victory garden. Better yet, make it a cooperative experiment in organic gardening, with a community compost center.

"As for the 'informal' dog park, it involved significantly fewer animals, significantly shorter hours of 'operation' and it was located closer to the interior of the park and encompassed a small fraction of the space covered by the recently constructed park.

The informal dog park was in the exact same space as the new dog park and covered the exact same amount of space. I had been going for 12 years. Someone earlier had mentioned the informal park had been there for about 22 years. The hours of operation were much shorter, but there wewre a good 40 dogs at a time for a concentrated period of time on the weekends.

"Also, I can't help but note that none of those who indicate no problem with listening to constant dog barking offered to have the dog park located in their back yards!!"

I didn't buy a house with a public park in my back yard. I bought a house across froma school, so I "offered" to have cars lined up on my street every morning and afternoon. Is it too late to complain?

It seems rather pointless to have a dog park open only from 8 -6, the time most people are either at work or on their way to or from their jobs. And siwtching the large/small areas is really silly. Small dogs bark too, some can be as loud as a larger dog. I guess the county has money to waste.

It seems rather pointless to have a dog park open only from 8 -6, the time most people are either at work or on their way to or from their jobs. And siwtching the large/small areas is really silly. Small dogs bark too, some can be as loud as a larger dog. I guess the county has money to waste.

Joe D. works fast.

Signs are going up on Grove St. right now.

Whenever I've visited the dog park in South Orange, I find it's usually the small breeds that bark more and louder than the large breeds.

But what of the HALF BREED.?

How about making the park available only for Basenjis?

If noise is a concern, use of the park should be limited to HEDGEHOGS

/(yeah, I was just looking for an excuse to post it)

apple,

Folks would complain about the spend carrots all around....

LOL, Prof. I LOVE Cher...what's she been up to?

appletony, CUTE OVERLOAD! Hedges rule!

I get a real kick out of posters referring to the area that preceded the new dog run as the "informal dog park." I think "illegal dog park" would be more accurate. What I find so sad is that after so many years of dog owners letting their dogs run loose (illegally, may I again mention) at that location, they've somehow managed to completely ruin what once was a very nice area of the park, and at the same time managed to have their own bad behavoir awarded by having the county give them their very own dog park.