2 New Off-Leash Areas Proposed by the City Parks Dept.

We’re posting this note from the off leash area advisory community (OLAAC) committee. This note was originally sent by committee member Bill Fraser…

Two new off-leash dog parks are in the works for Austin, and we need your help in getting the word out to the community to support these new locations.   Please join us as well as the OLAAC (off leash area advisory community) in supporting these new proposed Off-Leash Areas

Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) have two “new” locations selected for off-leash consideration - Yett Creek (walking trail – North Austin) and Mabel Davis (fenced – South East Austin).   Stakeholder meetings for both begin this month.

These two locations represent a stepped up effort by PARD to expand on the number of off-leashed parks.  As park advocates for off-leash environments, it’s important we get the word out and have a strong show of support for these new locations at the community stakeholder meetings.

If possible, please make plans to attend these community stakeholder meetings shown below.  If you cannot attend, email your support to the email addresses list below.  We need a strong showing of support from the dog park community.

Yett Creek Park Proposed Off-leash Trail Community Stakeholder Meeting – June 13th

The meeting will be held on Monday, June 13, 2011, 6:00 – 7:30 PM, at Davis Elementary School Cafeteria, located at 5214 Duval Rd.

Email your support for Yett to YettCreekParkTrail@ci.austin.tx.us

Mabel Davis Park Proposed Off-leash Fenced Area Community Stakeholder Meeting – June 27th

This meeting will be held on Monday, June 27, 2011, 6:00 – 7:30 PM, at Linder Elementary School Cafeteria, located at 2800 Metcalfe Rd.

Email your support for Mabel Davis to MabelDavisParkOffLeashArea@ci.austin.tx.us

If you have questions, please call. Thanks for your support in this effort.

Bill Fraser

Off-leash Area Advisory Committee Member

Photo From the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Dept.

Watcha gonna do with your doggie doo?

Ok, its no fun dealing with dog poop, but all responsible pet owners know that they need to pick it up.  So, how about a fun video to let you know why it’s important?

New Trail at Mary Moore Searight

Forestry Mower in Action

A new loop trail (with off-leash priviledges) on the north side of Mary Moore Searight Park is going in.  The first step is to clear a path through tons of cedar (Ashe Juniper) trees  Through an Austin Parks Foundation grant, the friends of Mary Moore Searight Off-Leash area, Carl Brockman of Natural Texas is using his forestry mower to cut through the determined path.

We’ve used Carl’s services on a number of projects and the forestry mower cuts into and grinds up the trees into mulch on the spot, saving us the separate tasks of cutting, dragging, chipping and then spreading the wood chips. Carl is a certified Arborist and is really good at picking out the trees to trim vs. remove.  He’s helped us with efforts at Pease Park and along Shoal Creek, at Country Club Creek Trail and a few other locations.  A few photos from Claire Sorenson, our volunteer leader of this effort, are posted here.

Please Take the Off Leash (Dog Park) Survey

For a few years, the Austin Parks Foundation has been working with the Parks Department and a group of tireless volunteers to adopt and improve the existing off-leash areas and work to create new areas.  A survey for the newly formed Off-Leash Area Advisory Committee and the Parks department has been created.  Please take a few minutes to tell us your thoughts: http://www.AustinDogParkSurvey.com/

Thanks!

Thanks to BCDOG, Bull Creek, Gables Volunteers

Look at this great new cedar fence along Lakewood Drive at Bull Creek District Park.  Funded by an Austin Parks Foundation Park Grant, it will keep dogs away from cars zipping along Lakewood.  Congrats to Debra Bailey of BCDOG for a very successful workday.

Red Bud Isle Steps

Fresh photos of the first of two Red Bud Isle step entry areas – replacing a big eroded hole in the bank – work done by American Youthworks E-Corps and Austin Parks department, funded by Austin Parks Foundation. More info about the friends of Red Bud Isle here