Clarkston, GA Dog Park

To: The Clarkston City Council

This petition, supported by the undersigned constituents, is directed to Mayor Lee Swaney, Karen Feltz, Wayne Foster, Warren Hadlock, Pat Morris-Davis, Rosemarie Nelson, Emmanuel Ransom, and other interested City Officials. Its goal is to support the designation and construction of an enclosed dog park in the unused, forested area between Milam Park and Armisted Field.

We, the undersigned constituents of Clarkston, respectfully urge you to authorize the funding required to establish an off-leash dog park to be created at the location described above.

In creating a dog park, we hope to accomplish multiple goals:

1. To establish a fenced in, off-leash dog park where well-behaved canines can exercise in a clean, safe environment without endangering or annoying people, property, or wildlife.
2. To develop a beautiful, well-maintained space, open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park's rules and restrictions.
3. To view this park as a community project, in partnership with the City of Clarkston, designed to satisfy the needs of dog owners and non-dog owners alike.

We request the City of Clarkston to authorize adequate funding to provide appropriate fencing, including a double gated entry to prevent dogs from bolting, water availability, garbage cans, bag stations, benches, human & dog water fountain(s), and signage so that this park can be constructed as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, no off-leash dog parks currently exist in the Clarkston vicinity. Though Clarkston taxpayers enjoy the convenient fields, playground equipment, picnic equipment, tennis courts, and swimming pool at Milam Park, Clarkston dog owners cannot bring their dogs to these facilities, and instead must make the 20-minute drive to Mason Mill Park in Toco Hills or the 30-minute drive to Piedmont Park in order to exercise and enjoy their pets in an off-leash environment. The addition of a dog park will not only greatly increase traffic to the Milam Park area and provide Clarkston residents with a much-needed off-leash environment for their pets, but it also will benefit the greater community in several more far-reaching ways:

1. A dog park would increase general utilization of Milam Park and build bonds within the human community.
2. Dog park patrons tend to be people who appreciate the park and take an "ownership interest" in it. As a result, they keep the area free of criminal activities and other bad elements.
3. Those who care enough to attend dog parks are usually registered voters, educated, somewhat affluent people, and very attractive to local businesses. Such citizens attract others like themselves to live in the area, continuing the trend to increase revenues to local business and to the tax base.
4. Most dogs require exercise that leash restrictions do not permit. The cardiovascular benefit provided by healthy play with other dogs is great for dogs longevity and weight control. Dogs are social animals whose mental health is improved by interaction with other canines. Happy, healthy dogs are calmer and better behaved, reducing nuisance barking and other annoying behaviors exhibited by unexercised canines.
5. Park patrons want to ensure a clean park for all dogs attending. Feces pick-up and disposal is an integral part of retaining a clean park. A visit to any dog park will verify this observation. Owners watch for and pick up their animals feces, and when a dog defecates, other patrons assume that the dog owner simply did not notice and gently remind the owner to pick up the feces and throw it away.
6. Once the off-leash park is constructed, a core group of community activists including the creators of this petition do commit themselves to its continued maintenance (e.g. organized, periodic, cleanup efforts).
7. Since there are no sidewalks along Market Street, many Clarkston residents feel unsafe walking their dogs outside established subdivisions like MacLaren, Markets Walk, and Market Street Commons. A dog park would greatly improve overall safety for both residents and dogs in Clarkston by providing a safe place for dogs to exercise without having to fear oncoming traffic on Market Street.

Again, we would appreciate your consideration in constructing an enclosed off-leash dog park in Milam Park in Clarkston.

The Petition to Mayor Lee Swaney, Karen Feltz, Wayne Foster, Warren Hadlock, Pat Morris-Davis, Rosemarie Nelson, Emmanuel Ransom and other interested City Officials was created by and written by Irene Ponce, Wendi Riser, and Donnette Thayer and revised by Christia Holloway and Victoria Press.