City authorizes the creation of the Baker Dog Park
Norwich High School senior Hannah Baker answering a question from the public and referring to a model of the proposed dog park during Tuesday evening’s public hearing. (Grady Thompson photo)
NORWICH – After a well-attended public hearing Tuesday night, the City of Norwich Common Council unanimously approved the authorization of the establishment of the Baker Dog Park, which will be located at Greenway Park on River Street.
Seating in One City Court Plaza was nearly filled Tuesday night for the public hearing on the creation of the dog park, as Norwich High School senior Hannah Baker took the podium to summarize her efforts towards creating a dog park in the City of Norwich since last summer, before meeting attendees were able to ask her questions about the proposal.
"Since last July when I was given permission to start fundraising, I have attended many community events, many meetings, and have had many fundraisers," said Baker, noting to date she has raised $5,400 towards the project. She said she has partnered with NBT Bank, which has offered to donate some matching funds, and Chobani, which has offered to help with the engineering of the park, and both NBT Bank and Chobani have offered employees to help volunteer with the building of the park and its fencing.
She has a number of ongoing fundraisers for the project: a bottle drive at Norwich Nickels Redemption Center; a pin-up sale at the Blueox Neighborhood Store on Rexford Street; a Valentine's Day basket raffle with Pet Street Station; a partnership with Budget Computer Repair, which has pledged to donate $1 toward the project for every sale through March 31; a GoFundMe page and collection cans at Wild Owl Cafe and Becky's Place; and this Saturday, Chenango Arts Council will host the Popovich Pet Comedy Show, where Baker will also have a collection can.
Attendees at the meeting expressed excitement about the creation of a dog park but asked for more information. One woman, who did not give her name, asked about the size of the proposed dog park, whether it would separate dogs of varying sizes, and who would be maintaining or supervising the park. She said in her experience walking her dog, she sees a lot of owners who don't pick up after their dogs, and she suggested without proper enforcement the dog park could become an area of disarray.
Baker said the size of the dog park is still something she is considering along with the city parks commission, but said it will be two fenced areas: one for bigger dogs, and one for smaller dogs. She said she has proposed rules for signage at the dog park, but noted at the end of the day, the dog park's success will come down to a community that wants it to stay.
"When it comes to people not picking up after their dogs, if they want to dog park to stay, then they're going to have to clean up after themselves," said Baker. "If it becomes a dump then it's just going to be garbage, and I think the majority will want the dog park to stay."
Norwich resident Sarah Stewart said she has been to a number of dog parks in Florida and that she is surprised at how well maintained they are despite no enforcement. She said she doesn't ever recall seeing waste in a dog park and she would be more likely to see it on the street. Stewart asked if there would be a cost to use the dog park, and Baker said no.
A man in attendance said he used to live in North Carolina and there were three dog parks in his neighborhood. He said the dog parks attracted a number of regulars who took it upon themselves to police the park and ensure people were abiding by the rules. He said he was surprised that despite no one being there to monitor the park, the regulars would put peer pressure on others to pick up after themselves. "From what I've seen, it works out in those ways," he said.
Another woman in attendance asked if plastic bags would be provided to incentivize people to clean up after themselves, and Baker said yes, and that she has looked into lockable plastic bag dispensers. Alderman Ward 5 David Zieno said the city would provide the bags, as it's a nominal cost.
City Parks Commission Chairman Chris Sprague said the commission has been trying for a long time to find a place for a dog park without disturbing the culture of an existing park. He said now with all of Baker's efforts, the commission has decided since there are no other options or available properties, the Greenway Park is the best option.
"To do the best dog park would be to move, there's a merry-go-round, a swing-set, and some bouncy toy things. The best option would be to move those and have a larger area to put the dog park, but that might be contingent upon being able to replace that equipment," said Sprague. "That's what I hope to do. We hope to build the best dog park we have can given the space we have, but budget is also a concern."
City of Norwich Supervisor of Wards 4, 5, and 6, and Northeast Classic Car Museum Executive Director Robert Jeffrey, said he was "wowed" by all Baker had planned. He said a lot of tourists visit the car museum with their dogs and have always been conscious in picking up after themselves, and that the dog park will be a new destination for them. "I think it's a good young lady here being progressive and thinking what's needed here in the city, and I think [the dog park] is something that's definitely needed," said Jeffrey.
Norwich resident Jen Post spoke to say she was in favor of the dog park as she often visits other dog parks when traveling. "The dogs parks that I have been to before have been beneficial not only to K9s but also to humans," said Post. "I am looking forward to the establishment and development of the dog park and hope to be one of the first in line when the gates open."
A dog trainer in attendance also spoke up to say she thinks the dog park is "so needed," a notion which drew applause from people in attendance. Following the public hearing, Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell made a motion authorizing the establishment of a dog park at Greenway Park, provided that capital funding for the project comes from fundraising, programs, and also authorizing Baker to continue with her fundraising efforts for the creation of the dog park. It was seconded by Alderman Ward 3 John Deierlein.
Another motion came from Zieno to formally name the dog park 'the Baker Dog Park' after Hannah Baker.
Baker will now finalize the layout and get updated estimates for the materials, while also working on putting together groups of volunteers to help with different aspects of the project. If you are interested in volunteering in any way, email Baker at HLB823@yahoo.com.
Seating in One City Court Plaza was nearly filled Tuesday night for the public hearing on the creation of the dog park, as Norwich High School senior Hannah Baker took the podium to summarize her efforts towards creating a dog park in the City of Norwich since last summer, before meeting attendees were able to ask her questions about the proposal.
"Since last July when I was given permission to start fundraising, I have attended many community events, many meetings, and have had many fundraisers," said Baker, noting to date she has raised $5,400 towards the project. She said she has partnered with NBT Bank, which has offered to donate some matching funds, and Chobani, which has offered to help with the engineering of the park, and both NBT Bank and Chobani have offered employees to help volunteer with the building of the park and its fencing.
She has a number of ongoing fundraisers for the project: a bottle drive at Norwich Nickels Redemption Center; a pin-up sale at the Blueox Neighborhood Store on Rexford Street; a Valentine's Day basket raffle with Pet Street Station; a partnership with Budget Computer Repair, which has pledged to donate $1 toward the project for every sale through March 31; a GoFundMe page and collection cans at Wild Owl Cafe and Becky's Place; and this Saturday, Chenango Arts Council will host the Popovich Pet Comedy Show, where Baker will also have a collection can.
Attendees at the meeting expressed excitement about the creation of a dog park but asked for more information. One woman, who did not give her name, asked about the size of the proposed dog park, whether it would separate dogs of varying sizes, and who would be maintaining or supervising the park. She said in her experience walking her dog, she sees a lot of owners who don't pick up after their dogs, and she suggested without proper enforcement the dog park could become an area of disarray.
Baker said the size of the dog park is still something she is considering along with the city parks commission, but said it will be two fenced areas: one for bigger dogs, and one for smaller dogs. She said she has proposed rules for signage at the dog park, but noted at the end of the day, the dog park's success will come down to a community that wants it to stay.
"When it comes to people not picking up after their dogs, if they want to dog park to stay, then they're going to have to clean up after themselves," said Baker. "If it becomes a dump then it's just going to be garbage, and I think the majority will want the dog park to stay."
Norwich resident Sarah Stewart said she has been to a number of dog parks in Florida and that she is surprised at how well maintained they are despite no enforcement. She said she doesn't ever recall seeing waste in a dog park and she would be more likely to see it on the street. Stewart asked if there would be a cost to use the dog park, and Baker said no.
A man in attendance said he used to live in North Carolina and there were three dog parks in his neighborhood. He said the dog parks attracted a number of regulars who took it upon themselves to police the park and ensure people were abiding by the rules. He said he was surprised that despite no one being there to monitor the park, the regulars would put peer pressure on others to pick up after themselves. "From what I've seen, it works out in those ways," he said.
Another woman in attendance asked if plastic bags would be provided to incentivize people to clean up after themselves, and Baker said yes, and that she has looked into lockable plastic bag dispensers. Alderman Ward 5 David Zieno said the city would provide the bags, as it's a nominal cost.
City Parks Commission Chairman Chris Sprague said the commission has been trying for a long time to find a place for a dog park without disturbing the culture of an existing park. He said now with all of Baker's efforts, the commission has decided since there are no other options or available properties, the Greenway Park is the best option.
"To do the best dog park would be to move, there's a merry-go-round, a swing-set, and some bouncy toy things. The best option would be to move those and have a larger area to put the dog park, but that might be contingent upon being able to replace that equipment," said Sprague. "That's what I hope to do. We hope to build the best dog park we have can given the space we have, but budget is also a concern."
City of Norwich Supervisor of Wards 4, 5, and 6, and Northeast Classic Car Museum Executive Director Robert Jeffrey, said he was "wowed" by all Baker had planned. He said a lot of tourists visit the car museum with their dogs and have always been conscious in picking up after themselves, and that the dog park will be a new destination for them. "I think it's a good young lady here being progressive and thinking what's needed here in the city, and I think [the dog park] is something that's definitely needed," said Jeffrey.
Norwich resident Jen Post spoke to say she was in favor of the dog park as she often visits other dog parks when traveling. "The dogs parks that I have been to before have been beneficial not only to K9s but also to humans," said Post. "I am looking forward to the establishment and development of the dog park and hope to be one of the first in line when the gates open."
A dog trainer in attendance also spoke up to say she thinks the dog park is "so needed," a notion which drew applause from people in attendance. Following the public hearing, Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell made a motion authorizing the establishment of a dog park at Greenway Park, provided that capital funding for the project comes from fundraising, programs, and also authorizing Baker to continue with her fundraising efforts for the creation of the dog park. It was seconded by Alderman Ward 3 John Deierlein.
Another motion came from Zieno to formally name the dog park 'the Baker Dog Park' after Hannah Baker.
Baker will now finalize the layout and get updated estimates for the materials, while also working on putting together groups of volunteers to help with different aspects of the project. If you are interested in volunteering in any way, email Baker at HLB823@yahoo.com.
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