Historical Summer 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Central West End Dog Park Association is working to create a Dog Park on Des Peres.
The proposed location is on lots 520, 526 & 532 Des Peres.
These lots, which are owned by the Skinker-DeBaliviere Housing Corporation, run along the East side of Des Peres next to the MetroLink tracks, north of the vacant school and south of Delmar.
The Central West End Dog Park Association was founded in 2001.
It is a non-profit, 501(c)(7) corporation which created and maintained the first dog park in the St. Louis area. Its original park was located on Taylor between Lindell and Maryland.
This park was closed this spring because the land on which it was located is being developed.
The Association created and manages a second dog park, known as the Lister Park, on Olive just West of Taylor.
The CWE Dog Park Association mission is to create and maintain safe, fun, off leash dog play areas for dogs and their people throughout neighborhoods in the Central West End.
Some of the other benefits of a neighborhood dog park include: maintaining green space; increasing safety and security in the area; strengthening the community by giving diverse neighbors an opportunity to get together; and promoting responsible pet ownership. Use of CWE Dog Park Association parks is limited to members and their dogs. Anyone who lives or works in the Central West End and has a dog who is spayed or neutered is eligible to join.
The geographic boundaries for purposes of membership are Vandeventer on the East, Delmar on the North, the West end of Parkview on the West and Forest Park/Lindell on the South (these streets cross and we use whichever is farther South).
There is a modest membership fee.
This fee covers the cost of maintaining the Parks.
The CWE Dog Park Association is run by an Executive Board of Directors.
The Board ensures that all Park rules are obeyed and addresses any concerns or complaints that are raised both by members and non-members who raise an issue.
The Association makes every effort to be a good neighbor by making sure there is no excessive noise due to barking, by requiring that members clean up after their pets both inside and outside of the park, and by maintaining reasonable hours for park access.
All dogs must be on leashes except when they are inside the park.
The Dog Park Association has requested to be on the Agenda for the June 12, 2006, Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council meeting in order to present the Des Peres Dog Park plan to the Council and receive their feedback. Additionally, there will be a neighborhood meeting to give area residents an opportunity to hear more about the dog park plans and to determine the level of neighborhood support for a dog park at the Des Peres location.
The next step would be to obtain signatures of support from a majority of those living and operating businesses within a 350 degree radius of the proposed location.
This is required by a St. Louis City Ordinance.
The CWE Dog Park Association will then attempt to raise the money for the park.
It will cost approximately $30,000 to create the park – wrought iron is expensive. Association membership dues only cover dog park maintenance, so the Association will need to engage in a fundraising effort. Due to the costs and effort involved in creating a park, the Association is looking to lease the Des Peres property from the Housing Corporation for a minimum of 5 years.
If anyone has any questions, concerns or would like to show support or help in any way regarding the Des Peres dog park proposal, please contact any of the following people: Central West End Dog Park Association President, Kelly Garbin at Kelly_Garbin@Precoat. com; CWE Dog Park Association Board Liaison for the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, Ellen Blau at elblau@sbcglobal.net; or Gary Boehnke, director of the SD Housing Corporation, 862-5122. Anyone with an opinion on the Skinker DeBaliviere/Des Peres dog park proposal or who would like to help is also encouraged to attend both the Skinker DeBaliviere June Community Council Meeting and the Neighborhood meeting.
The neighborhood meeting has not yet been scheduled but the CWE Dog Park Association will publicize it as soon as there is a firm date and location.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source prints 350 degree radius for signatures; unit retained rather than substituted.
Original source: SD_Times2006_06.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
