A reader asks....
"I was wondering if anyone has brought up the issue of the fence at the Foster Avenue Dog Beach not extending into the water? I have lived in the area for almost 8 years now and remember when the dog beach was open, I believe 3 years ago. Each year the beach portion gets larger and larger so that now there is no barrier between the beach for people and the one for dogs. Are there plans to put up a fence in the near future?"
I stopped by Foster Avenue Beach yesterday evening to check things out for myself. The fencing appears to be somewhat neglected, and clearly doesn't extend out to the water line, as seen in the photo above.
12 comments:
FYI, I have sent an email to Harry Osterman regarding this issue. I will let the Buzz know when I hear back from our new Alderman. This may be a park district issues though. Either way, I'm sure Harry will look into this when he takes office.
The maintenance of the fence is simple enough to resolve.
However, in order to evaluate how the fence & barrier wall extend to the water line, one should really consider the Lake Michigan tidal schedule (one is viewable here http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/locations/beaches/) as well as the fact that the Great Lakes have been experiencing an overall decline in water levels (http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/pubs/brochures/lakelevels/lakelevels.pdf).
In other words, there's only so much the Park District can do. Ultimately, it is who owners are responsible for their dogs.
QRBNST,
While I agree with you that ultimately, it is up to the dog owners to watch their dogs, it is a dog beach which allows dogs off their leashes to run free. If the fence is in need of repair and dogs can get through the fence to the "human" part of the beach, what's the point of having a dog beach? Other barriers on the other dog beaches are just that, a "barrier".
It's a simple thing to get fixed and should be fixed.
Thanks for the info on the tides. Very interesting:)
Sorry to be putting in so many comments, but here's an update.
I called the Chicago Park District for the Northern Region, spoke with "Mary" who will put in a request for repair or replacement to maintenance. She gave me an email address for the "boss".
sandra.olson@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
She can be sent an email at any time for any of your concerns or repair issues in the parks on the north side.
Hopefully, this will get taken care of soon. If it doesn't, I'm sure Harry will look into it.
thanks for calling towanda!! i have taken Mona there a couple times and as much as i try to watch her...she can get around the fence or under...i agree the tide schedule is part of it and so are the owners..but if they can just extend it down into water and then out a bit more...there are other dogs that are a lot bigger that can go around...thanks again.
As a dog owner I should write a letter to the Alderman too. We own a greyhound and do not take him to the beach because if he gets around the fence (which he could do easily) and runs off the people beach he could be gone forever. Right now we pay $120 a year for a pass to the Evanston dog beach which is huge and secure.
This is an illegal dog beach and another example of aldermanic arrogance.
If you or I wanted a dog beach we would have a whole process to go through. We would have to establish an organization that would take responsibility for the beach, show community support etc. But when you are the Alderman, you snap your fingers and the Park District jumps.
This dog beach was another example of Smith flying solo. She had better fix it this week or it might just disappear with her.
Here's an email response from Sandra Olsen:)
Kris,
Our trades department is on it. They need some more sand moved but hopefully it will be done soon. Thanks for contacting us. It is appreciated.
Sandy
Sandra M. Olson, CTRS, CPRP
Chicago Park District
Area Manager, North Region
PHONE: 312-742-0378
FAX: 312-742-0379
sandra.olson@chicagoparkdistrict.com
How is it an illegal dog beach? When I was given a booklet of all the dog friendly areas that Chicago recognizes, Foster was one of them. I don't care for the foster dog beach, it is way too small and my very friendly dog gets attacked every time. I tend to go to the Montrose dog beach and have considered the Evanston dog beach as well.
It is illegal because the Park District violated its own rules and ignored the community process for establishing it. Smith was chair of the Parks Committee of the City Council so she pretty much got anything she wanted no matter what the community said.
What does it matter if it's illegal? THEY (parks) now have to take care of it rather than the dog owners. Which one of us would have gotten the material and went out there to fix this? Now, it'll get done. Enjoy:)
Lakefront Liberal In a Starbucks Ethnically Cleansed Neighborhood politicism is nothing but humorous at this point.
I still don't understand why, in this day and age, gay people feel they have to live in squalor.
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