Comments on: Foster Dog Beach Badly Deteriorating, Unsafe

By: bluehorse13

bluehorse13 — Sat, 03 May 2014 17:40:00 +0000

Roger, thanks for the info. I had no idea although I suspected it had something to do with politics and Rahm. I’ve noticed the demise of upkeep just in the last 2-3 years.

By: Zygote

Zygote — Fri, 02 May 2014 16:21:00 +0000

If the water keeps receeding and more sand appears, I’m sure the city will continue to erect a fence on the boardwalk. The way I see it, in a few years, there will be a fence along the whole boardwalk all the way up to Osterman Beach. UGH!

By: roger

roger — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 00:08:00 +0000

Chicago Beaches are no doubt not being taken care of in the same manor as years before because the CPD had two retirements from the men that groomed the beaches all off season long so that they would be ready for the summer. Those workers are represented by Local 150 Operating Engineers and Rahm refuses to hire any of their memebers full time because of his scabbles with their President.
Call your local alderman or the CPD and have them explain it to you.

Its a simple situation to hire new people, the jobs are in the budget.

By: Wewilliewinkleman

Wewilliewinkleman — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 01:50:00 +0000

Seagull waste. That’s what’s really going to get you sick.

By: Pedro Rodreiguez Roberto Smith

Pedro Rodreiguez Roberto Smith — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 19:05:00 +0000

All of this talk about dogs & diarrhea makes me super excited about the summer weather kicking in; can’t wait to go swimming!

By: bluehorse13

bluehorse13 — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:24:00 +0000

Thank you Edgeville Buzz for posting this article! I’ve been in contact with the park district throughout this project. They have made strides with Montrose beach. Hopefully Foster is next. I’ve just sent Kenneth at chicago park district a link to this article. Thank you again. Keep it up, please. As I’m sure they will need to be nudged big time to maintain safety and cleanliness throughout the summer!

By: MD

MD — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 22:14:00 +0000

I’m glad you haven’t witnessed it, but the fact that you haven’t doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. I bet we’ve had lots of different experiences in the past 10 years seeing as how we are two different people who do different things at different times with different people.

I’ve actually seen the dogs having diarrhea in the water right next to the owners in the water playing with their dogs. Owners who then do not get out of the water, but continue to play in it (hey, to each their own).

I’m actually not anti dog beach at all and am well aware of other pollutants; I just personally don’t want to go in that water (I won’t stick my big toe in any beach in this city, dog or human FWIW), nor do I want my dog in it either. Just a personal preference.

By: NightNurse

NightNurse — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 02:44:00 +0000

Yes, and fish pee in the water too! Some cities (including larger ones like Milwaukee) empty their human waste into Lake Michigan. And then there’s BP dumping sludge and mercury in the lake just south of us. I love the dog beaches. I think they are part of what makes Chicago a great place to live. If you, like myself, want a cleaner lake then I suggest focusing on the larger issues… and let the dogs play. I have never, in 10 years visiting the dog beaches, seen a dog have diarrhea in the water.

By: gscan

gscan — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 01:50:00 +0000

You obviously grew up among better heeled children than I did, MD. In my neighborhood, relieving oneself in the pool was a competitive sport

By: MD

MD — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 01:36:00 +0000

Any kid that is young enough to poop in the water will be wearing a diaper. However, on almost every occasion I’ve been at a dog beach, I’ve witness a dog pooping in the water, usually diarrhea. You really want to be down stream of that? Count me out, dude.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:50:00 +0000

This is a nice area for the dogs on the North end of Foster beach. From what I can see it’s just a fencing issue along the boardwalk and the North and South ends that hopefully the city can easily repair.

By: gscan

gscan — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 23:44:00 +0000

Not sure why you’d be reluctant to swim near a dog beach. Are you worried about being contaminated by feces and urine? Germs? If so, I would avoid all beaches frequented by children, which, by my account, is 100% of ’em.

By: hello

hello — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 22:38:00 +0000

I didn’t even realize Foster Beach had a dog area. I’m disappointed it does. My wife doesn’t want to swim next to a dog beach (and I don’t want to either), and Foster was our go-to beach! As long as we stay south, she probably won’t realize.

I’d be interested in an analysis of the waters next to a dog beach and those of a beach that is far from a dog beach to see if I should actually be reluctant or not.

By: gscan

gscan — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:04:00 +0000

The way that Foster Beach is now, I wouldn’t even consider allowing my dog off the leash there. There are essentially no barriers to keep my dog from escaping in a mad (and unsuccessful) dash to catch a squirrel. Glad to see that Montrose Beach has been made safe in the last few days through the extension of the fence and digging out of the sand in front of the concrete blocks. Hope to see the same work done for Foster Beach!