A big space, fencing capabilities and an area for parking –
these are the most important things Terri Smith’s fifth-grade
students are using to determine where they will create a dog
park.
That and a donation of land.
On Friday the School Street Elementary School class along with
Parks Director Chip Comilla and Bradford City Councilman Tom Riel,
who oversees the parks department, took a bus ride around town to
examine potential areas for a park.
“We are trying to work it so that there will be no cost for the
land,” said Riel. “There will be costs for them in fencing and
other costs, but the city is trying to help them find a spot.”
While on the bus, Riel pointed out several places that the city
owns and Comilla takes care of to give the students an
understanding of how much Comilla’s job entails within the
city.
“You will need to create a Dog Park Association on your own and
maintain the property,” explained Riel to the students.
Smith added, “And we will have to look at lighting and
irrigation and parking with handicapped accessible spaces …”
At this time, the most important aspect of the park is to first
get a location, then to find an attorney who would like to help the
group out setting up a nonprofit association that can collect funds
appropriately.
The first stop on Friday’s trip was the park at the end of
Rochester Street and Grove Avenue, or 5th ward park. The students
climbed down from the bus and headed for the shelter in the
park.
Riel explained that the property is not actually owned by the
city, but by the railroad that travels near the land. He also told
students that the park may not be suitable for use because it
lacked a parking area for those driving to the spot.
While there, student Lexy Pascarella explained how she came into
possession of some small fire hydrants to be used in the park that
would work as sprinklers of a sort.
“A doctor my mom knows, Mark Welch donated them to us, because I
asked for them and I showed them to Mrs. Smith,” said Pascarella.
“Because dogs like water and they like hydrants.”
The idea for the dog park came about through discussion in
Smith’s class about the lack of a dog park and a recent trip that
Smith had made to visit a daughter in Pittsburgh. There, the two
visited one of two existing dog parks in the city.
“They let the dogs off their leash so they can run and play, and
socialize” explained Smith.
Back on the bus, the tour continued down East Main Street
turning on North Kendall Avenue toward the SPCA. When the students
hear that is the general direction, they cheer loudly. When it is
explained they will not be stopping to visit the animals, they
moan, “Awwwwwww.”
Just one example of the group’s love for animals.
Near the shelter is another park that may be suitable to become
a dog park.
Comilla explained, “It borders the area where the trail system
is, so that could mean miles of walking area. It could be fenced
in,” he added of the proposed park. “There is space for parking
available, but it will also need to be inspected to make sure there
is no standing water issues.”
The trail near the shelter Comilla is talking about will be an
extension of the Tuna Valley Trails Association’s trails.
On to Jackson Avenue where the bus stopped at another site next
to Vinelli’s Picture and Sound. The students crowd toward the
windows to see the large empty space.
Riel explained, “This spot is not owned by the city. This
property we have to look into making a deal with the owner. It has
the largest parking area, and would be good for a two-gated system.
It already has a fence on one side.”
Patricia Bunce spoke of one concern of the existing stretch of
fencing, “We would want a big fence for a dog park so the dogs can
jump up high.”
Once the students were seated again, the bus took Mill Street
and parked and unloaded again.
“I don’t like it,” said Kaitlin O’Leary. “The cars might scare
the dogs,” she added referring to U.S. Route 219. “And a car could
wreck too and scare the dogs.”
Billy McCool asked, “And what about pollution?”
Riel looked at him, asking, “What pollution? That’s what we have
the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of
Environmental Protection for.”
Back on the bus, the students talked about the three places
visited.
Smith passed on an observance about the location near the
SPCA.
“It would be sad for dogs at the SPCA not being able to come out
to play too,” she reminded students.
Autumn Shugars said about the Jackson Avenue location, “My dog
(Biscuit) could jump over that fence and my dog watches cars go by,
too, if he’s tied up.”
Back at the school, Riel said, “We should have something nailed
down soon.”
Smith added before walking into the building, “They will
remember this (trip) for a long time. With these two men today (and
help from the mayor,) it seems like we have a lot of good
support.”
A School Street Elementary School fifth grade class made their
initial proposal requesting space for a dog park to city council in
October. As of today, students have visited at least three possible
sites for the park.
Terri Smith’s students are so excited about the possibility of a
dog park that they have already gone past the stage of worrying
about location to dreaming about a gift shop and the items it might
include.
“For a fundraiser idea we could sell towels that could be used
to wipe the mud off of dog’s paws when they come inside that will
hang on a hook,” said Smith to the committee made of four 5th grade
girls.
Samantha Hitchcock, co-chairman said, “I could make
pillows.”
Lexy Pascarella, chairman added excitedly, ” I know how to sew.
We could make booties for the dogs.”
Sierra Campbell, committee member added, “We could have a gift
shop.”
Smith cautioned, “You all have ideas that are workable. We need
to get the location, the association set up and raise funds. Keep
all those ideas in mind for use later.”
The students requested and received permission from Mayor
Michele Corignani to put a canister in the treasurer’s office at
city hall to collect donations for the park.
They have collected $81 so far but are reluctant to spread out
around the city with collection cans until they have an association
set up.
“We would like to invite all of the schools in the school system
to be a part of this, community members and volunteers, the high
school graduation program, and the university,” said Smith.
While students toured three possible sites for a dog park on
Friday, they started to develop more ideas of what they may need in
the park.
Committee member Autumn Shugars expressed concern over dogs who
like to dig or jump, saying they may need to make sure they can
prevent dogs from damaging the park.
“The dogs will be busy socializing,” said Smith.
Pascarella said, “It will be the owner’s responsibility – we
want the owners to take care of the dog’s ‘business’.”
Smith agreed, “There will be dog park etiquette rules put
up.”
Hitchcock suggested the idea of making it be a membership-type
of a park where the members have a card they use to get in. Another
suggested a charge be put to visitors.
All understand the fact that any dog using the park should be
fully legal with shots and registration required.
The basic idea is to have volunteers who maintain the park as
needed, and it may include the need for someone to be on duty while
the community uses the park.
Part of having those volunteers could be to man a “dog treat
bakery.”
Lindsey Chiodo and Patricia Bunce explain that Pascarella came
up with an idea while they were making dog treats for Christmas to
give to the SPCA. Her idea was to build a bakery in the park where
people could buy treats for their dogs.
“It would be a bakery called the ‘Barkery,'” said Chiodo. “We
made treats for the dogs at the SPCA.”
Bunce said of the effort to see a dog park come to fruition,
“Lexy did most of the work but everybody helped.”
The students have made presentations at two city council
meetings so far and plan to attend more as the proposed park idea
progresses.
“Michele (Corignani) has been nice about letting us say what we
need to and let us go home early so we can finish homework,” said
Smith.
