I’m semi-excited about the dog park. Parks and Rec approved it and chose a site off exit 9, just at the corner of Courtland Ave and East Main. The Board of Reps needs to approve the building of the site, which will cost $40,000 to build. Friends of Stamford Dog Park is trying to raise money so the city only has to maintain the park. I don’t see any problems with the park, as the kind of people who bring their dogs to a dog park are the kinds of people who police themselves. 
I haven’t been to the location, but I like the fact that you can get there by back roads if 95 is trafficky. I think the park will be a good way to meet people, and Lord knows Stamford needs that. Not everyone likes the Hunt complex site; read the Times or Advocate articles for more details.
I don’t think my dog will benefit from the dog park, as she doesn’t know how to play. She’s a coonhound, a rescue from West Virginia, and she has the personality of an 80 year-old woman. On weekends, she and I each take a couch and nap the day away.
Two related stories:
- Currently, many Stamford dog owners take their dogs to the dog park at Waveny in New Canaan, or let them off the leash at Mianus River Park on the border of Greenwich and Stamford. Expect mayhem at Mianus. I took a walk with a friend there last fall, and a little Bichon Frise sprinted past, then, unbeknowst to me, raced back toward me, leapt up feet first, and planted a muddy pawprint on each of my butt cheeks.
- My friend’s French bulldog, a brindle named Gilly, lives in NYC. He’s chill, so when he goes to the park, he sits on the bench with the dog owners. Gilly recently started breaking out in eczema-type patches, so the vet tested him for allergies. Gilly is allergic to pollen and- get this- humans. The dog is allergic to humans. This is a picture of Gilly and his sister Laverne fighting over a flower stem. Those colorful scraps are fabric swatches.
I think the dog park will give us some laughs.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Stamford Dog Park Coming Soon...
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11 comments:
Try the Bartlett Arboritum off High Ridge Road in north Stamford. Smaller than Mianus, but much less hectic. I've never had a problem there, although my wife got yelled at once by a man there claiming to work for the city, yapping about the liabilities of off-leash dogs. Crank. Remember, always check yourself and the dog for ticks when you leave the park/get home.
Watch out for the nasty little ticks also! Adult female Deer ticks are currently active!
P.S. I like the Waveney Park
There's also a dog park at Taylor Farm in Norwalk.
Thanks for the info on the ticks Whitemist. Frontline will go on tonight.
You mentioned the Hunt Complex, but Stamfordites call the park at the corner of Courtland and East Main "Courtland Park". It's a wonderful old park, though much neglected in the last 15 years. I'm delighted that the dog park will be there and hope it will breathe some life into the place.
Courtland Park was a vibrant and fun park in the 70's and 80's. In the 70's, it was best known for having the coolest big public sprinkler in town. It was awesome. Rich kids in North Stamford got to go to the swanky public Dorothy Heroy pool complex, but we on the East Side had the coolest sprinklers ever at Courtland Park. I don't know why they had to shut them down, but seems like the park's gone way downhill since then.
I also hope the dog park will spruce up the park. At least it will put Courtland park on the public radar; I didn't even know it was there!
Is the Dorothy Heroy pool complex still around? Is there a public pool in Stamford?
The pool is still there, though, I've lived in North Stamford most of my life and I'm not sure I've ever heard DH called "swanky" before.
There also used to be pools at Chestnut Hill park and Scofieldtown "Park" (if you've been there lately, you understand the quotes) while I was growing up. Just your basic above-ground models.
Also at the yerwood center and it is actually well maintained.
I'm eventually going to check out the local pools. It's amazing all the stuff I don't know about this town. I think if I had a kid, I might be more knowledgeable about things like that. Instead, I know all about restaurants.
That's a good question - are there any decent public pools in Stamford? Norwalk? Anywhere?
There are 2 that come to mind that I would CONSIDER joininh(I'm a mild germ freak)and they are Longshore & Waveney. BUT, if you don't live in Westport or NC - you're SOL. I think. It's unfortunate the Sound is so filthy. I won't step foot in there.
I find that the Italian center in Stamford keeps their pools in very good shape. Amanda, You would actually be surprised how clean bacterially the Sound is. The problem I always had was the water temperature (I am from Texas along the Gulf Coast) and the rocks (same reason). Having monitored the water for 28 years, I have a good notion about its quality. The only thing I tell everyone is stay out right after a rain - we have too much population that is too developed to keep things clean immediately after the rain - 24 hours later and all traces are gone.
Would be nice if all the morons who bring their dogs to Mianus river park would actually obey the law and KEEP THEM ON THEIR LEASH> IT IS NOT AN OFF LEASH PARK!!!!
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