Comments on: Off Leash Dog Parks in Norfolk: Man’s Best Friend or Get Bit? http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html Creating and celebrating local culture in Norfolk and all of Hampton Roads. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:42:39 +0000 hourly 1 By: Nancy Wick http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html/comment-page-1#comment-12591 Nancy Wick Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:43:16 +0000 http://www.altdaily.com/?p=14206#comment-12591 Hi, Thanks for the article and I agree it really brings up a common problem here in Norfolk. The Ghent Dog Park has tried to go some distance in creating the kind of community dog park that you enjoyed in Seattle. The Ghent Dog Park, aka Barkley Gardens, is on Stockley Gardens North between Baldwin and Maury. It was 6 years in the making after a grassroots effort of neighbors and supporters raised over $20,000 to buy the elegant black steel fencing and brick columns. The city of Norfolk then partnered with us to install the fence in July of 2009. Our park is a public park and we encourage use by everyone and their dog(s). Indeed, a friendly community has evolved around the dog park as discussed in the article. There are standard city rules that apply to all of the Norfolk City dog parks posted at the park, and we see users of the park as responsible stewards who care about keeping it nice. We encourage you to come by and check out our park, and become a member or donate at www.ghentdogpark.com, or check out our Facebook group, (www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129334287397) We have meetings on the first Monday of each month, time and place posted on our Facebook group page. Ongoing projects that the Ghent Dog Park Association (a nonprofit charitable group that supports Barkely Gardens) will be planning include maintenance of the grass/grounds, installation of water, and a community bulletin board. Hi,
Thanks for the article and I agree it really brings up a common problem here in Norfolk. The Ghent Dog Park has tried to go some distance in creating the kind of community dog park that you enjoyed in Seattle.

The Ghent Dog Park, aka Barkley Gardens, is on Stockley Gardens North between Baldwin and Maury. It was 6 years in the making after a grassroots effort of neighbors and supporters raised over $20,000 to buy the elegant black steel fencing and brick columns. The city of Norfolk then partnered with us to install the fence in July of 2009.

Our park is a public park and we encourage use by everyone and their dog(s). Indeed, a friendly community has evolved around the dog park as discussed in the article. There are standard city rules that apply to all of the Norfolk City dog parks posted at the park, and we see users of the park as responsible stewards who care about keeping it nice.

We encourage you to come by and check out our park, and become a member or donate at http://www.ghentdogpark.com, or check out our Facebook group, (www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129334287397) We have meetings on the first Monday of each month, time and place posted on our Facebook group page.

Ongoing projects that the Ghent Dog Park Association (a nonprofit charitable group that supports Barkely Gardens) will be planning include maintenance of the grass/grounds, installation of water, and a community bulletin board.

]]> By: Jim Roberts http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html/comment-page-1#comment-12553 Jim Roberts Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:07:52 +0000 http://www.altdaily.com/?p=14206#comment-12553 “Off-leash park or not, your dog’s got to be on a leash.” Whoa. I felt like I was going to be ticketed for running a green light. Good stuff! “Off-leash park or not, your dog’s got to be on a leash.”

Whoa. I felt like I was going to be ticketed for running a green light.

Good stuff!

]]> By: Brian http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html/comment-page-1#comment-12502 Brian Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:59:31 +0000 http://www.altdaily.com/?p=14206#comment-12502 What? You haven't heard? This is Hampton Roads. Welcome to the land of the absolute most backwards, negative, hateful, mean, vindictive group of self-centered people in the country. Our city officials and police enforcement are all uneducated; well atleast below the 5th grade level (documented). And the first words you will hear from anyone before having a fruitful discussion about anything are "no", "you can't do that", "i can't help you", "i won't help you", "i dont have that", "we dont have that", etc., etc., etc. I'm surprised you weren't arrested on the spot for disturbing the peace. Good luck getting anything done around here. Move back to Seattle where normal people "get it". Take me and my dog with you. What? You haven’t heard? This is Hampton Roads. Welcome to the land of the absolute most backwards, negative, hateful, mean, vindictive group of self-centered people in the country. Our city officials and police enforcement are all uneducated; well atleast below the 5th grade level (documented). And the first words you will hear from anyone before having a fruitful discussion about anything are “no”, “you can’t do that”, “i can’t help you”, “i won’t help you”, “i dont have that”, “we dont have that”, etc., etc., etc. I’m surprised you weren’t arrested on the spot for disturbing the peace. Good luck getting anything done around here. Move back to Seattle where normal people “get it”. Take me and my dog with you.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html/comment-page-1#comment-12499 Lynn Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:33:55 +0000 http://www.altdaily.com/?p=14206#comment-12499 Off-leash dog parks in Seattle are extraordinary community gathering places and enhance every neighborhood where they're located. Most dog owners carry a never-ending supply of poop bags (even without a dog, you can usually spot a dog owner by the tell-tale blue bags trailing out of their pockets) but just in case, there are free bag dispensers located throughout the parks along with garbage receptacles. They're safe, clean and contribute to the good health of the dog, the owner and the community! Off-leash dog parks in Seattle are extraordinary community gathering places and enhance every neighborhood where they’re located. Most dog owners carry a never-ending supply of poop bags (even without a dog, you can usually spot a dog owner by the tell-tale blue bags trailing out of their pockets) but just in case, there are free bag dispensers located throughout the parks along with garbage receptacles.
They’re safe, clean and contribute to the good health of the dog, the owner and the community!

]]> By: lizzelizzel http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html/comment-page-1#comment-12498 lizzelizzel Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:30:50 +0000 http://www.altdaily.com/?p=14206#comment-12498 Okay, that is all completely bizarre. Is it anything like a middle class family neighborhood? I only ask because I've noticed those types are ultra paranoid about strangers. They may think you're there scoping out their fortresses of mediocrity. Or is it a very low income neighborhood? If so, maybe they really are afraid of aggressive dogs? Yeah, I'm stereotyping, but I've noticed while living in poorer parts of town that the only dogs around are ones used as guard dogs. They aren't socialized and when they do get lose bad things often happen. I'm not defending them, but I'm trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with these people! Also - "a morbidly obese man" Seriously? How was that useful information? Okay, that is all completely bizarre. Is it anything like a middle class family neighborhood? I only ask because I’ve noticed those types are ultra paranoid about strangers. They may think you’re there scoping out their fortresses of mediocrity. Or is it a very low income neighborhood? If so, maybe they really are afraid of aggressive dogs? Yeah, I’m stereotyping, but I’ve noticed while living in poorer parts of town that the only dogs around are ones used as guard dogs. They aren’t socialized and when they do get lose bad things often happen. I’m not defending them, but I’m trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with these people!

Also -
“a morbidly obese man”
Seriously? How was that useful information?

]]> By: Nöh Ark http://www.altdaily.com/blogs/news-blogs/opinion-blogs/off-leash-dog-parks-in-norfolk-mans-best-friend-or-get-bit.html/comment-page-1#comment-12497 Nöh Ark Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:58:17 +0000 http://www.altdaily.com/?p=14206#comment-12497 the norfolk city site information is a little old. There's a fenced park near the Naro, I think its Stockley Garden on the Norfolk city map. I bike pass there a bunch of times but never rememeber the actual streets. If you go east on Shirley or Baldwin from the Naro, you should see it easily after a couple of blocks. It is fenced of off leash. PeTA also has a dog park under their building, bordering the water on one side, but I don't know what it looks like. the norfolk city site information is a little old.

There’s a fenced park near the Naro, I think its Stockley Garden on the Norfolk city map. I bike pass there a bunch of times but never rememeber the actual streets. If you go east on Shirley or Baldwin from the Naro, you should see it easily after a couple of blocks. It is fenced of off leash.

PeTA also has a dog park under their building, bordering the water on one side, but I don’t know what it looks like.

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