Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), in conjunction with the Off Leash Area Advisory Committee is conducting a survey on the city’s 12 Off Leash Areas Dog Parks.
The goal of the survey is to seek input from dog owners who frequent these parks, and aid in better understanding the community’s use and needs within these parks.
The survey will remain online until Friday, November 20, 2009; 5PM.
Please share this link (survey) with others.
AustinDogParkSurvey.com
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Volunteer Work Day Schedule
Mark your calendar!
Project leader George Innis has scheduled work days at the northern mile of the Bull Creek Greenbelt trail October 17, November 14, December 12, January 16, February 13, March 13, April 10, and May 15. The work will be from 9 AM - 12 Noon. Each outing will concentrate on some combination of trash removal (inside the park and along the road, including 360), vegetation management (removal of exotics like ligustrum, nandina, chinaberry and Chinese tallow and thinning cedar), wire removal and trail maintenance (moving vegetation back from trails, creek crossing repair, and erosion control).
The meeting spot is at 5304 Old Spicewood Springs Rd Austin, TX 78731
The Google map location is http://tinyurl.com/prtkut
Let us know that you plan to come help by emailing a few days ahead of each date to: bullcreekvolunteers@gmail.com
REI Gateway store, adopter of St. Edward's Park, is planning its Fall Service Project Saturday November 7 from 9 AM - 12 Noon at the park
7281 Spicewood Springs Rd 78759.
Map location http://tinyurl.com/2pgkpv
Work will consist of erosion control and water bars along some of the trails, moving vegetation back from trails, perhaps a few barriers to better direct hiker flow, and trash pick up.
REI's coordinator for this event is Josh Kawinski 343-5550. Please let us know if you plan to attend by emailing a few days ahead of November 7 to: bullcreekvolunteers@gmail.com
Project leader George Innis has scheduled work days at the northern mile of the Bull Creek Greenbelt trail October 17, November 14, December 12, January 16, February 13, March 13, April 10, and May 15. The work will be from 9 AM - 12 Noon. Each outing will concentrate on some combination of trash removal (inside the park and along the road, including 360), vegetation management (removal of exotics like ligustrum, nandina, chinaberry and Chinese tallow and thinning cedar), wire removal and trail maintenance (moving vegetation back from trails, creek crossing repair, and erosion control).
The meeting spot is at 5304 Old Spicewood Springs Rd Austin, TX 78731
The Google map location is http://tinyurl.com/prtkut
Let us know that you plan to come help by emailing a few days ahead of each date to: bullcreekvolunteers@gmail.com
REI Gateway store, adopter of St. Edward's Park, is planning its Fall Service Project Saturday November 7 from 9 AM - 12 Noon at the park
7281 Spicewood Springs Rd 78759.
Map location http://tinyurl.com/2pgkpv
Work will consist of erosion control and water bars along some of the trails, moving vegetation back from trails, perhaps a few barriers to better direct hiker flow, and trash pick up.
REI's coordinator for this event is Josh Kawinski
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Web Surf and then Visit Great Hills Park
Great Hills Park is one of NW Austin's best neighborhood parks
http://www.greathillspark.org
Created by the idea and hard work of Marie Laing, who also help co-author the City's Adopt A Park Program and a cadre of committed stakeholders, this is a magnificent park.
It has native landscaping, a trail, play scape, pavilion, picnic tables and two chimney swift towers.
There is a wonderful picture page "plants of Great Hills Park" page at
http://www.greathillspark.org/plantphotos/
Check it out!
http://www.greathillspark.org
Created by the idea and hard work of Marie Laing, who also help co-author the City's Adopt A Park Program and a cadre of committed stakeholders, this is a magnificent park.
It has native landscaping, a trail, play scape, pavilion, picnic tables and two chimney swift towers.
There is a wonderful picture page "plants of Great Hills Park" page at
http://www.greathillspark.org/plantphotos/
Check it out!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Dog Offleash Area Survey
The Parks and Recreation Department is asking
for community input through a public survey on
the existing off-leash areas. The information will
be used by the department and the Off-Leash
Advisory Committee to learn more about our
park users regarding improvement and
operations decisions. Select this link
http://tinyurl.com/lvs5ek
to take the survey
for community input through a public survey on
the existing off-leash areas. The information will
be used by the department and the Off-Leash
Advisory Committee to learn more about our
park users regarding improvement and
operations decisions. Select this link
http://tinyurl.com/lvs5ek
to take the survey
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
RAIN CANCELLATION! PLEASE JOIN US SAT. SEPT. 12 9 AM - 12 NOON
Wonderful needed rain requires cancellation of this event. We will reschedule. Stay tuned.
Hello trail lovers:
We are having our first fall volunteer work day Saturday September 12 9am - 12 Noon.
We will meet on at the parking lot on the north side of the creek, on the west side of 360 by the low water crossing, about 1/2 mile south of Spicewood Springs Road and 1/2 mile north of Lakewood Drive. Map at http://tinyurl.com/ktso7r (we will park just left of the "A" symbol on the map in the large gravel parking lot.
We will be reinstalling 8 stepping stones across the creek on the other side of the bridge from the parking area, and also be removing some invasive trees and new growth cedar and picking up trash. Please wear closed toed shoes, long pants, wear sunscreen, bring a hat and gloves if you have some, and a bottle of water. We will provide tools, more gloves, have more water and some snacks. If you have any questions, please contact us. We would like to have a count of folks coming so we can bring enough tools and other things, so pleas RSVP to bullcreekvolunteers@gmail.com. See you there!
Hello trail lovers:
We are having our first fall volunteer work day Saturday September 12 9am - 12 Noon.
We will meet on at the parking lot on the north side of the creek, on the west side of 360 by the low water crossing, about 1/2 mile south of Spicewood Springs Road and 1/2 mile north of Lakewood Drive. Map at http://tinyurl.com/ktso7r (we will park just left of the "A" symbol on the map in the large gravel parking lot.
We will be reinstalling 8 stepping stones across the creek on the other side of the bridge from the parking area, and also be removing some invasive trees and new growth cedar and picking up trash. Please wear closed toed shoes, long pants, wear sunscreen, bring a hat and gloves if you have some, and a bottle of water. We will provide tools, more gloves, have more water and some snacks. If you have any questions, please contact us. We would like to have a count of folks coming so we can bring enough tools and other things, so pleas RSVP to bullcreekvolunteers@gmail.com. See you there!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Bull Creek District Park Needs Your Help
Please take time to visit
http://savebcdogpark.org/
and sign their petition.
Then PLEASE email the Parks Board and Environmental Board members and Staff/Directors NOW to voice your support of BCDOG proposals (details below).
Watershed Protection Department is recommending closing Bull Creek District Park Sept. 8, 2009 for at least 6 months to do a park restoration. The ultimate, unannounced strategy looks like they would reopen the park to either no dogs allowed or dogs on leash only. This park is the only dog offleash area northwest of 2222 and Burnet Road. Austin parks are woefully deficient in venues that allow dogs on or offleash, with only 12 city wide and this has not changes while our population has doubled and we now have an estimated 224,000 dogs in Austin..
The WPD issue is that eColi bacteria in the creek is caused by dog poop. This is unproved but suspected because of the heavy dog use there. Other known sources are wild animal waste, sewer spills, which have happened periodically since 2003, and dirty diapers left in/near the creek (dozens found after every weekend).
eColi bacteria was brought to our attention in late 2007 after a massive sewage spill and 10 children reported stomach illness after being in the creek at the District Park. The City WPD's solution to this was to hold one press conference, hand our dome flyers and put up a few signs. I advised them beforehandd that this would not work, that on the ground work needed to be organized, but they went ahead with their plan anyway. I then asked dog owners to volunteer to do something about the suspected problem. Debra Bailey volunteered to start a stakeholder group, now over 100 strong and known as BCDOG - Bull Creek Dog Offleash Group.
Since the middle of 2008 to now, their on the ground work with education of dog owners, regular poop patrol and park improvements has resulted in the average eColi levels at the park returning to below the state recreational water quality standard for eColi during the week and 131 vs. the std. of 126 on weekends. This is a huge accomplishment, despite drought condition water flows in the creek
BCDOG is the strongest coalition of stakeholders in the 32 square mile Bull Creek watershed. These stakeholders must be rewarded by keeping the offleash area open.
Bull Creek Foundation and BCDOG have proposed the next phase initiative, which is to adopt the Boulder Colorado method of dog guardian training, registration, rules and enforcement.
http://tinyurl.com/ldubdh
BCDOG has recommended that a $5 charge be added to the 3 year rabies tag required by the city. This could raise over $1 million for a Park Ranger Program and Parks Department for education and enforcement.
The park improvement project proposed by WPD and supported by us can be done without closing the park, alienating hundreds of volunteers and losing their support.
Please voice your support of BCDOG's continued work, including our phase II proposal, keeping Bull Creek District Park open with continued offleash dog use.
Please email the Parks Board and Environmental Board members and Staff/Directors NOW to voice your support of BCDOG proposals.
Parks Board, Staff and Director
Linda Guerrero lguerrero9@austin.rr.com, Mark Vane MVane@gardere.com, Hill Abell whabell@gmail.com, Carol Lee clee.parks@gmail.com, Jerry Perales jerry.perales@jacobs.com, Jane Rivera janehrivera@austin.rr.com, Sara Hatfield Marler saramarler@sbcglobal.net, Sara Hensley Sara.Hensley@ci.austin.tx.us, Bill Wells Bill.Wells@ci.austin.tx.us, Farhad Madani Farhad.Madani@ci.austin.tx.us, Tino Garcia tino.garcia@ci.austin.tx.us
Environmental Board and WPD:
Mary Gay Maxwell marygaymaxwell@sbcglobal.net, Mary Ann Neely maryannneely@austin.rr.com,J Robert Anderson banderson@jrobertanderson.com, William Curra william.curra@sbcglobal.net, Phil Moncada moncadataz@sbcglobal.net, Rodney Ahart rodahart@yahoo.com, Jon Beall jonbeall1@onr.com, Robin Gary rhgary@bseacd.org, Victoria Li Victoria.Li@ci.austin.tx.us, Larry Schooler Larry.Schooler@ci.austin.tx.us
THANKS for your help on this important issue!
http://savebcdogpark.org/
and sign their petition.
Then PLEASE email the Parks Board and Environmental Board members and Staff/Directors NOW to voice your support of BCDOG proposals (details below).
Watershed Protection Department is recommending closing Bull Creek District Park Sept. 8, 2009 for at least 6 months to do a park restoration. The ultimate, unannounced strategy looks like they would reopen the park to either no dogs allowed or dogs on leash only. This park is the only dog offleash area northwest of 2222 and Burnet Road. Austin parks are woefully deficient in venues that allow dogs on or offleash, with only 12 city wide and this has not changes while our population has doubled and we now have an estimated 224,000 dogs in Austin..
The WPD issue is that eColi bacteria in the creek is caused by dog poop. This is unproved but suspected because of the heavy dog use there. Other known sources are wild animal waste, sewer spills, which have happened periodically since 2003, and dirty diapers left in/near the creek (dozens found after every weekend).
eColi bacteria was brought to our attention in late 2007 after a massive sewage spill and 10 children reported stomach illness after being in the creek at the District Park. The City WPD's solution to this was to hold one press conference, hand our dome flyers and put up a few signs. I advised them beforehandd that this would not work, that on the ground work needed to be organized, but they went ahead with their plan anyway. I then asked dog owners to volunteer to do something about the suspected problem. Debra Bailey volunteered to start a stakeholder group, now over 100 strong and known as BCDOG - Bull Creek Dog Offleash Group.
Since the middle of 2008 to now, their on the ground work with education of dog owners, regular poop patrol and park improvements has resulted in the average eColi levels at the park returning to below the state recreational water quality standard for eColi during the week and 131 vs. the std. of 126 on weekends. This is a huge accomplishment, despite drought condition water flows in the creek
BCDOG is the strongest coalition of stakeholders in the 32 square mile Bull Creek watershed. These stakeholders must be rewarded by keeping the offleash area open.
Bull Creek Foundation and BCDOG have proposed the next phase initiative, which is to adopt the Boulder Colorado method of dog guardian training, registration, rules and enforcement.
http://tinyurl.com/ldubdh
BCDOG has recommended that a $5 charge be added to the 3 year rabies tag required by the city. This could raise over $1 million for a Park Ranger Program and Parks Department for education and enforcement.
The park improvement project proposed by WPD and supported by us can be done without closing the park, alienating hundreds of volunteers and losing their support.
Please voice your support of BCDOG's continued work, including our phase II proposal, keeping Bull Creek District Park open with continued offleash dog use.
Please email the Parks Board and Environmental Board members and Staff/Directors NOW to voice your support of BCDOG proposals.
Parks Board, Staff and Director
Linda Guerrero lguerrero9@austin.rr.com, Mark Vane MVane@gardere.com, Hill Abell whabell@gmail.com, Carol Lee clee.parks@gmail.com, Jerry Perales jerry.perales@jacobs.com, Jane Rivera janehrivera@austin.rr.com, Sara Hatfield Marler saramarler@sbcglobal.net, Sara Hensley Sara.Hensley@ci.austin.tx.us, Bill Wells Bill.Wells@ci.austin.tx.us, Farhad Madani Farhad.Madani@ci.austin.tx.us, Tino Garcia tino.garcia@ci.austin.tx.us
Environmental Board and WPD:
Mary Gay Maxwell marygaymaxwell@sbcglobal.net, Mary Ann Neely maryannneely@austin.rr.com,J Robert Anderson banderson@jrobertanderson.com, William Curra william.curra@sbcglobal.net, Phil Moncada moncadataz@sbcglobal.net, Rodney Ahart rodahart@yahoo.com, Jon Beall jonbeall1@onr.com, Robin Gary rhgary@bseacd.org, Victoria Li Victoria.Li@ci.austin.tx.us, Larry Schooler Larry.Schooler@ci.austin.tx.us
THANKS for your help on this important issue!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Check Out EcoTexas
Take a look at http://www.ecotx.org
Lots of good information there on native plants and invasive species.
Lots of good information there on native plants and invasive species.
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