Is there a way to volunteer myself to support the C-DOG in a more formal manner? Event Planning, Etc...?

Even though the dog run at Pacific Street Park doesn't officially open until May 20 (tentative date), it's already fenced and ready to be used. Have you visited it and what did you think?

I checked it out on Friday and thought it looked great, with tons of parking along Tudor Street and other nearby streets and a trash barrel and double safety gates as well as full fencing. One thing it's currently missing is a mutt mitts dispenser, which was installed by DPW and later removed by vandals, but the DPW tells us that it will be replaced. Bring your own bags and happy romping!

I took my pup to the new Pacific St park today and she loved it! Because of the train behind Fort Washington, we had to stop going there. Today was the first time we were able to let her off-leash to run in months! It was great for all of us. Thanks so much for your work to get this park!

We're still not talking about the same place. If you look at the FP map on the FFPR website, following Park St., down to the reservoir, there is an "E" for emergency phone. That's the spot I was talking about. There is a stone bench smack in the middle of it. I don't know if that spot has a name.

Hi,

Sorry I misunderstood the area you were talking about. Yes, we can suggest the area at the top of the hill parallel to Huron Ave., although I'm not sure that it's large enough- we'll need to take a better look.

Thanks for your response, freshponder. I didn't mean Aberdeen itself. I live on Aberdeen and even I wouldn't want a dog park in front of my house! If you walk through the path to FP that starts at the Aberdeen traffic lite, there is a grassy area at the end. That's what I was referring to--sorry if I wasn't clear.

The area in the middle of Aberdeen hasn't been considered because it's such a heavily residential area, and there is usually opposition to dog parks right in the midst of homes. That said, we could always bring it up as an option. Since Fresh Pond is right across the street and a fenced area is planned for Danehy Park within a mile or so of that location, we might have a bit of a hard time getting it going, but we could try. Our struggle in part is that we represent all of Cambridge, and while we have Fresh Pond and Danehy Park in West Cambridge, there is no off-leash area at all in other areas, such as East Cambridge. We try to work on multiple areas simultaneously, but the City moves more slowly than we'd like (of course, we'd like off-leash areas of various configurations within easy walking or wheeling distance for every resident of Cambridge immediately!).

I'd be happy to help and will email as you suggest. Aside from the area around the water building at FP, has anyone looked at the grassy area next to the path at ~Aberdeen Ave.? It is kept mowed but does not seem to be used for much.

Thanks for the great question! To date, the Water Board and Fresh Pond Advisory Board have said that they have not been able to find an appropriate space to fence as a dog run. This could be something we could take up with them more seriously in the future.

I'm a Cambridge dog-owner seeking a completely fenced in dog park. Everything I have found in Cambridge and Somerville is more than a half-hour drive away during rush hour. Is anyone doing anything about getting a fenced off area at Fresh Pond, Denehy Park or this area? If not, is anyone interested in starting up this effort besides me?

You are absolutely right about FW not being the right place for my dog. Fencing or not, the train that runs behind it terrifies her. It is a shame, though, that we can't get the appropriate fencing to keep other people's dogs safe. I guess we have to take what we can get.

Unfortunately we've been told by the representative from the Historical Commission that they will not consider putting up anything additional between the bars of the existing fence (or over the existing fence, or replacing the existing fence).

My dog is one of those dogs that escapes through the bars in the fence. We are actually unable to use FW park anymore for that reason (but I will continue to advocate for it to exist!). Would it not be possible to put some simple fencing across the bars? It shouldn't require the gates to be changed, just covered in some way.

Michelle,

Thanks for your question about Pacific Street. According to Greg Garber, who helped us to get Fort Washington fenced and is in charge of getting Pacific St. fenced, it should happen this month (October, 2006). I'd give that a little leeway for construction issues and say that it should definitely be completed by the end of November. We'll keep everyone posted!

Hi there,

I am so pleased to hear about the progress at FW park! My fearful pup has recently discovered that she can escape when she gets scared through the bars in the fence now that underneath has been blocked. Unfortunately, I am starting to think that FW park is not the best place for her.

We at CDOG want to keep Cambridge dog owners "in the loop" regarding developments that may affect them. Here's a summary of the proposed Medallion Program and where it stands:

The Medallion Program is a method by which Rangers at Fresh Pond will be better able to enforce the existing regulation which states that only Cambridge residents may have their dogs off leash. The ordinance has been in place for many years (it's actually stated on all signage there- look on the signs above the "mutt mitts" dispensers) but hasn't been enforced, generally speaking.

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for your email and for posting your concerns on cambridgedog.org.

After reading your posting, one of our city liaisons immediately contacted Mr. Greg Garber, the superintendent of Cambridge parks. In the past, Mr. Garber has responded to our emails in a timely way, so we expect to hear from him shortly. We will then provide more information on this site.

I bring my dog to Fort Washington Park almost every day -- she loves it and so do I! However, there is a large gap beneath the front gate that allows dogs to slip in and out very easily. My pup has fled twice when something scared her. I have talked to many of the dog owners, and everyone is very worried about dogs running away or getting hit by passing cars. Is there anything that can be done about this? It seems like a little bit of chicken-wire under the gate would do the trick.

Dogs should not be allowed in historic Fort Washington. First, it is dangerous to dogs, because dogs can squeeze through the 145 Yr Historic Fences and enter into the increasing traffic of Waverly Street. Two, dogs are digging the historic 230 Yr old earthworks dug 11/1775 by order of George Washington. All other Fortifications from the siege of Boston 1775 to 1776 are changed or destroyed. These are the only original earthworks left. Dogs are eroding these and because of the heavy use of Fort Washington by dog owners, no stabilizing vegetation is growing this spring on the Earthworks. The National Park service has regulations for the preservation of Earthworks in our National Battlefields. As a USN Veteran I ask dog owners to think of the sacrifice, disease, and hardships fighting the Siege of Boston. Read "1776" where Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough describes our forefathers digging fortifications day after day for over nine months of which Fort Washington is the last real fort left. "1776" puts a human face to the events of 1776, when a valiant rag-tag bunch of American farmers, plumbers, and blacksmiths fought the British to secure independence for America. This is why Fort Washington looks like a Cemetery; it is a memorial to the Veterans of 1776.

Congratulations CDOG!

It's great that the Historical Commission voted 6-1 in favor of the temporary installation of a 40-inch-high chain-link fence which will abut the existing fence at Fort Washington Park.

READ TODAY'S CAMBRIDGE CHRONICLE FOR THE FACTS!

Go to http://www.townonline.com/cambridge/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=406887&format=text

Cambridge Residents:

Please sign the CDOG petition to show your support for off-leash space.

This petition is also circulating in printed form. Please sign only one form of the petition.