Reading the Tribune it looks like the KSA is looking at two areas for a dog park: East End Park and River Grove Park.

The options for East End is to carve out space for a dog park and at River Grove have off leash hours.

We own a dog and have a back yard for her to run. We also have access to greenbelt trails to walk her.

Most villages in Kingwood have backyards and most people have accesds to the 70 miles of greenbelt trails. So is a dog park really needed? I don't know how much this will cost, but are there other things the KSA can use the money for instead of a dog park?

Most of the dedicated dog parks I have seen end up being smelly, barren areas after a couple of years, with only a handful of people actually using the parks.

To me it seems like a waste of money.

link title 

A lot of people use dog parks for social time for themselves and their dogs.They meet the same people every day and build friendships. 

First thing they should do in contact the now closing dog park and find out what's truly involved and why they are closing down. I think in general, people abuse "free" services like this. Most public dog parks end up dirty and trashed up unless there is diligent cleaning and maintenance.

Is it going to be paid for from HOA dues?? And, down the line, will it be a reason to raise them?

The whole thing is a bad idea IMO. I love dogs but we have a lot of walking and trails here so I don't see the need. 

I'm definite opposed to EE being a dog park. It is already inundated with off leash dogs and clueless owners. I've stopped running there and I've stopped walking my leashes dogs there. As a matter of fact I don't take my dogs to any dog park because owners are clueless as to what constitutes social dog behavior and antisocial dog behavior
KSA doesn't patrol EE now - how are they going to enforce rules of a dog park?? 

In reading the article this seems to a priority of just one person. And he seems to be doing this to be like NY, Austin and other cities.

Not only do you have to worry about the initial costs, but on going maintenance costs.

Instead of building a dog park, maybe build an archery range, better disc golf, a Kayak/Canoe rentals. 

I always thought horseback riding in east end park would be awesome, lol. But, horse poop. Reality.

Maybe letting people vote on it, since it's our money. He seems to know that people aren't excited about it but I'd like to know WHY he is. 

JP, you are 100% correct. In fact, even on the greenbelt trails, dogs are not kept on leashes. I confronted a lady once as she rode her bike on the trails with a loose dog in Tow. The dog I was walking was not friendly and he went after the unleashed dog. The owner said, "oh he is good with other dogs." I said but THIS dog isn't! And I'm the one trying to control it while you break the rules. 

oh he is good with other dogs." I said but THIS dog isn't

I hear this so much when I walk my dog. People are ignorant and have no idea what their dog will do when the meet a leashed dog.

I am with others, I don't think the dog park is needed and I will not/do not take my girl to one for a lot of reasons. I cannot support this.

The next KSA meeting is August 3rd at 7:00pm 

Does Kingwood Need a Dog Park?


KW needs a dog park just about as much as KU needs you.

LMFAO 

I just read the article... "It's a national trend" SO there is an opportunity here for us to turn Kingwood into a leader:" Really? I would rather see Kingwood be a leader in some other way.

Why Dog Parks May Not Be Appropriate For Your Dog

Play Styles: Different dogs have different play styles (chasing, wrestling, body slamming, biting?) that aren?t compatible. So, growing tension among dogs is inevitable.

Arousal: Dogs at dog parks are in a high state of arousal that can quickly turn to aggression. With so many dogs together in one place and humans who encourage their dogs to play non-stop, there is almost no chance for a dog to calm down.

When aroused, chemicals are released into a dog?s bloodstream that were once useful for dogs? survival, but which now only serve to amp up our dogs. These don?t dissipate right away, leading to dogs that are on alert even when they?re away from the dog park. When on leash, some of these dog park dogs chafe at being restricted and have trouble staying calm near other dogs.

Bullies: There are some dogs that bully other dogs and others that have never learned polite dog interaction. These dogs approach head-on, stare, or don?t heed another dog?s warning to back off. When your dog enters a dog park, the other dogs surround him, and, sometimes, loose packs of dogs roam the dog park menacing other dogs.

And Bullied: You see dogs that jump on their humans, hide behind them, stay near the fence, cower, or move away when another dog comes near. They are doing everything they can to tell their people that they don?t want to be there. But so many of us think it?s good for them or that they are actually enjoying themselves that we ignore their pleas to leave. You CANNOT make your dog like other dogs by forcing him to be around them, especially in a busy and unpredictable dog park.

Human Inattention & Lack of Understanding: The humans often don?t pay attention, are defensive about their own dogs, and don?t recognize the signals that dogs give to each other and to us. Some will bring toys or balls to the dog park and then get upset when nearby dogs go after them. We have even heard of people who kicked, hit, or picked up and threw another person?s dog because they deemed that dog?s behavior to be threatening (even though it was normal dog behavior that didn?t require intervention).

Health: No one is checking on whether the dogs at dog parks are healthy or have had their vaccinations. And when aroused play becomes aggressive, dogs have been bitten, badly injured, or have died from injuries suffered at dog parks.

Predatory Drift: Some dogs are more predatory than others. They were bred to chase and kill other animals. At some point, while chasing a furry looking dog that may resemble a rabbit or squirrel to them, their animal instinct may kick in. The dog may stalk, pick up, and shake another dog as if it were prey.

Long-Term Effects: If something happens at the dog park ? your dog is scared, bitten, or a fight breaks out nearby ? your dog?s behavior can be affected from then on. Even one bad experience can have long-term effects on your dog. 

KW needs a dog park just about as much as KU needs you.


Why be rude? 

Not to sound like an enivrowako but it doesn't seem necessary to clear cut EE park for dogs. 

The dog park that is closing was a mess to start off with(Russell palmer rd.)I went once and never went back ,I do go to the one downtown and to deussen park and also a really nice one in New Orleans. My dogs love the dog park, they get really exited when they even think that's why we are in the car, a dog needs a chance to be dog off the leash with its own kind, yes there are going to be incidents, people cant even get together with out fights, and owners should be responsible for their dogs behavior. My dogs are a part of my family and they are well behaved, sounds like most of you naysayers don't have dogs or just leave your dog in the backyard all day to bark its head of from boredom, its also good socialization for humans as well, if you can get someone off their dam phone. 

No, we don't need a dog park. It's just another way to spend taxpayer money on something that just a few people will use. What about liability? What happens when some moron takes their "friendly" dog to the park and it eats someone or their pet, up? Won't that be Kingwood's liability? Either way, in the end it will cause more trouble than it will be worth. 

No, we don't need a dog park. It's just another way to spend taxpayer money on something that just a few people will use. What about liability? What happens when some moron takes their "friendly" dog to the park and it eats someone or their pet, up? Won't that be Kingwood's liability? Either way, in the end it will cause more trouble than it will be worth.



SEE WHAT I MEAN NO DOG, JUST A NAYSAYER, WHAT DO YOU WANT AN ARCHERY RANGE ,YES LET TRY THAT UNSUPERVISED. 

Not to sound like an enivrowako but it doesn't seem necessary to clear cut EE park for DOGS

Don't have to cut anything down ,plenty of field already there, where I go with my dog off leash to play Frisbee 

PICASSO --- 31 min ago - quote - hide comments
No, we don't need a dog park. It's just another way to spend taxpayer money on something that just a few people will use. What about liability? What happens when some moron takes their "friendly" dog to the park and it eats someone or their pet, up? Won't that be Kingwood's liability? Either way, in the end it will cause more trouble than it will be worth.



SEE WHAT I MEAN NO DOG, JUST A NAYSAYER, WHAT DO YOU WANT AN ARCHERY RANGE ,YES LET TRY THAT UNSUPERVISED.?





Wow, and I always thought Picasso was a visionary. No one sees what you mean, especially since you are wrong, again.

You think you know things that you don't. I have pets, including two dogs. I love them like they are my children, but no, we don't need a dog park and we don't need an archery area or any other thing to spend tax payer money on that will not benefit EVERYONE who has to pay for it.

What we do need is our roads fixed and more money put into our area infrastructure, including but not limited to fixing whatever the problem is with our water.

Dog parks are usually filthy, a good place for your dog to pick up fleas and diseases, and end up being eyesores in whatever area they are located. They certainly do not bring the surrounding property values around them up.

The idea of letting my dog roam in an enclosed space with other dogs who's owners are the same ones that let their dogs poop in our yards, run free even though we have a leash law and intimidate and become aggressive to dogs that are on leashes, etc., etc. is not in any way appealing. I love my dogs. 

Dog parks are more like social meeting areas for lonely singles than for the dog. 

Sorry- have to disagree with you Picasso
I have 3 dogs- and no they aren't stuck in my back yard and they are part of my family.

Just your statement of dogs need to be with other dogs off leash shows how little you know about dog behavior and is exactly why I don't gotodog parks.

My dogs ( and your dogs and everyone else's dogs) belong to a pack. That pack consists of me, my husband,my Dd and the other pets in the house. They are all fine with each other. They have been properly introduced and socialized. However they all consider and approaching dog esp an off lead one as an intrusion into their pack. And an intrusion may lead to issues. Now this goes for the majority of dogs. People mistake tail wagging as a sign of friendliness. It can be but most people can't tell the difference between friendliness and a warning. My most laid back lab will sit between an approaching dog and me. My lab mix will stand out in front of the Lab as first line defense. My pup who is still clueless and in training will jump and bark and be crazy. When I'm walking the pup and he acts like that almost every person will say " aww how cute he wants to meet my dog". But what he's really saying is " I don't know this dog and I don't know what to do because I'm so young - so I will just freak out and jump and bark excitedly."

Almost every dog I see on the GB with the exception of 2 ( a little grey poodle and an older golden- both have been trained to a T and pay attention to their owners) have owners who are completely clueless to what their dogs are telling them.

I stopped going to Duessen when twice I came across a man with his dog in a muzzle because he had your thought process- the dog wanted to be with other dogs. He was picking fights and biting other dogs- this IS not a dog that wants to be with other dogs- the man was clueless 

Almost every dog I see on the GB with the exception of 2 ( a little grey poodle and an older golden- both have been trained to a T and pay attention to their owners) have owners who are completely clueless to what their dogs are telling them.


Guess we have never met on the Greenbelt... It is a pet peeve of mine when people are walking their dog and cannot manage them, are on the phone or just generally not paying attention to what the dog is doing. I am walk my dog to be in tune with her and know what she is doing etc... 

Dog parks are more like social meeting areas for lonely singles than for the dog.?

Almost fell off my chair laughing at that one. I have a dog but have not met anyone who is single... but then I don't go to dog parks 

Andreweggplant- no I meant I have ONLY come across 2 well behaved dogs - the rest are as you have said. 2 of my dogs are very good and will only react if a dog comes at them with ill intent.
Now my "puppy" is a hot mess so I walk him alone. He's getting better about people walking or cyclists but if any other living thing is in the vicinity- he goes nuts. A work in progress 🙄 He's just approaching 18 months so still a toddler in Lab life - it's been a long puppy hood 

There are a lot of well organized, clean, fun dog parks around. It is possible to create one. It seems everyone here who has posted is against it because they won't use it. Well, they built tennis courts in Elm Grove recently that people use- but I never will. So why not a dog park? 

We love deussen park, we have enjoyed going and letting our pup run, play and be social with other people and dogs. I think the best place would be in the vacant land in forest cove. I don't think KSA needs to have anything to do with it but rather the City. The COH has several dog parks and maintains them, with the taxes we pay I would like them to bring one here. 

I don't think KSA needs to have anything to do with it but rather the City. The COH has several dog parks and maintains them, with the taxes we pay I would like them to bring one here.?

Good Idea... The COH put a lot of time and $$ into the one downtown.

However I still go back to the reasons taking your dog to a dog park is not a good idea... 

I think the best place would be in the vacant land in forest cove.

The residents of Forest Cove told the KSA heck no! 

The residents of Forest Cove told the KSA heck no!?

As well as the residents of Bear Branch...just waiting for the people by River Grove. 

East End Park is a nice quiet place to go to..they better not turn it into a dog park..That would ruin East End. 

Oh my , the whinny naysayers. 

East End Park is a nice quiet place to go to..they better not turn it into a dog park..That would ruin East End.


Agreed. Keep your pet in your own yard. 

I have a. Aggressive 100 pound dog that attacks other dogs. She needs her run time. Where is a good place for her? 

MMMM.... you didn't consider that when you got the dog? the leash law is nothing new... It could run in the large part og the Duessen Park dog park... Not a lot of people there in the early AM. 

The origin of Dog Parks and it's growing popularity started [i]because[\i] of Leash Laws.
http://blogs.dailybreeze.com/history/2017/06/24/dog-parks-where-they-started-and-how-they-spread/