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Sunday, December 16, 2007

When is a closed dog park not really closed?

By Mike Orren

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WHITE ROCK LAKE — My pet peeve this holiday season is finding business or service closures without any sign to warn you. Like when my neighborhood post office decides not to operate the delivery door; provides no sign; and then decides that staffers should ignore you while you ring the bell instead of taking two seconds to say "Hey, we don't have the window staffed."

In a similar vein: Presumably due to the mud from recent rains, we arrived at the White Rock Lake dog park today, only to find the gates chained shut. No signs told us why, and even the signs about Monday closures were in conflict.

None of this mattered to the plucky dog exercisers on site. Everyone just hoisted their dogs -- big and small -- into the small dog park and carried on with the business of romping.

If anyone knows what was up, let us know in the comments.

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Comments

lauriek6 Anonymous

odd to say the least. Didn't have the chance to go to the park on sunday. However I have gone to park several times when it was a mud pit. My dogs loved it the best when they could run in the mud.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Nathan Stull

Nathan Stull Verified

Hi Mike,

You can check the website before loading the car:

http://www.wrldogpark.com/

It tells you if the park is open or not, but doesn't list a reason. So, half of the mystery is solved.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

bobdon000

bobdon000 Anonymous

I think it is an act of uncivility and crudeness to use the park if it has been closed. Especially if it has been chained shut by the city. Shame on the dog owners for "jumping" the fence. Not anything to be proud of.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rawlins Gilliland

Rawlins Gilliland Verified

It was chained shut by law after any massive downpour, where this low-lying lake area floods, continually fed by upstream run-off potential danger. The city is required to prohibit usage until the flash flooding threat is past (and aftermath mud-sucking bog where canine feces becomes whipped into a silt froth health hazard soufflé.) Bottom land bottom line: when something is 'closed' there is often a reason.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren

Mike Orren Staff

Great tip that the website tells you open or closed. I've often wished for a webcam so you can tell if there's anyone up there for the pups to play with.

I understand the reasons for closing, but a sign really should be part of the deal. I've been there on Tuesdays (after a Monday closing) before when the gate was chained just because the city hadn't gotten around to unchaining it yet.

And FWIW, the "small" dog park where everyone was gathered was pretty much dry -- far much more so than the large one is when there's been no rain.

Not saying we collectively were 100% justified to be in there (or even 80%), but I think a sign that said "Closed due to rains" would have created a confidence that the park was closed on purpose.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

kevinh Anonymous

I always thought the reason the Mockingbird Dog Park is closed after a rain is to protect the turf. The grass tends to get more torn up when it is wet and muddy.

If the dog park is a health hazard after it rains then White Rock Lake itself must be a superfund site.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99

Billusa99 Anonymous

As was mentioned up thread, the park was closed Sunday because of the rain. Just like W. Lawther, between NW Hwy and Goforth by us, was closed, because of the rain.

It floods, you get caught, you drown. Your car gets bathed. I've seen the water rise 3 feet on Lawther in a half hour. The water does not stop coming downstream for up to 12 hours after the rain.

And yes, all that Collin County water rushing down from Plano and Frisco and Allen and McKinney makes it a HUGE health hazard in the park. Those of you who hopped the fence should check your dogs for heroin and big egos, ASAP.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

John McClelland

John McClelland Verified

Since we're talking about water, I think dog parks have jumped the shark.

10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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