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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 1, 20 18 | 12 • No Cost or Fee to Apply • Approval within 48 Hours • Thousands Paid Monthly! • See Website for Application Deadline. Do You Have More than 20 lbs to Lose? - Apply Now! $2,500 WEIGHT LOSS GRANT Please visit www.weightlossgrants.org for full Guidelines, Terms & Conditions. www.weightlossgrants.org When I suggested earlier this month that a part-time attendant at the Bechtel Park off-leash dog area might alleviate behaviour is- sues of both the human and ca- nine variety, little did I know this had been done before. After my last column, Gerry Riehl reached out to share his dog park concerns, in particular the need for owners to pick up after their pets. Despite such challeng- es, Riehl thinks a park attendant would be a waste of taxpayer money. I couldn't agree more about the tax money, but I still think the idea merits consideration if the cost could be borne by dog own- ers only. Arlene Shousterman also reached out recently, filling me in on the extensive work she and several other Waterloo residents accomplished as a registered charity called Dogerloo. She explained that while the Bechtel leash-free dog park sits on city land, it was not built using taxpayer money or funds collect- ed through dog license fees. Rather, it was Dogerloo that spearheaded efforts to build the park through extensive research and fundraising. It was also Do- gerloo that maintained the park during the first years of its exis- tence, footing the bill for any ad- ditional work that needed to be performed by the city. According to Shousterman, trained volunteers did once work as attendants at the park. "Sadly, the abuse our volun- teers had to endure from the pub- lic was more than anyone could handle, so we opted for the signs instead," Shousterman ex- plained. "With the help of a dog behaviourist, we designed, paid for and installed the signage you see at the park." The Dogerloo team worked with professional landscape ar- chitects on a project to improve the park with lighting and trees. According to Shousterman, the plan was approved but a grant garnered by Dogerloo fell through because the city would not provide a letter confirming long-term use of the land as a dog park. The prohibitive cost of in- surance for the dog park was the final blow. "What we realized was; a citi- zen group is ill equipped to man- age a city run facility," said Shousterman. Dogerloo revoked its chari- table status and disbanded in 2005. The city then assumed full responsibility for off-leash park. According to a report present- ed to city council in September 2015, the city then began setting aside one dollar from every dog li- cense purchased to support the Bechtel dog park. The report states that annual park mainte- nance costs run from $2,000 to $3,000. Since the actual income being generated is between $5,000 and $6,000, a small reserve has been growing. It is my understanding that recently the city has received sponsorship from pet product suppliers as well to help main- tain and improve the leash-free dog park. Perhaps some of these funds could be used to hire a dog park attendant on a trial basis. Based on the past experience of Doger- loo volunteers, it would make sense that this individual possess the authority to issue fines and enforce park rules, some of which should become bylaws. My understanding of the in- ner workings of municipal gov- ernment being limited, I fall short of being able to knowl- edgeably move my ideas for- ward at this point. I am willing to start paying more than one dollar a year for access to a leash-free dog park here in Wa- terloo, though. I welcome any ideas any input from Chronicle readers. - A freelance writer based in Waterloo, Penny Walford can be reached at penny.walford@hot- mail.com. OPINION Ideas to improve the leash-free dog park appreciated Some past experiments may have failed but doesn't mean more can't be done says Penny Walford PENNY WALFORD Column Penny Walford's four legged frined Lucy waits to be let into the dog park. Some of the rules of the park are posted in the foreground. Penny Walford Photo