Maplewood resident, Adelina Mart, was part of an effort to expand the Maplewood Dog Park. She reported on the Maplewood Dog Park Facebook page that the Maplewood Park Board voted against the expansion, and she has given up the fight.
The expanded park was to include a walking trail and landscape with native plants and trees, at cost of $45,000 (including $13,000 from donations, light volunteer labor and local grants).
From Facebook: “After speaking at every Park Board meeting for the past year, presenting a study to show the usage of the park and the needs of the community, presenting a cost estimate from a local contractor, presenting options for fundraising opportunities, meeting with the Public Works Director to assess barriers and consider alternatives, presenting over 100 signatures (see the petition) and your voice thru over 30 comments of support, and trying to engage the council… I am disappointed to report the Park Board voted against expanding the Dog Park. Thanks for all your support thru the process!”
I’m sorry Adelina that your plan was shut down. The city has never really supported a dog park, even when it was all volunteer run and supported. It was only after the city found out how much money the dog park group had that they then became interested in taking over control of the dog park and the accrued money. They did put in the pool though.
I don’t have a dog so I am somewhat indifferent on the dog park, however, I’m not sold at all on a skate park… I can’t see having a skate park really being a selling point for the city. I am not even sure the last time I’ve even seen someone on a skateboard. Does the city have an idea of how many people would actually use this? Seattle and St. Louis are very different cities. I would hate for the city to build a large skate park that sits idle when we could have used that land for something more of the residents would use.
Interestingly enough, yesterday at Manchester and Big Bend I saw three teens on skateboards roll across the intersection. I also see a lot of kids on scooters.
How many of you who wish to have a dog park even pay taxes? Sounds like more or a renters want. I have a house and a nice yard for my dog. I think a skate park would be a great maplewood addition myself
Matt I’m sure you are aware that the owners of the rentals pay taxes on their rentals and pass it on to the renters in the form of rent. Seeing as how maplewood is evenly split among owned properties and rentals, your opinion is as relevant as someone in an apartment.
lol a skate park over a dog park, good job maplewood
I am not asking anyone to take my word or my experience for the need for a bigger and better dog park. The dog park this year is 6 memberships short of maximum. Last year there were 227 out of 250 memberships sold. Use is only increasing. Over 100 people have signed a petition asking for a larger dog park. Over 30 have left comments of their experiences in the park and the reasons they want a larger park. A survey identified that members visit an average of 3x a week. And when my dogs and I went more regularly to the park, I posted photos on the Maplewood Dog Park Facebook page of 15-20 dogs at one time in the large dog area.
Not to discredit Barry’s experience, as there may very well be a lot of support in the community for a skate park, but as a Park Board member I did not see any community support for a skate park. We have a skate shop in Maplewood, so I assume there is some demand for this amenity. But the only reason this idea came before the Park Board was because Anthony Traxler, the Public Works Director, saw a skate park on his vacation to Seattle and wanted to know what the Park Board’s thoughts were. We discussed potential locations and liability, and then it dropped off our agenda, only to have it resurface last week, after the City went forward with writing a grant to submit to St Louis County. Although Maplewood’s portion is “at least 20%”, the rest of the money is not free. It comes from our taxpayer dollars through St Louis County. The current design and budget are grossly inadequate for creating a skate park that will actually be used, and not another project that sits vacant. The backstop in Kellogg Park was installed with grant money as well, and has not been used at all in the last 3 years. Being a recent transplant from Seattle, I can guess what skate parks Anthony envisions. My “hometown” of Sammamish, a suburb of Seattle, has a skate park across from the high school that is always packed, but it came with a price tag of $15m. The park put out to bid in Maplewood, is little more than a concrete pavilion with two ramps. Adding the elements that would make it something interesting to skate on (especially bowls) would quickly escalate the price.
With the recent sentiments that projects are being done in Maplewood with little community input, that there is a lack of planning around a central community vision, or transparency and communication with the public, I think it is a disservice to continue the status quo of pushing items through meetings in a two minute discussion and vote, while items for which there is public support are dismissed as not needed and not in the budget.
I am soooo disappointed that Adelina’s beautiful plan for the dogs of Maplewood will not happen. Barry, I imagine that the reason you don’t see many/any dogs at the current dog park is that it is a MESS! It is muddy, stinky and not a pleasant experience for dogs or owners.
I drive all the way to SW City Dogpark, because the maplewood dog park – virtually in my backyard – is so terrible.
this is a huge disappointment.
Love the idea for a dog park. But why put that much money in dog park in a flood zone. And be wash away.
There’s no money left after what was spent, with no approval or oversight, on the overblown and poorly executed Ryan Hummert memeorial. Not questioning the importance.of honoring Ryan. Instead, questioning Maplewood cronyism. I hope people will remember this in November
Yeah this is spot on. The dog park is a much-used destination that could have used some upgrades. The memorial is tacky and ostentatious and detracts from the park.
Sorry it didn’t work out, Adelina. I applaud your efforts!
Thanks Beth. I was astonished at the City moving forward with a $185,000 skate park, with not one person from the community coming forward to provide input or support, while members of the Dog Park and larger community expressed the need for a larger dog park, and were told it’s too expensive and for a limited use.
The vote on the skateboard park was to allow the city to submit an application for a grant from St. Louis County that would cover approximately 88% of the cost. If approved, it would require Maplewood to pay “at least” $22,250.00 for a $185,000.00 facility. I was underwhelmed by the original schematic design that was used to generate the cost estimate, but the parks board and City Council will have the opportunity to provide input and approval of the final design.
In my personal experience, I have heard more support for a skateboard park than an expansion of the dog park. Also in my experience, the last four times we have taken our dogs to the dog park, we were the only ones there. This is definitely not a scientific sampling and I therefore rely on the opinion of our boards and commissions when I don’t have sufficient personal experience.
I appreciate the amount of effort put into the dog park study and the professional nature of the report, but I feel that the dog park expansion is not as much of a priority as other items in the city budget at this time. The cost and benefit ratio for the skateboard park is only made feasible because of the available grant.
I think approximate is the key word in your statement Barry. We have all seen how the Hummert Memorial was going to be covered by fundraising, but the city has footed the bill for 2/3 of it so far. I am tired of the politicians misleading us and doing whatever they please.
I would love to see you present the 100+ names that signed the skateboard petition Barry. No demand for a dog park are you aware of what is going on around you or are you just ignoring the citizens. You are running for Mayor right…should be a seamless transition from Mayor White.