14 Facts: Dog Park vs Little League

An Open Letter of response by Thea Wilshire, Chairperson of Globe’s Parks and Recreation Committee

Darin, thank you for posting this article to encourage better communication and to start to clear up the inflammatory misinformation that is being spread by a few.  And, Jim, thank you for your comments.  You state, “…it is my observation that more ‘homework’ is required.  Before a recommendation or decision to relocate the Dog Park is made, City Officials really need to complete a fact-based utilization review as to the best community use of the current facility.”  I agree with you wholeheartedly and want to let you know that this has been a part of our work all along.

As chairperson of the City of Globe’s Parks and Recreation Committee, I’ve been a part of this discussion from the start and have tried to share all the information I have with all the people involved.  To that end, let me add some background info on this discussion, some findings from our on-going “fact-based utilization review,” and several comments on this issue.

1.  If I didn’t know better, I would think from this article that the meeting you described was the first meeting called about the dog park. Rather, this was a continuation of an on-going series of discussions that the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee started with dog park patrons.  I called the first meeting at the dog park right after I heard that there was talk of changing the status of the park.  I have had hours of discussion with dog park patrons since then and over 2 hours of our publically-posted and open-to-all Parks and Recreation Committee meetings have focused entirely on the dog park.  There has been an invitation for input and dialog all along, as well as transparency each step of the way.  Despite accusations to the contrary, there have been no “secret” meetings, no petitions from Little League, and no powerful business people making demands about the field.

2.  As I shared at the first dog park meeting, this discussion started when our harsh winter weather and frequent storms put the renovations of the Claypool Little League ball fields way behind schedule.   With new city government and what they perceived to be a more open administration, the Little League folks who had left Globe started asking questions about getting back onto the fields they created in Globe.  Based on their questions and investment into those fields (they had raised the funds and done the extensive work to create the fields), the situation was investigated and the lack of any records or council action about the creation of a dog park was noted. … Continue Reading

Dog Park Do

Dog Park Diet

The Dog Park in Globe has Dog Owners singin’ it’s praises.  With leash laws and limited options for letting dogs be dogs, the park provides a good solution for responsible dog owners who want to want to have happy, healthy pets.

By: Darin Lowery

We were lucky- very lucky – to get an appointment with local veterinarian Doc Eubank in the first week I moved to Globe. His office is extremely busy, and they weren’t taking any new patients. My Border Collie’s paw was bleeding big-time; my Yelow Lab’s throat had a three inch gash. Although the backyard chain link fence was probably to blame, I didn’t rule out extraterrestials.

In a panic- I don’t like blood (hell, I don’t like ketchup)- I called the vet’s office, and when they said, so sorry, we’re not accepting new patients, I did what any red-blooded American man would do. I cried.

… Continue Reading