When you name a park after someone, you would think their life's passion would be the central theme of the park. We thought
Fred Anderson was known for Jazz and his legendary Velvet Lounge at 67 East Cermak.
A reader recently
sent us a link to a post on the website of the South Loop Dog Park Action Cooperative about the final design for the Fred Anderson Park. Naturally, they primarily look at the dog portion of the park. For those interested in the final plans take a look below:
While we love dogs and it looks like a nice park, we were surprised to see these designs. While it's hard to see, between the small dog area (just under the "b" line slightly left of center) and the large dog area (stretching from the bottom left corner top right corner) it seems like over 75% of this park is dedicated to dogs. Maybe Fred Anderson was more a dog lover than a Jazz lover?
Forgive us if we are out of the loop on this, but wasn't part of this park supposed to be
dedicated to a patio for Acadia? We heard that it was supposed to be split 1/3 for dogs, 1/3 for jazz and 1/3 for patio for Acadia.
Apparently Acadia lost out to the dogs.
At least they won a Michelin star.
(Hat tip: D!)
54 comments:
get over it.... your precious park will be for dog owners ONLY. I cant wait to overtakethe entire park and read all the complaining on this blog!
"pick up the poo, boo hoo hooooo"
thanks losers
It would be a stretch to expect lazy-arse dog owners to take their imprisoned dogs to the broad fields of Cermack & State, or the lakefront, or the multitude of non-residential locations in the sloop. Instead, they shuffle their pets 10 feet from their front door and hurry back inside between commercials.
I love dogs and owned one in my youth in a house with a yard. Urban dog owners are typically great and keeping their dog's waste away from general human traffic areas. But it's the small percentage of dog owners that could care less... they are the problem, they leave piles for us to step into, they allow urine to kill large patches of turf, they look away when their dog runs loose in the playground. I invite anyone to disagree that there are dog owners that are ruining it for everyone else.
With this dog park mess, I would like to see dog owners sign a "Dog Owner Code of Behavior" before being allowed entry to the park.
Kirsten from the South Loop Dog PAC here. Just want to clear up a confusion or two:
Acadia was never involved in the planning of the park. When we spoke with the Chicago Park District liasons during the planning process, they pointed out that while there was a space for concessions, it wasn't being designed for Acadia's use.
Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of places to take your dog to run off leash in the South Loop. The fields of Cermack and State are not a legal place to let your dog off leash, and doing so can result in a heafty fine. We want to encourage responsible dog ownership and safe play for people and dogs by having off leash activities in their dedicated, appropriate areas. The closest dog park of comparable size is up at Grant Park.
We are all about responsible dog ownership which includes picking up poop and letting dogs pee in the right place. The parks do have rules and regulations which you agree to by purchasing the required tag. Of course, there is no city enforcement of these rules. The best thing is being a good neighbor and picking up orphan poo or gently reminding people if you see something inappropriate.
We think this park will be a beautiful addition to the neighborhood, much needed, and preferable to an empty lot. Learn more about our mission and being a responsible dog owner on our website: www.SouthLoopDogPac.org
"preferable to an empty lot" - way to set the bar high
there's a South Loop Dog PAC? Wow, this is new information to me...
What does this Dog PAC do?
If we have to appease the loser cyclist by creating bike lanes then at least give me a dog park close by.
I full out admit when I walk my dog I purposely leaving steamers on the sidewalk so it annoys people. Dead serious
There is NO city enforcement of any dog-related rules... let them run at the former Ickes Homes location... let them run all day!
Amazing that there is a South Loop Dog PAC... is there a South Loop Children PAC?
With so many children and just a handful of playgrounds (of which, all are overrun by dog waste)you would think that a focus on the kids would trump a dog park.
Once again I'm amazed by this city's priorities... catering to lazy dog owners and their lap dogs.
maybe instead of waiting for the city to parent your children YOU may want to take a stab at it?!
Were you hoping that the site where the park will be was a playground instead? A playground on Wabash ave?? Yikes, please give your kids up for adoption
You better hope I don't see you "leaving steamers"... you will be taught a lesson.
Ahhh, and what we knew all along is confirmed. There are dog owners who don't care about minding their animal's waste, keeping their neighborhood clean, letting their neighbors have clean shoes, and most likely, they could care less about the needs of their dog... they are only concerned with their own convenience. This is why dog owners assume non-dog owners hate dogs; actually it's the dog owners that make a bad name for themselves... and a bad name for those few "good" dog owners.
Enjoy your dog park... and please keep your animal away from the playgrounds from now on.
Relax, South Loop win best neighborhood? Bunch of whiners. This is a proposed final design not a final design. Acadia is most definitely getting a patio and this will be a jazz park. Of course the South Loop Dog Alliance proposed a dog dominated park.
As a dog owner myself I hope this isn't a dog dominated park. Nothing worse than a concentration of dogs and dog owners that let their dogs do whatever they want.
please..... you parents are hilarious. On countless occasions I have seen kids breaking limbs off trees and peeing on bushes, not to mention screaming at the top of their lungs right outside my window from the park adjacent to south loop elementary.
Parents who bi*%h about dogs need to realize their kids are just as annoying if not worse.
Ty I plan on leaving a steamer just so I can experience this little lesson of yours.
Ty sounds like a guy who goes to Scout alot
HAHAHA! I am going to giggle like a school girl throughout our walk tonight when my 65 lb shepard mix drops loafs on the sidewalk. I would pay a hundo to see Ty step in it.
Seriously though, no joke i leave crap on the side walks or on the little tree planters all the time, no way would i pick that up
I'm somewhat amazed by the claim here that "Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author." Meaning that the drivel which various anonymous wusses are leaving on here has been reviewed and approved? Really?
This isn't 1989 and this isn't a Usenet newsgroup...in 2012 a blog's reach and ability to attract active users is limited by the degree to which it tolerates anonymous cowards treating its comments threads like a 7th-grade lunchroom.
Hey is Triad Sushi closing? I see them moving tables out of resturant
I'm not entirly sure why sloopy let the cowardly "anon" posters back in. Those few weeks were great---some good intelligent convo. Even the rebels who would sign up with a name like "unknown" would for the most part lay off the idiotic posts.
Sloopy end these losers and ban anon posting please
not really surprising to see dog owners comparing their dogs' issues to children... brilliant!
"comparing their issues" -- no where is there a comparrison other than to call parents hypocrites for complaining about dogs when their kids tear apart most parks in the south loop.
Read closer next time....bigot
Yes, its a proposed final design, submitted by Dog Alliance.
Pretty sure we deserve to lose to west loop based on this thread alone. If I were thinking of buying in this neighborhood and read all this, I am sure I would reconsider. As it is, I am a resident and am embarrassed reading this.
I believe this topic is important and is good to discuss here. It is also important to be anonymous because you risk retribution from ultra-sensitive dog owners. I am very careful not to discuss poor dog behavior with their owners, it doesn't go very well.
This dialogue is the only way to send a message to non-coachable dog owners who are irresponsible with their animals.
I owned a dog that lived to 18 (albeit in a fenced yard)and I am shocked watching dog owners in the sloop.
Allowing dogs to defecate in child play areas like Cottontail Park is deplorable. Seeing the condition of most parkways in the sloop is disgusting (totally burned from urine and filled with landmines). The effect of sidewalk 'steamers' with the hundreds of kids and adults that carry that back into their home is disease-causing and infuriating to clean.
These points are obvious to most put there are dog owners who somehow justify this. I trained my dog to defecate in a few discreet locations and I picked it up 100% of the time, yes 100%. With the hundreds of dogs in the sloop, if a dog owner picks it up 99% of the time, that's a lot of crap left.
I hope that the reactive dog owners on this thread can calmly understand that there is a "Code of dog owning" that must be followed. Carelessly allowing your dog to crap & pee everywhere is not right. What ever happened to "CURB YOUR DOG"???
A few anons correctly point out that this is a "proposed" final design, from the Dog Alliance, there have been half a dozen of these things in the past year, so it really doesn't mean a whole lot. The actual final design will not be this.
Anon
99% of people like myself who have a dog don't appreciate being called lazy. There are alot of things wrong with people who live in the south loop....it doesnt stop at picking up pet crap. I live on cottontail park and can personally say that I have never stepped in dog crud. I have however witnessed kids running around destroying the trees, urinating outdoors, so where is the complaining for that?
The point is people post on here and use the guise of "dog poop crisis" when really they should just stop beating around the bush and just say they dont like dogs in general.
South Loop is a dog friendly area going back to the days when people got dogs for protection from the outside. Today its a family area with---you guessed it---- dogs. Get over it or simply move to another area. What is the sense in bit&%ing about it on a blog, just get the hell out and leave us be.
Personally, I love dogs (don't own one) and am starting to like kids. The unfortunate reality is there are a small minority of scumbag dog owners who don't pick up turds and there will always be irresponsible parents who don't teach their kids the basics of civility.
Both dog owners and parents are great for the neighborhood, sans the turds and the rumored kid-on-tree vandalism. The majority of people walking around are dog owners and/or parents, creating a better atmosphere.
I have two dogs in the south loop. They are both trained to do their business outside, when we go for a walk or run and they pee in a bush or on grass, I feel no remorse as that is what they have been trained to do. When they poop, I pick it up.
Does everyone pick it up, no. Do I get pissed about it... nope. I'll also remind you that when the park district puts in trees, bushes or flowers, it is usually put down with manure.
My advice is to watch your step. Speaking of being lazy, it is the American way these days to just point the finger at what everyone else is doing instead of just doing something about it yourself. So if you're tired of poop on the streets, I suggest you grab a bag and get to work.
I would love to own a dog but I can't justify locking it up all day... plus I do not want to have warm poo in my hand... ever! I decided long ago that a sacrifice to living in the sloop is to NOT have a doggy. This makes me sad... because I love dogs sooo much!
Expecting dog lovers to pick up random abandoned crap is so unrealistic I have to laugh. Suggesting this is just admitting that you leave piles behind. Stop doing that!
I have many times grabbed a shovel to move landmines before my shoe hits them. Because the alternative is a 15 minute shite-cleaning session in the sink, and a dark cloud hovering over my head for an hour...
Landscaping manure is much safer than the manure coming out of your dogs... who knows what kind of filth your animal is digesting.
With the sad state of the few remaining sloop parkways, I am interested to know where you are finding "grass" to allow your dog to urinate in. Most of the curb-side turf has been completely decimated by urine-burn, to the point where residents have given up maintaining them.
Last summer I saw a resident re-sod his parkway and found dog owners flocking to it so their dog can pee there. In a week's time the small green space was riddled with brown spots and a month later completely destroyed.
It's sad we are forced to live in a neighborhood that has become a dog toilet.
the newer townhomes/condos that are accross the street from the temple on 14th and wabash ( south loop dental) just replaced their entire lot of grass and all the lazy dog owners run downstairs and have their dogs pee on the fresh sod.; Unreal
I honestly think a lot of dog owners are oblivious to the fact that their dog's urine kills grass, plants, etc. Plus it might not always be laziness, but lack of caring and leaving your dog to hold it for too long, so that it can barely make it out of the building.
so, I haven't seen anyone come up with an alternative place for the dogs to pee or poo??
I'll be honest though, even if you did come up with an idea, I wouldn't listen to you, the dogs have been trained to pee outdoors(mine have anyways). If you want greener pastures, then go look for some. You'll probably need to move to the suburbs for that.
I like the guy who suggested that landscaping manure is safer than dog poop. safer for what? consumption? I'd love to see the stats on this.
For those that complain that dogs pee on the grass ruining it...where do you suggest they pee instead? You don't want the dogs in parks peeing, and you don't want the dogs on the lawn peeing...I am confused where should they pee..really? I do feel bad as a dog owner about brown grass...but I don't imagine many other options, and no I am not moving to the suburbs so my dog can do her business
It almost feels like most dog owners believe it's their right to allow their dog to pee and poo whenever they want. Hearing their reaction as, "Calm down" or "Relax" enforces that notion.
Our association is proposing building permanent garden-height fencing to protect our parkways. It is the ONLY solution.
Dog owners will blissfully stop at barriers or "no dog waste" signs and let their dog do their thing. If you dare approach them informing them of what they are doing, they deliver immediate backlash or confusion. I've even seen dog owners scan the area before they do this... like a first grader.
@Rachel, not that I agree 100%, but I think they are saying that owning a dog isn't mandatory and doesn't make sense in places without appropriate recreation areas, i.e. the city. IMO, People should have smaller dogs in the city since there's less space and nobody likes riding the elevator with a wet chocolate lab.
This just in... Word on the street is that rabbits, racoons, rats and birds have taken to the streets to pee and poo. Us South Loopers need a real hero for this disgraceful act. This sounds like a job for Batman... quick someone fire up the Bat-signal!
Anon 439, people would of course be correct that owning a dog is not mandatory, it is a choice, as is choosing to live in shared living spaces in the city. If you choose to live in a condo building, you put yourself at risk for those ferocious wet chocolate labs stinking up elevators at every turn! I am quite certain my dog would prefer a farm to run around on vs our many daily walks around the sloop. However....since she was rescued from the pound...and I live in the city, I am fairly certain she prefers this life over the other option she was being faced with...I am a responsible dog owner who respects my neighbors, I would like nothing more then to have a dedicated place to take my dog to pee that would not ruin my neighbors grass...oh wait...that's what this proposed park is for!
SERIOUSLY, IS THERE A PLACE SOME OF US CAN MEET UP AND FIGHT?
where should your dogs go you ask??? Let me count the ways:
the curb
the alley
the curb
the municipal lot
the curb
the parking lot
the curb
the street
the curb
under the El
Yes! I propose "Cowardly Anons" against BRENDAN. ALL CAPS LOVE!
P.S.
Thanks Sloopy! This blog absolutely made my day. Hilarious.
statements like anon @10:23 give alot of us a bad rap I'm afraid. Please if u have nothing good to say then stay away.
John Kass wrote an amazing piece on "little bicycle people" today! Basically calling out all cycle riders for getting away with murder and being spoon fed from their leader Rahm and they spend more money on these idiotic bike lanes.
Great article
you had me at John Kass... that's when I knew whatever you were referring to is worthless. Did you pay extra on the Trib website to read his nonsense?
...and you believe bike lanes are idiotic?
makes TOTAL sense.
Actually I read it too and its a pretty good assesment of the city's mindset with these new bike lanes. Say what u want about Kass but he is a terrific writer.
And yes i agree if the city has to pay for these bike lanes and the bike people should pay for this convienience. I would tax them every year and mandate every cycle rider obey every traffic law a vehicle does or be ticketed.
We can require bikes to follow EVERY traffic law just as soon as we do the same for cars, which are much more dangerous than bikes. I can't wait until those speed cameras start giving all the horrible drivers in this city tickets.
You have to admit the attention to the bike lanes is comical considering the financial state of the city and crime rate. For the most part, I would be willing to bet most people riding bikes aren't on their way to anywhere critical with any impact to economic growth, which should be our main goal.
PS: Anons, I know there are a handful of corporate hipsters who ride their beach cruisers to work. Relax.
BRAVO Mark, well said.
Just to clarify: The design for the Fred Anderson Park came from the Chicago Park District at a community meeting held on 11/20, not from any sort of dog group. The South Loop Dog PAC just shared it on their website.
brilliant Mark, you once again contradict yourself...
the bike lanes will not only improve the financial state of Chicago by making the central area more people-friendly, it will also take less cars off the road helping us breath easier.
Your consistent complaints against anything you don't like because of the 'crime rate' is laughable. If anything, this is a crime-neutral project... besides the crimes drivers will break road raging over bikes.
this bike lane modernization is 20 years past due.
I'm not a dog person. However, until I moved to the sloop 5 years ago I never had any problems with dogs or dog people. I can see how easy it is to classify these people as lazy and inconsiderate. For example, in my building one of the most fundamental rules is that dog owners must use a certain elevator when walking their dogs. Yet, on a daily basis I encounter an owner with his/her dog in the pedestrian-only elevator. Why? Because it's easier than waiting an additional 20 seconds for the proper elevator. Lazy. Also, the park across from my building does not allow dogs (16th and Indiana) - and there are 'no dogs allowed' signs everywhere; nonetheless, not a week goes by in the summer when I don't see a dog running through the park while the ignorant owner stands nearby chatting on his iPhone.
anon @ 11 am
you shouldnt reply because your comments make no sense. If you think that these bike lanes will cut down on pollution and save us money you are obtuse. Please stop posting, dumby
bike lanes are inevitable and should have been installed in the 80's, get over it soon or you will be left behind.
Dog waste is a sickness that attracts pests, destroys landscaping, spreads disease, and can easily be corrected if dog owners took responsibility... CURB YOUR DOG!
Jesus Christ! Is this what the internet has come too - Dog vs. Kids? And everyone calling it "Sloop" When I lived there 2 years ago I tried to get the whole SOLO thing going. Sloop sounds like a 4 year old with a hair lip trying to say soup. Dog poo and pee, who gives a shit with pun intended. Dogs need a place to get crazy, as do kids. If you see poo, don't step in it. Also, this blog kinda sucks. Look out for my return and the official "Solo Blog" bitches.
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