The Pool has been Repaired

As many of you know, the pool was damaged soon after it was installed.  We finally got all the pieces we needed to repair it, and it now has a functioning drain plug and the holes have been patched.

Please, if you see anyone attempting to damage the pool again, let us know. 

The Pool is Coming

The Parks Department removed the pool we had last year, and many people have inquired about whether or not that pool will be replaced.   

The Dog Run committee has contacted the Parks Department and has been given the go-ahead to procure a new pool, with the request from the Park's department that it not be too flamboyant (more specifically, we were requested to avoid paisleys and orange daisies).

The Committee has been investigating pool possibilities, and we think we found the perfect solution.   We need a few more ducks to line up in a row before we order the pool, but the order should go in next week (barring straggling  ducks). 

In addition, the Parks Department is investigating installing a permanent water feature.  The Committee will keep you informed on the progress of this project.

UPDATE:

The pool has been ordered and should be here next week.  We need to install a drain, and get a few other things for it, but it will be here for the summer.

With the help of Photoshop, the author of this article has created an approximation of what the pool will look like in the run.  Please note that the pool itself will probably look different and be placed differently than in this mock up, but this picture will give you a general idea of what our new pool will look like. 

Permanent Pool? Looks like it's going to happen.

The meeting with the Parks Department and the Riverside Parks fund this evening was very informative and very positive. 

A proposed pool design for the run was presented by the Riverside Parks Fund.  Generally, the comments about the proposed design, from the dog run people who attended,  were positive.

The proposed pool design is a wide arch shape that is about 15 feet at the wide end and tapers to about 7 feet at the smallest end.  The bottom will slope to the small end,  allowing for a variety of depths.  The deepest point would be a little under 12" deep. 

The diagram above is not to scale, and is only vaguely representative of the pool (and the dog run), but it does give a general idea of the shape and position of the pool.

The pool will have its own water spigot from which the pool will be filled.  The design is such that, as the pool is filled, debris will be flushed toward the drain.  It is designed to drain into the existing run drainage through underground piping.

Before the pool is installed a number of things have to happen.  First, the Parks Department has to approve the design.  The cost of the installation must be determined and the funding has to be nailed down.  

Do you want a permanent pool in the park?   You can help by donating to the Dog Run through the Riverside Parks Fund web site.   Make sure you write in the designation field that you intend your donation to go to the 105th Street Dog Run.

The Pool is Here - But.....

The Pool has been placed in the run, but there is a flaw.  We installed a drain that is too small.  It takes FOREVER for the thing to drain.

The drain was installed by a friend of the Author of this article.  He doesn't have a dog, and his payment was 2 beers and a guarantee that the Author could show him a raccoon.    The Author did, indeed, show him a raccoon, and provided the beers.  For that, he donated the hardware and the effort.

Now that he's seen a raccoon, he wants to see more.  The Author of this article will purchase a larger drain, and her friend  will install it for two more beers and more raccoons. 

You can help by letting us know where and when you see raccoons.  The author  will, again, provide the beer.

Sorry for the inconvenience.  The pool will drain, it just takes some time.  When the drain has exhausted its efforts in draining, there is still some water in the pool.  That can easily be removed by tipping the pool once all the water that will drain has drained (the Author of this article tested this, and she - who is old - didn't have a problem lifting the pool to empty the last  bit of water). 

Again, we will have a new drain within a week or so, so we just have to endure this little inconvenience for a short time.

General Meeting got Specific

The fear of golfball sized hail and torrential downpours kept most people away from the General Meeting in the Run this evening.  Only a handful of people braved the darkening skies to meet with John Herrold, the Riverside Park Administrator, to discuss designs for a new water feature, among other things.

John Herrold arrived at 7:05 and headed  an informal discussion with the small group of run patrons who braved the storm.  Periods of light rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the group as John detailed his ideas for a permanent water feature.  The plans are not yet finalized, but some ideas presented include:

• creating a water feature like the one at the 83rd Street playground, which has a shallow fountain that drains into a concrete shoot, creating a stream of water;
  
• allowing the water in the pool to drain slowly requiring it to be filled whenever someone wants their dog to play in the pool, thus insuring clean water;  and
  
• installing a short, hand-held shower head in a place where the water will drain into the pool, so  people can shower their dogs without flooding the run.

Volunteer Day a Success

Despite the holiday and the threat of rain, several volunteers participated in the cleanup of the run.   When this reporter arrived (an hour late) the run was bustling with people raking, digging, sweeping and sifting.  The volunteers did a great job,.

The Dog Run 105 Committee scheduled the work day to prepare the run for the arrival of a new load of surface material.  Many tasks needed completion before the material could be dropped and spread.  The service gate was partially buried, and had to be dug out.  Much debris had to be removed from the surface to prevent it from being buried under the load of material and the debris had to be sifted to remove drainage stones that had made their way to the surface.  In addition to the work inside the run, the outside was swept to remove surface material that had escaped from the run.

Cleaning the run is hard work, so the Dog Run Committee provided food and drink.  The little dog run was transformed into a makeshift buffet for the tired, thirsty and hungry workers.

The trees in the dog run did not cooperate with the clean up.  As leaves were raked, more were dropped.  As a consequence,  workers will continue to rake  every day until the new surface is spread on Sept. 18th.  Please, grab a rake and lend a hand.

Thank you to everyone who showed up to help with the run.  You did a great job.

Dog Run 105 Has a Web Site

Even though this news is redundant, because you are reading it on our new Web Site, we think it's newsworthy enough to announce it.   After many fizzled attempts over the years, Dog Run 105 has its own web site. 

Please take a look around.  Check out the Photo Gallery.  Your dog might be there.  Check the Events Calendar often.  You never know when we might have a party.  Sign up to Volunteer.  We could really use the help.  And check out the Message Board.    Your suggestions and input will help make the run a better place.

The site is brand new.  We appreciate your comments and suggestion.  Also, if you find a bug, feel free to report it on the message board.

Dog Run 105 Management Committee Formed

On Tuesday, June 12, the first meeting of the new Dog Run Management Committee was held in the  Riverside Park Fund Volunteer House.   The Committee will determine what improvements need to be made in the run (with your input), will raise funds and will maintain the run, with your help.  Also, the Committee will interface with the Riverside Parks Administrator and the Riverside Parks Fund to help get things that the run needs.

The New Committee Members are:

• Mike Cohen
• Judy Judd
  
• Melissa Kenzig
• Karu Kozuma
• Barbara Rossenthal
• Carol Weber
• Celest Zane