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Improvements to Rickman's Run Walking Path Will Begin Mon. 2/22

2/21/2016

PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
2740 “A” Street, Lincoln, NE 68502, 402-441-7847
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION: J.J. Yost, Parks and Recreation, 402-441-8255

IMPROVEMENTS TO RICKMAN’S RUN WALKING PATH BEGIN MONDAY

Improvements to the Rickman’s Run walking path are scheduled to begin Monday, February 22 with the installation of temporary fencing at the 24-acre dog run near Holmes Lake. Rickman’s Run is east of 70th Street between Van Dorn Street and Pioneers Boulevard.

The contractor will use fencing to secure areas of construction while leaving as much of the dog run open to the public as possible. Visitors are asked to be careful around construction equipment. Work will begin on the west side of Antelope Creek and then move to the east side of the creek. The goal is to complete construction in April, weather permitting.

The pathway improvements will create drier walking surfaces, reducing wear and tear on vegetation that leads to erosion and water quality concerns. Most of the path will have limestone rock surfacing, and concrete will be used on segments that are susceptible to erosion.

Rickman’s Run is one of the most consistently used public facilities operated by Lincoln Parks and Recreation. The recent Dog Use Facilities Master Plan for Lincoln identified the path improvements as a primary need. More information about the Master Plan is available at parks.lincoln.ne.gov.

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Training Your Dog For Recall

7/16/2015

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One of the biggest frustrations I see from pet owners when they’re at the dog park is not being able to get their dogs to come to them—when it’s time to go and their dog disagrees. Whether you want to pull your beloved pet away from another dog showing aggressive tendencies; keep them out of the mud after they were given a bath just hours before; or avoid a dangerous and life threatening situation, having your dog come to you when called (also known as recall) is one of the best skills they can have when frequenting dog parks.

When recall training your dog, here are a few key points to remember.

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors

Be patient. Your dog is still a dog, and while they will learn many words, they can’t understand complex sentences. Keep things simple when giving commands. One-word commands are much easier for your dog to grasp. Saying “come” or “here” is much better than “come over here right now.”
Taking your dog for a walk or a good play session before training can help them be more focused.
Remain positive when training. That makes it more fun for you and your dog, and your dog will be much more eager to come to you if your tone is positive and encouraging.
Practice at home and in the back yard before going to the dog park. Dogs are much easier to train without all the distractions that the dog park can bring.
Just because a dog is older does not mean they can’t learn. It just might take a little more patience. All dogs are different—I only know what has worked for me.
Finally, treats are your friend! For the most part, kibble works just fine, but you may also try bits of hot dogs, chicken, or refrigerated soft food to really get your dog’s interest.

Training Otto

I started training my dog, Otto, for recall when he was about 10 weeks old. We started in a hallway in our house with me sitting at one end, my wife at the other, and Otto in the middle. One of us would call his name, wait for him to look at us, and then hold out a treat. As soon as he would start to walk toward either of us, we would say “here.” Waiting for him to start moving was the key, otherwise “here” had no meaning. This would be repeated a few times until we felt comfortable that he had it down. We would then practice this in different parts of the house, teaching him to associate the “here” command everywhere—not just with one location. The last part of working in the house was to have my wife and I be in different rooms and not visible to each other, calling him back and forth between us. This can be the most difficult part, but will indicate if your dog has learned the command word and not just the tone of your voice.

Going Outside

After training in the house a few sessions, it was time to go outside. I used a long leash for this part, about 20 feet long. I would let Otto roam around the full length of the leash in the back yard. Every couple of minutes I would tell him “here,” sometimes giving him a gentle tug on the leash when he was distracted by a stick, squirrel, or gust of wind. Remember, always reward with treats and affection when your dog does what they are supposed to do. That way, they associate the commands with food and love.

After I felt comfortable with a few backyard training sessions, it was time for the dog park. I used the same approach from the backyard in the dog park. We practiced it again and again, first away from other dogs, and then while he was busy in play with dogs. After a while, the long leash was no longer necessary, but the range of my voice became a problem. German Shorthairs tend to run a lot, and screaming at the top of my lungs for my dog only tends to excite other dogs around me (and him). It is crucial to remain calm around your dog and other dogs in passionate situations because dogs are very aware of human emotions and things can escalate very quickly when people are yelling, even with the best of intentions.

Using A Whistle

I decided to introduce a normal whistle for his “here” command. I first started this away from other dogs but in the dog park. I would blow the whistle one time, naturally drawing Otto’s attention. Then I would give him the “here” command. When he started running at me I would blow the whistle three times. After a few times doing this I simply stopped saying “here.” Now, I just blow the whistle once and watch for him to pick his head up and blow the whistle three times. Through constant reinforcement and A LOT of treats, I can get him to recall to me from about a quarter-mile away (the limit of the Lincoln dog parks). For this technique of recall, I have seen people use dog whistles as well as kazoos.

The Bottom Line

There are some situations where recall can be tricky. For example, if another dog owner is feeding him treats, Otto is less likely to run to me. This will become less of an issue as he grows older and our bond grows (at the time of this writing, he is only 11 months old). Similarly, Otto will be distracted if an aggressive dog tries to run him down or knock him over when he is coming toward me. In this situation, at least you are closing the gap between you and your dog, and hopefully the other owner is paying attention. It has been my experience that most dogs at the dog park are good and those aggressive dogs tend to filter out over time. Sometimes he is just stubborn as all dogs can be, so I pick my battles. Finally, I am not a professional—this is what has worked for me. All dogs are different, so be sure to consult a professional trainer and keep at it. And remember: All dogs can learn new tricks!

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Oak Creek Dog Park Update

5/30/2015

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The news from Oak Creek Dog Park has been good so far this year.

The spring clean-up on April 11th generated 105 volunteer hours from over 30 people. Volunteers did an outstanding job of cleaning debris inside and outside of the park. Many of the sinkholes in the park were filled, 13 new trash bag dispensers were installed throughout the park, and new, larger trash cans were painted and placed in the park, making cleaning up after your dog a little easier.

Still, much work still needs to be done.

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors

The coming weeks and months should provide many more improvements to the park. Friends of the Dog Parks has been working with Lincoln Parks and Rec to place a portable toilet seasonally in the parking lot—it was placed just today and available through the end of October! Next year, we will try to have it in place earlier in the spring. The portable toilet is paid for completely with community donations and monitored by Friends of the Dog Parks.

Lincoln Parks and Rec is in the process of planting 15 more trees on the east side of the park. The trees will be planted as soon as the ground dries out enough to get heavy equipment in the park. Most of the trees will be Burr oaks, but there are a few spruces and firs as well. The recent rains and flooding have put Lincoln Parks and Rec a little behind, but this should be done in within a month.

Money was raised to build new fencing on the north side of the park to block off the drainage ditch that runs through the area. Lincoln Parks and Rec is figuring out a price for the project. Friends of the Dog Parks are raising funds in hopes of having the project completed by the end of the summer. We are not sure of the final cost of the project or if volunteers will be needed to help build the fence.

Friends of the Dog Parks would like to thank all the work done by the community. The bag dispensers in the park are filled by users. There are also two new large steel water bowls donated by park users. These bowls are always filled with water brought by users. With all the work being done and the efforts of the community in the spring and summer, Oak Creek Dog Park will be a much improved park in the fall.

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Message From a Past President

4/4/2015

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I am pleased to be writing to you as the new Friends of the Dog Parks president. My name is Jordan Brasch and most of you would probably recognize Tsuni, my St. Bernard, before you recognize me. I know that’s not unusual, but I hope that by the end of my tenure as the Friends’ president, that will have changed.

I became a Friends board member after fellow board member, Annette Campbell, invited me to attend a meeting at the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department.

Jordan Brasch, Past President

Since then, this organization has offered me a wonderful opportunity to improve our dog runs and to make new friends. I look forward to the upcoming year and to embrace the new challenges ahead of us.

As the new president of Friends, I would like to recognize and thank a few special individuals. First, I would like to thank our outgoing president, Peggy Neemann, for her wonderful leadership and guidance over the last 17+ years. I would also like to thank the current board members for the trust and confidence they have expressed by electing me. Next, I would like to thank the countless unnamed dog run users whose regular upkeep enhances everyone’s experience at our dog runs. And finally, I want to give a special thank you to our city, its parks department, and every Lincoln citizen who makes it possible for us to use the dog runs free of charge. Without their support, we wouldn’t even have the facilities we currently enjoy.

We have many projects and goals for the 2105 season. Some of these, we have already implemented, such as our new website (www.lincolndogparks.org). On our website, you will find a list of goals and projects that we are ready to move forward on as soon as volunteers and/or funding become available. In addition, you'll find the dates of our monthly board meetings, which will now be open to the public, and the dates of other events such as “meet and greets” and park clean-up days. We are also excited to be considered a civic partner in the Lincoln Parks and Recreation’s master planning process for the improvement of existing dog runs as well as development of new ones.

So, be certain that the best is yet to come, and get ready to move forward!

We have new and exciting plans for the Friends that include more community involvement and activities throughout the year.

So let’s keep in touch. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or call me on my mobile phone: 402-730-6652.

Sincerely,

--JB

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Recap: FotDP Public Meeting

4/3/2015

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If you missed the Friends of the Dog Parks' public meeting, we won't lie... you missed a great time! There was undeniable excitement among visitors of FotDP's recent meeting, held at Charles H. Gere library on Tuesday, March 30th, and it wasn't just because the cookies and coffee were free!

The group prepared a presentation outlining its mission and goals for the organization's future, which include short-term projects such as cleanup days and installing additional doggy poo bag dispensers at both Rickman's Run and Oak Creek Dog Park; and long-term goals such as working with Lincoln Parks & Recreation to develop off-leash parks in each quadrant of the city as well as downtown.

In addition to goals, FotDP members discussed some very important topics, including what makes a good dog park, Parks & Rec's current dog park survey, and how meeting guests and the public can support the group by getting involved with FotDP or donating to help improve off-leash parks and the off-leash park experience in Lincoln, NE.

Following the presentation, the Friends opened up the floor to its guests to work through dog park questions, ideas, and concerns. The room was filled with the momentum of the dedication and vision shared by members and guests alike.

If you'd like to take a peek at our meeting presentation and catch up on what you missed, simply click the link below to download a PDF version and get in on the action. But sorry, we ate all the cookies!

FotDP Meeting Presentation

FotDP Public Meeting 3/30/15
File Size:	1116 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Donation from Cornhusker Winnelson Enables FotDP to Meet its Bag Dispenser Goals

4/1/2015

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It's happened to all of us: you're out at the dog park, out in the open play areas, when your dog decides it's time to...er...use the restroom. You forgot to stuff a couple doggy doo bags in your pocket, and the provided cleanup materials are all the way at the entrance gate. Even if you walked to get a bag, it'd be nearly impossible to rediscover the exact location of your dog's chosen spot.

One of Friends of the Dog Parks' short-term goals is to provide both Rickman's Run and Oak Creek Dog Park with additional doggy poo bag dispensers to encourage everyone to clean up after their dogs. With an adequate number of dispensers spread throughout each park, cleanup is quick, easy, and convenient. FotDP's simple, cost-effective PVC design has already shown up at both dog parks, but additional dispensers are still needed.

Thanks to Cornhusker Winnelson Company, FotDP will achieve this goal in no time! The plumbing parts and supplies distributor has generously donated 60 feet of 3-inch PVC pipe -- that's material enough for 30 bag dispensers! All-in-all, the Lincoln-based company is saving FotDP about $150 in supply costs and enabling the dispenser project to happen in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Select board members will accept Winnelson's donation and begin building the new bag dispensers in the next week, with dispenser placement to happen shortly after.

Cornhusker Winnelson's donation is proof that, together, we can work to make Lincoln's dog parks cleaner, friendlier places to play.

Thank you, Cornhusker Winnelson!

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Lincoln Parks & Rec Wants YOUR Opinion About Our Dog Parks

3/26/2015

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Image courtesy of OPEN Lincoln

Now's your chance to share your ideas and concerns about the future of our local dog parks!

The Lincoln Parks and Recreation department is currently performing a survey, called the Lincoln Parks & Recreation Dog Use Facilities Master Plan Survey, to guide dog park improvement as well as the construction of new dog parks in the future. The survey can be found here. They are interested in your input.

Please tell the Parks and Recreation department not only what you like about our dog parks, but also where you think can they use improvement. At the end of the survey there is a separate area for comments.

The information below is intended to you help you in completing that section of the form. It has been prepared to assist you in communicating your own comments and suggestions to the Lincoln Parks and Recreation department. This list has been collected via feedback from individual dog park users like you, as well as information provided by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

What Are you Concerns?

Access from paved roads and bike trails
Natural features such as hills, trees, and a creek or pond
Ample and conveniently located waste and trash receptacles
Ample and conveniently located bag dispensers
Secure fences
Potable water for dogs and their owners (cost est. $10,000)
Natural shade from trees
Shelter from sun, wind, rain, and cold (cost est. $85,000)
Benches
Additional parks and capacity at each park to avoid overcrowding
Multiple entrances and/or separate and entrance gates
Ample space at and inside each entrance gate
Gate to keep out and let dogs enter water feature
Paved and lighted parking lots; possibly more than one lot
Clear signage stating park rules and cautioning users on safety
Police and Animal Control presence/Enforcement of Park Rules
Smaller dog area (e.g., under 20 lbs.) with separate entrance from the parking lot
Agility and play equipment
Paved, gravel, or woodchipped trails giving access to additional park area
Lighted trails
Restrooms

Your turn: What would you like to see in Lincoln’s dog parks of the future?

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Introducing FotDP's NEW Website!

3/14/2015

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In continuing efforts to grow the organization in 2015, Friends of the Dog Parks is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, lincolndogparks.org!

With a greater online presence, FotDP aims to educate the community about its mission to
promote the creation and improvement of off-leash parks in Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as provide a place for discussion, community, and opportunities for volunteering.

Earlier in 2015, FotDP also unveiled its new logo, which represents the organization's mission by highlighting a human hand print and canine paw print joined together to form a heart.

Lincoln's off-leash parks are some of the most popular places for dogs and their guardians to spend time with each other and to meet new human and canine friends. As the population of dog owners and dogs increases in our city, so too does the need for safe, clean, comprehensive, and attractive destinations for families and their pets.

Learn more about Friends of the Dog Parks by visiting the About page, or find out how you can be a part of making Lincoln's parks even better by navigating to the Get Involved and Donate pages.

And tell us—what do you think of our new website?

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<<Previous

Improvements to Rickman's Run Walking Path Will Begin Mon. 2/22

Training Your Dog For Recall

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors

Oak Creek Dog Park Update

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors

Message From a Past President

Jordan Brasch, Past President

Recap: FotDP Public Meeting

FotDP Meeting Presentation

Donation from Cornhusker Winnelson Enables FotDP to Meet its Bag Dispenser Goals

Lincoln Parks & Rec Wants YOUR Opinion About Our Dog Parks

Introducing FotDP's NEW Website!

Connect With Us!

About Friends of the Dog Park

Archives

Categories

Friends of the Dog Parks, Inc.

Resources

Connect With Us!

​

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors​

Jordan Brasch, Past President

FotDP Meeting Presentation

Connect With Us!

About Friends of the Dog Park

Archives

Categories

Friends of the Dog Parks, Inc.

Resources

Connect With Us!

By Clay Witte, Past President and Board of Directors