How to open a dog park?
How do you go about opening a dog park? I love the one in Turkey Brook but sometimes it's too far. I live in Mansfield and they have a rec field where one would fit perfectly. Who pays for this? Just wondering.....
Nosila 
Nosila,
Is the rec field already township property? It looks like Turkey Brook was funded through several different sponsors and donors with different levels of sponsorship. Maybe the link below that detailed the funding project for Turkey Brook will help (Its a powerpoint presentation). It looks like quite a costly project, even if the property is already owned by the town. Also, with the economy being rough, it may be a bit more difficult to get sponsors.
Just an idea- when I was a girl scout, the highest honor that can be obtained is the "Gold Award". The gold award can be a troop project, as long as each member is assigned specific roles in the project. It would be a challenging, but fantastic, idea for a troop looking to earn their Gold. It would require a lot of work (getting buy-in from the township, setting up a sponsorship/donor program, setting up a volunteer program to do the installation, etc.), but it would look really great on a college resume or job application.... So, if there are any girl scout troops out there lost for ideas, maybe this is something that could be considered?
www.mtolivetwp.org/file/TBPPresentationUpdatedm%207%2025.ppt
Happy HomemakerMansfield is opening a horse park. Maybe you should get some people together and ask them to put in a little park there for Dogs near by.
CJ May I ask what a horse park is going to be? LOL. I'm sure it's not just a fence in area where people bring their horses to play.
Yes, Mansfield already has a rec field. Actually its really nice if anyone is ever looking for a nice place to walk. It's almost across from where Comcast is. Its a nice gravel path through the woods and corn fields.
I will have to do more research. I don't even know if anyone will use it. The one in Mount Olive may have a lot of visitors because of the surrounding apartments. Here people have more property to let their dogs run at home. I mean we have property too but I still love bringing Salem to play.
Nosila - I think a dog park in mansfield/hackettstown would be awesome. I know there's one also in LV but you have to be a resident or registered with the town to use it. I agree Turkey Brook is too far.
Happy Homemaker is right about economy being tough so obviously people are not going to support it through taxes. I had a hard enough time with that discussion trying to suggest a new Library facility. However maybe since this would be cheaper the town would be more welcoming of it. I'm sure discussing it with some town council members might be a good start. I'd be with you 100% if you need support.
Cj- But my question is what is a horse park?
Maybe I'm just clueless but a dog park is just a fenced in area for the dogs to play. What's going to be at horse park?
http://www.dogpark.com/
here is a cool site that could use some updating with parks in our area if any one is bored
shoebie CJ-whrere'd you hear of this horse park? is this legit? cause I live in Mansfield and know committee members and go to meetings and have never heard of them making a horse park.
This is going to be an area for people to do horse back riding. I am not sure exactly what else they would put in but they are putting in an area to park vehicles with trailors and then they can mount up and ride. I would guess they would have trails or something like that. I don't think they would have an area with horse jumps.
My guess for the horse park would be nationally-rated or locally-rated equestrian events (since one of the largest show grounds in the immediate area closed down recently (the one on Schooley's). I'm curious to read anything on this horse park - when was the planning/is it finalized? I haven't heard anything about it.
Someone Come to think of it CJ, trail riding sounds more accurate. I don't think the area would be large enough for a show ground. It would be awfully hard to get a dog park going where horse trails are (since horses and dogs don't always mix well).
Such a wonderful idea! I often feel Turkey Brook is a bit too far. I'm here for support!!
Nosila, I would love to see a dog park in the H-town/Mansfield/Independence area! Have you ever been to the Field of Dreams in Independence? Seems to be me, there would be a TON of room to set one up there. Unfortunately though, I do agree that with the economy the way it is it may be very tough to find sponsors. If you decide to go ahead and try to put one together, let me know. I'll have no idea how to go about it either, but I'll help in any way I can. Maybe contacting the group that organized the dog park in LV would be a good start.
Rachael nosila a horse park would prob be the same a big fenced area, with poles to jump over i would think
that would be awesome if you got a dog park open here good luck
I've ridden in the Schooley Mt park some time back, and other places in LV, Chester, Randolph and elsewhere that allow horses. The fencing isn't a big deal depending on what they do there - the poles and obstacles are if they're going to support dressage. What's more helpful is larger areas with trails that include open meadows as well as areas with trees for trails. From what I've seen of the Mansfield park, a dressage area is definitely doable there. I don't know if they really have the right layout for a trail other than more like putting in an oval for exercise. But I don't know that area well enough to know what the town does or doesn't own there.
What else you want if you're a really tiny guy and you're given a 18+ hand Belgian Draft to ride, let there be picnic tables. Otherwise stirrups at your nose isn't so easy.... ;-)
Onlooker, usually town parks with trails (some of them, not all) hire people to pick up every so often. We really do need some nice riding trails around here, but another dog park would also be great!
Get Real! We don't need a horse park. What is the % of people that own horses? you want to spend money to please such a small number people. I could see a dog park because a lot more people have them and would benefit from the park.
I know at a dog park you have to "curb" your dog which means you clean up after your own dog which I know I'm OK with.
I will have to see what I can find out. I have a couple friends who work for the town so I will see how to even start looking into this
There is NO HORSE PARK being created in Mansfield. Talk to the town committee and ask someone. Unless, someone is going to build it on their own land and make it public. There will be no horse park across from the Comcast in those fields.
Onlooker, the % of people who own horses in town is WAY higher then one would think. Did you know that NJ (and from this area, specifically) is one of the MOST competitive point-wise on a national level? If you go to the national competitions, you'll see riders from our area everywhere you go - I certainly have. Many more people lease rather then own too. To add, a horse friendly area would attract riders to Hackettstown and the surrounding areas and bring in business.
Remember the old thread on Target coming in? There was all this talk about what people wanted there and mention of a Pizza Hut in passing. Then all of a sudden there was "absolutely confirmed for sure" an Olive Garden? Only tracking backwards that came from a shop in that area "because they KNOW". Yet when asked they said the source was HL??? (and they read "is" for "isn't" and "Olive Garden" for "Pizza Hut")
I'm just waiting for Mansfield to positively, for sure, because the people know, be declared as the next home of the south NJ lion preserve.....
In the mean time, it's just idle chat here. Not everyone even agreed a horse facility was a good idea, let alone actually planning on building one.
I agree GC. I'd love to see some planning and verification before there's even serious talk of things happening in town in the future.
Nosila...if I can do ANYTHING to help possibly get a doggie park around here, let me know!!
Anom Yeah, I have to see where we have to start. I know someone that works for the township so I guess I will start there and see how it goes. I can't promise I will get any where.
Trying is better than nothing! Please post if there will be any town meetings on this :)
A few years ago we had a group of people who did a petition and went to council in Hackettstown asking for an area for a dog park. I was at the meeting at the recreation committee that they sent us too. It was awful they practicly laughed us out of there. If you want to try again make sure you have all your info ready. They only woud think about the ground on 57 which is by the river. It was totally unacceptable. There are goups on the internet they may offer you advise on how to start. Also check with Morristown as they had one of the strongest groups and they can offer advice. I even had actual plans drawn of a park and all the reasons we should have one. Lot's of Luck. Maybe Mansfield will be more receptive. Also it was at least 5 years ago. New people, new ideas.
Try chatting with Mars. They own the brands Ceasar, Pedigree and Whiskas. They donate boohoo bucks to adoption leagues through-out the world. Perhaps they have a section of land they would like to donate to the community in the name of MARS or purchase a lot in the name of pedigree for dogs- good PR for them. Try it out. I'm sure if you have enough signatures they would entertain the idea.
Reggie 
Christine 
Lori...since '73 
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