THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2008

---

Resident Petitions For Local Dog Park

By DENISE FLEISCHER

Lifestyle Editor

Des Plaines resident Debbie Campbell would love a new dog park in the area.

"Just a couple of weeks ago I really started talking about it and contacted my alderwoman, Pat Beauvais. I wanted to know what to do," Campbell explained.

Campbell also logged on to "care2" petition site to print a blank petition. She hopes to spend a month getting signatures and take what she has to the Des Plaines Park Dist. If you sign on to www.thepetitionsite.com/1/des-plaines-dogs-need-a-place-to-play you'll find her petition and can even add your name to it. You won't be the only one. As of Wednesday, Dec. 10, 100 signatures were listed and they're not just from Illinois, but international as well. (Below this story is Campbell's letter on the care2 website).

According to Campbell, Beauvais, thought it was a good idea and asked if there were any plans. She also informed her that city council doesn't govern that area, the park district does. She was told to contact John Hecker, executive director of the Des Plaines Park Dist.

"I called him and he thought it was great, too," noted Campbell. "He was absolutely willing to listen, but wasn't sure of the level of interest. He wanted to find out how many of us there are and then take it from there, checking all the available parks."

Campbell is pleasantly surprised to see so many people take interest in the idea of a local dog park.

"What a wonderful experience this has been and how positive it is. We need positive things right now," she stated.

Campbell knows there is a lot more research to be done, but she's hoping for the best.

Dogs Need Place To Play

Target:

Park District Board President, William Yates

Sponsored by:

Des Plaines Dog Lovers

Our town has become a very urban area with the development of new condos in and around the downtown area.

We have many new dog owners and those who have lived in Des Plaines for many years often meet while walking our furry friends, and we find we have much in common. We love our town, and we love our furry friends, too. These conversations have brought up the idea to have our very own dog park. We want a safe place where they can play off leash and enjoy being a dog. And a place where we can visit too!

Some of us have been paying high fees to other towns in order to use their facilities, but we would rather pay our own town a fee for that luxury.

But where to begin? Our local alderwoman was kind enough to let us know who to contact: the Park District. We called them right away and found them to be very open and willing to listen.

We are lucky. Our park district has been very open and willing to help.

They have suggested that we circulate a petition in order to show them just how many residents are interested.

We know that there are a lot of things to consider. But we are willing to help in any way that we can to assist the park district.

So, this is our effort to show the park district our interest.

Please encourage your friends and neighbors living in Des Plaines to sign the petition to show support. By doing so, we hope there will be enough signatures to indicate to the park district our seriousness and willingness to investigate the possibility of giving Des Plaines it's First Dog Park!

Let's work together to make it happen.

Woof Woof! (That's Thank you in Dog talk)