City of Rocky River Goes To Court Over Dog Park

[Bill Call]

The City of Rocky River has asked the courts to close the Lakewood Dog Park. It has made that request on behalf of Rocky River residents. They have refused all attempts at compromise. (well, ok, they did say they wouldn't object to the dog park if we moved it to 117th street.)

I guess that's ok but I'm left wondering why Lakewood City officials continue to bend over backwards to accomodate Rocky River residents rush hour speedway through Lakewood.

It is time to dead end Webb, allow rush hour parking on Lake, restore Clifton Park and return Clifton Boulevard to the status of Boulevard instead of Rocky River Freeway.

The government of Rocky River speaks for its residents. Who speaks for us?

[sharon kinsella]

You go BIll!

[Jim DeVito]

I still say we should turn Clifton Boulevard (after Bill and his backhoe make it happen(not a joke)) into a toll road for everybody but Lakewood residents.

[Charlie Page]

There's some interesting pieces of information on the dog park site (trial starts tomorrow, 7/8):

http://lakewooddogpark.com/resources/pa ... ogPark.php

It's truly amazing how two families can have so much influence in RR City Hall.

I thought Rocky River at one time had an Observer website. I decided to google it to see what, if anything, Rocky River residents are saying about the lawsuit but recieved a "coming soon" message.

[Jim O'Bryan]

It's truly amazing how two families can have so much influence in RR City Hall.

Charley

It always amazes me when a very small select group of one or two people/groups can run
a city, throwing democracy and reason out the window to get their very small myoptic
agenda furthered. It has killed more cities that it has ever helped.

In Rocky River this suit has 22 witnesses, that would be 11 households, which seems like
a much larger group, than those that run other inner ring suburbs in the area.

That said, I am interested in this for a variety of reasons. 1) Who is Rocky River to tell us
anything that happens on our property. Suggest yes, ask yes, demand and go to court!
2) I walked the edge of the Emerald Canyon 4 years ago when the Observer broke this story.
I could not find one Rocky River resident that could say they heard dogs from the dogpark.
It would seem the the 4 years that followed, ONE member of Ricky River spurred on by
his wife has gathered some momentum, but what will they really say in court.
3) The sound study. I was there and while it seems solid, I have many photos of the study
and question the way it was done and from what angles. Lakewood paid for half of the study
though I am not sure why.

Sound study being done.

I have the results and it would seem that almost every noise coming out of the canyon is
louder than the dogs. Cars, planes, birds, people yelling, even people walking dogs are
all many, many decibels louder than anything coming from the dogpark. That alone
should have seen the whole case thrown out of court, not brought back in.

4) Location. Their answer is to move it 150 yards closer to Lakewood. To a place that is
no longer accessible by handicapped, elderly, etc. And is prone to severe flooding many,
many times over the course of the year. While it would not be the end of the world to have
it closed 25 days a year because of flooding the fact is, the flooding happens very rapidly
and without warning or rhyme or reason.

Many times I have seen it flooded when there has been ZERO rain in or around Lakewood.
The heavy rains happen as far south as Waterville/Medina, and come down the river
flooding the area in minutes not hours.




The proposed second location flooded and showing just how hard it would be to direct traffic, people and dogs back to the wildlife area.

Finally who will speak for Lakewood? I had a very nice long conversation with Mayor Edward
FitzGerald yesterday about a number of subjects. This was brought up by him as something
to dig a little deeper on and to get all of the studies from the legal department. That RR had
suggested some solutions but none seemed to satisfy the mayor including the city of RR
paying to move the park 150 yards at a cost of $30,000+. As I waited in the law department
Norah Hurley and her team were very hard at work getting their defense ready for today,
and thought they might have a good chance at ending this once again.

The mayor made sure to tell me I was full of BS when I suggested, he was looking out for
votes, not results that were positive for the City of Lakewood, and I have no reason to doubt him on this.


.

[sharon kinsella]

Jimmy, You're full of BS about a lot of things, but that one you were right on the button.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jimmy, You're full of BS about a lot of things, but that one you were right on the button.

Sharon

Was I right to suggest that, sure.

But the mayor has never given me any indication that he is for selling Lakewood out for his ambitions.

He has never made his ambitions secret to me when we have talked, and I find his candor and
conversations refreshing compared with some in this city.

As I look over the lists of candidates for the country executive seat I cannot think of any of them
being better or even as good as Edward FitzGerald. And when I hear of the possibilities for mayor
and council should he get the seat, do not make me feel any better than having Ed for mayor.
Ed will tell me to my face exactly what he is thinking. Many in this town play a two faced game.

Ed even sent me on my way yesterday with a door opened and a swift kick in the backside.

Literally.


FWIW


.

[Bill Call]

I still say we should turn Clifton Boulevard (after Bill and his backhoe make it happen(not a joke)) into a toll road for everybody but Lakewood residents.

Some people don't care about the City one way or another. They aren't invested financially or emotionally so they are unconcerned about the trend line. That's not right or wrong that's just human nature. Since I am invested I am concerned about the trend line.

The key to changing the trend line is to restore Lakewood neighborhoods that were damaged by the desire for the shorter commute to downtown. Since downtown is dead and it is not coming back there is no need to preserve those old and outdated traffic models.

The State and Federal governments are going to continue to spend billions of dollars in Northeast Ohio to spread the population along a string of freeways. We can't change that. We can, however, create a residential oasis here in Lakewood and along the Lakeshore to compete with those subsidized developments.

Restore Clifton Park, restore Clifton Boulevard, restore the residential nature of Lake Avenue as part of a larger effort to repurpose City streets and neighborhoods. We have the resources, we have the talent, we have the infrastructure but we don't have the time.

Rocky River's efforts to close the dog park are just a symbol, the bloody flag.

[Bryan Schwegler]

What does it take to add language to the balot to change some of these things? Let's vote on it!

[stephen davis]

What does it take to add language to the balot to change some of these things? Let's vote on it!

You mean like "Highland Avenue", instead of "W. 117 St.".

.

[ryan costa]

is the sound of dog barking grounds for destroying an establishment.
My next door neighbors have loud high pitched barking dogs that just won't quit.
their kids are very loud too.
I would like the neighbors removed.
can this be legal?

I would like to outlaw small terriers, chihuahuas(sp), beagles, shitzus, and the like.

[Missy Limkemann]

is the sound of dog barking grounds for destroying an establishment.
My next door neighbors have loud high pitched barking dogs that just won't quit.
their kids are very loud too.
I would like the neighbors removed.
can this be legal?

I would like to outlaw small terriers, chihuahuas(sp), beagles, shitzus, and the like.

Ryan do I live by you? If so I am sorry. LOL.

I swear if we cave to this stupid lawsuit, you will find me standing on the sidewalk in front of the man's house, who started this, with all my dogs, my kids, and my boom box as loud as we can. All day and all night. Mark my words, that is where you will find me!!!!! LOL.

[John LePlae]

On a related subject, I've twice recently come across stray dogs wandering near traffic with no collar on. Is there someone I can call to pick up these dogs? Does anyone have a number I can program into my phone for the next time this happens? I'm sure it'll be soon and it left me with a terrible feeling to walk away. Thanks.

[Missy Limkemann]

On a related subject, I've twice recently come across stray dogs wandering near traffic with no collar on. Is there someone I can call to pick up these dogs? Does anyone have a number I can program into my phone for the next time this happens? I'm sure it'll be soon and it left me with a terrible feeling to walk away. Thanks.

You can call the dog warden at 216-529-5020 BUT be warned...if the warden's office is closed and you call the number from the voice mail (which is the police) they will tell you to let the dog go as they do not handle dogs. Yes this happens daily. I get many dogs due to this, and I have been dealing with this issue for 2 years now. I also had a police officer from another city find a stray dog and the warden was not on call and the police here told him to let it go. The police officer took the dog to the county shelter. He went back to his city and told everyone he could.

[ryan costa]

The Rocky River elite are citing the nuisance weight of the dog park in their quest to get the Courts to Destroy the Dog Park. This must be weighed against the enjoyment people get playing with their dogs at the dog park. It isn't as easy to play with dogs as it used to: if you go to a regular park you will be harassed by the police and fined by the city.

the nuisance weight of Rocky River commuter traffic might then be grounds for getting the courts to destroy Rocky River commuter thru-ways. This must be weighed against the enjoyment Rocky River commuters get living much further from Cleveland.