DOG FRIENDLY AREAS IN THE COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES

Established in July 2000, the Beck Lake Dog Area Group was formed for the purpose of working towards the creation of a designated "pilot" DFA (Dog Friendly Area) in the Beck Lake Forest Preserve at Central Avenue and East River Road, in Glenview.

• This portion of "underused" forest preserve land would allow people a safe, separate area to exercise, socialize and recreate with each other and their dogs, and would not interfere with other area recreational activities.
• Dog Ownership has increased dramatically within the past fifteen years, and is growing steadily.
• People recreating with their dogs has become one of our country's fastest growing recreational activities.
• Dog Owners represent a significant population in Cook County; their recreational and social interests must be recognized and addressed.
• The increase in dog ownership has resulted in competing recreational interests for our limited park resources. DFAs are a proactive way to address a large part of the community interest. They are based on the need for a recreational outlet, and are often the only way some people choose to use our green spaces.

There are 6000+ recognized DFAs throughout the country. Neighboring Lake, DuPage and Will Counties have all recognized this recreational need by establishing separate DFAs for their residents.

• The City of Chicago currently has seven "official" designated areas, with more in progress.
• Numerous suburban Park Districts have established DFAs (including beach areas) within their communities.
• Lake County currently has four separate dog areas, ranging in size from 30 to 68 acres. Any additional areas designated in Lake County will be in the range of 40 - 60 acres. For the 2002 calendar year, their number of annual permits for the dog areas exceeds 4,000. Of these, over one thousand are sold to Cook County residents generating an income of approximately $140,000 dollars per year from Cook County residents alone.

In August 2000, the Beck Lake Dog Area Group became an affiliate of D.A.W.G. (the Dog Advisory Work Group), and has attended each of D.A.W.G.'s regular monthly meetings for the past three years. D.A.W.G. is a coalition of people and organizations who are dedicated to sharing public spaces wisely and responsibly, and to promoting and implementing public education and outreach about dogs, responsible dog guardianship and dog-related issues throughout the community and its organizations and government.

In September 2000, we began speaking with representatives of the Cook County Forest Preserves. Based on these discussions, we did the following:

• Established a cohesive dog owners group, consisting of people who were willing to spend time and donate money toward the establishment of our proposed area. This group is responsible for educational efforts towards dog owners using the area, and will help with operations and maintenance once the area is established. The group will maintain ongoing communications with designated Forest Preserve personnel, and will act as a liaison to area park users.
• Circulated petitions to enlist and show community support for this area.
• We collected over 3000 signatures of support from Cook County residents and voters.
• Over an eight month period we collected over 1000 land "usage surveys" to show how this space was currently being used and by whom. The surveys unquestionably proved that the proposed area was an "underused" area of the Cook County Forest Preserves.
• Submitted a list of suggested Guidelines for Rules & Regulations for area users.
• Established suggested costs of permits.
• Established requested parameters of the proposed area.
• Researched costs and suppliers for fencing, dog tags, car window stickers, dog waste-bag dispensers and bags, etc.
• Submitted a draft version and received approval of the Permit Application and Dog Health Certificate from Dr. Dan Parmer, Director of Cook County Animal Control.

On July 24, 2001, we were granted a meeting with Superintendent Nevius and other representatives of Cook County Forest Preserve. Cook County's Director of Animal Care & Control, and a representative from D.A.W.G. were also in attendance. We again discussed our proposal and based on this meeting, we agreed to the following:

• The proposed "pilot" DFA area would encompass 20+ acres. (Our original request was for 60 acres).
• Due to the limited size of the area, permits would be limited to the first 500 applicants, at $50.00 per Dog.
• We guaranteed the "pre-sale" of 400 permits for the area to cover initial start up/construction costs.
• In order to fulfill our commitment, we printed and distributed over 4000 Informational Brochures and Pre-registration Forms. We established relationships with area Animal Hospitals & Veterinarians, Pet Stores and various retail businesses, Dog Trainers, Community Representatives, and local media.
• We received support from the Anti-Cruelty Society, along with various Community and Dog Groups.
• We received the support of several Cook County Commissioners.

The Beck Lake Dog Friendly Area officially opened July 14, 2003, and has been a huge success. Because this is a "pilot" area for the Cook County Forest Preserve, only 500 permits were issued, however, there has been such a huge demand from people for additional permits that the Forest Preserve District has decided to increase the amount of permits they will issue in the coming season.

The Forest Preserves in Illinois were put aside by Daniel Burnham as land to be used and enjoyed by everyone; NOT soley to be used as passive green space. Our Forest Preserves are enjoyed by picnickers, fishermen, cyclists, roller bladders, skiers, joggers, horse back riders, etc. There is also land set aside for special interest groups such as golf courses, swimming pools, tobogganing, model airplanes, etc.

In Summation: The Forest Preserve District will not allow the establishment of DFAs without community support, and then, only in areas not used for other recreational activities. Any group who wishes to establish a DFA in the Cook County Forest Preserves, must not only have the support of the community, they must also raise the necessary funds for construction/start up costs. Permits are renewed yearly, so that the minimal maintenance required in DFAs will not cost tax payers additional money.

With 68,000 acres of Forest Preserve land in Cook County alone, there is room for everyone and still much of the land still remains unused or underused.

There is plenty of space for all of us to share and enjoy.

Gia Heybrock, Co-Chair, Beck Lake Dog Area Group

Dog Park Truths

Over 33% of the population in this country has one or more dogs in their household.

Recreating with one's canine companion is the fastest growing recreational activity in this country. This includes going for a nice walk in the woods, enjoying a game of Frisbee, training a dog to retrieve, and numerous other activities. In all other areas of the United States conservationists have found ways to share open spaces with the large segment of the population who enjoys nature in the company of their companion dogs.

While other counties across America, including Illinois, have recognized the importance of addressing the recreational needs of 33% of the population, the Beck Lake Dog Friendly Area is the first "legal' designated dog area in the Cook County Forest Preserves.

Until the Beck Lake Dog Friendly Area opened July 14, 2003, people in Cook County had to travel to Lake County or DuPage County if they wanted to enjoy a nice walk in the woods with their companion dogs. Surprisingly, the BCN has not objected to any of the other numerous by permit-only, fenced-in dog areas in surrounding counties.

The Beck Lake Dog Area Group worked for three years toward the establishment of the Beck Lake DFA (Dog Friendly Area). Not only did we raise the money for construction start/up costs, but we had to gather community support, collect detailed usage surveys of the land, submit a list of guidelines and research each of the existing DFA's across the country. In addition; we are responsible for and committed to the ongoing success of the area.

The Beck Lake DFA is not a private club. Anyone in Cook County with a fully vaccinated, non-aggressive dog is able to apply for a permit to enter a Cook County Forest Preserve DFA. The fact that there are not enough permits available at this time for everyone who wants to purchase them only points to the fact that Cook County Forest Preserves must open more DFAs to meet the needs of it's taxpayers.

The only difference between golf ranges, swimming pools and DFAs are their use. Golf courses have a finite number of tee times, once they are filled, other tax payers cannot access the course to play it that day; swimming pools have a capacity limit as well.

Why are fences necessary? In Illinois it is against the law for dogs to co-mingle unrestrained on public property. As a matter of fact, it is against the law for a dog to be off-leash in it's own yard if the yard is not fenced in. The dog training area at Hoffman Estates is not a legally recognized public dog area. The Cook County Board had to pass an ordinance to allow for the establishment of the Beck Lake DFA on this very narrow piece of greatly underused property by Beck Lake. There are 68,000 acres of Forest Preserve land in Cook County. As much as we would love to have the freedom to explore it all with our canine companions, unrestricted by fences and by permits; this is not a legal option. The fence is there to separate off-leash dogs from general preserve users, as golfers don't drive golf balls on regular forest preserve land and every pond is not a swimming hole. Only a very limited number of acres is set aside for DFAs.

Why is there a lock on the fence? A lock was put on the gate on the order of Cook County Animal Control. There is no other way to control and monitor who comes into the area at all times. Animal Control must make sure that dogs who visit the DFA are fully vaccinated and non-aggressive.

Why pay for a permit to visit a DFA? By charging for the use of DFAs, the residents of Cook County who do not have dogs will not be taxed for the DFAs construction startup costs, nor for the minimal ongoing maintenance of the areas. Lake County's dog parks have always been on a permit-only basis and DuPage County is in the process of converting their dog parks to a by-permit-only basis. Various park district dog parks are also charging dog owners for their use.

Although we already pay taxes for the maintenance of all forest preserve land, most dog guardians in Cook County do not mind paying additional money for a permit to visit DFAs with their dogs. Lake County sells over 1000 permits each year to Cook County residents at a cost of $110.00 for each permit. It is well worth the additional money to have a "legal" and "safe" place to recreate with our canine companions, in specific areas which do not conflict with other recreational needs and uses.

Regarding Lake County's Commissioner Steve Carlson comments in his January 12 [2004] article: I believe that Commissioner Carlson was talking about developing and opening up to the public new land the District has purchased over the last 10 years. These sites do not currently have parking areas or approved trails. Commissioner Carlson was not referring to taking away the existing dog parks in Lake County's Forest Preserves.

Sharing public spaces requires all of us to work together and compromise, to best meet the recreational needs and interests of everyone.

Gia Heybrock Co-chair, Beck Lake Dog Area Group