County Trimming Attendant Hours at Dog Parks
Parks' schedule will remain the same; permit fee being reduced, freeholder says
County residents will continue to have access to the county's two off-leash dog parks in 2013, but the number of hours they will be staffed is being reduced, officials said.
Ocean County Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., the liaision to the county's department of Parks and Recreation, said budget constraints and continuing efforts to reduce the county's workforce have led to the decision to cut back on the hours an attendant is present at each of the two parks -- at Ocean County Park, Lakewood, and adjacent to Robert J. Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township.
The hours in the winter are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are extended to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer. Of those hours, an attendant will be present daily for the first three hours and the last three hours, before the park closes.
While residents will still need to get a permit to use the dog parks, the amount of the permit will be reduced from $25 to $5. People using the dog park will still need to carry their county-issued dog park identification card to assure dogs using the facilities are licensed and are up to date with their vaccines.
“Our dog parks will continue to be open to the public just as they have always been,” Bartlett said.
During the summer, a controversy erupted over rumors the county was going to significantly reduce the hours the dog parks were open. Bartlett at the time said the rumors were untrue and that the county was committed to keeping the parks available to county residents.
“We are making every effort to keep the dog parks open and running," Bartlett said. "Reducing the hours an attendant will be there will allow us to keep the dog parks open during regular hours.”
“The dramatic increase in the population of Ocean County has made open space for dog owners to let their dogs run free increasingly scarce,” Bartlett said. “These facilities fulfill the needs of both the dog owner and the general public. We will continue to work to keep these facilities open and available to our citizens.”
Daniel Dowling
7:52 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
When will you open the Lakewood dog park... The trees are all cleared up and appears to be safe. Just make the exit area also an entrance and let us police our self's. If needed block off the roadway to the main park road. It would be safer for all to have less traffic traveling through the whole park to gain access for just the dog area.. We care about our dogs to much to not take care of this much need exercise dog park.. open it up please...
Flo
8:55 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Soooo, if there's no attendant who is checking to see if the permit was paid and it's safe to bring your dog there?
we dont need county govt
10:51 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Just the tip of the iceberg.... County is going bankrupt but Bartlett keeps saying how great the bond rating is. Trim the fat already, get rid of GOP appointments with fat salaries.
WMS826
11:40 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Why would they cut the fat when you will just live with less and never show up at a Freeholder meeting.
Clayton
12:37 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Government waste, never any cuts...Why do we need all the golf courses? Who are they for? I heard from many individuals that they show huge loses. Its ridiculous, the reason many are getting ready to move out of NJ.
WMS826
10:14 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
What golf courses, we have only two, one in Brick and one in Little Egg. Neither two are extravagant or over the top.
I do not mind recreation like that which is minimal, one north, one south. It is the no show jobs that bother me.
1stcav
2:07 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
STOP giving yourselves"s raise's ALL the time & MAYBE there would be something for that rainy day that has NOW come ....No use in having a "slush Fund " as you use it for "found money" and squander it on Ball finds or dog kennels during HARD economic times..Foolish spending ALL the time in O.C; NJ.....Suppose now will spend thousands of dollars making signs on a ball field/building ect. or re naming streets ( & making more signs ) for our late Sheriff ??? STOP the waist already.
Clayton
2:51 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
True, All these public jobs, including town, county and state job employees continually want raises even during rough times. It ridiculous, They should be maximum salary amounts tagged to each job. If they don't like it, then get another job. They should be glad they have a job and realize the real world does not get raises each year which is the same people where they get the money to pay for them. There should be a limit and that's it. No more!
Mary
7:39 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Dear Governor, Please stop talking....Really do something for NJ Residents. Trim the fat because to much is going on in Nj. NJ is out of control. Please Help!
WMS826
10:15 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
I thought Christie walked on water....oh wait..he still is making patronage appointments himself/
Jess
11:38 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
so about the dog park opening again when will that happen? Geez
Jess
11:41 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
I also hope the dog owners become a Lil more responsible some of those dog owners let the dogs bully and do whatever
The Zipper
7:44 am on Monday, December 24, 2012
Hey Bartlett, This just goes to show you don't have a clue about the repercussion of this decision. You have spent MILLIONS of dollars on opening new parks just so the land will not be developed but you are taking away from the seniors that rely on these parks for their pets. I would advise you to spend some time at these parks and watch what happens and do what you were elected to do and part of that is to care for the needs of our citizens..
Breezing Up
9:12 am on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Why do the dog parks need attendants? In NYC there are "dog runs" in lots of the parks - they operate very well with only a sign at the entrance listing a few common sense rules. Dog owners are responsible, talk to each other, and speak out if a dog is acting up. I'm sure NJ dog owners could do the same.