January 14, 2006
Grand Opening of the Dog Park
A dedicated group of dog lovers organized themselves in an effort to get an off-leash dog park in Brook Run. They called themselves Just a Walk in the Park.
|
 |
| January 14, 2006: JAWITP President Bill Goss at the podium |
|
|
 |
| Here's the first crowd of visitors to enter the new park. |
|
|
 |
| These are some of the dog lovers who got the dog park created, the founders of JAWITP |
|
|
 |
| Among the audience Steve Wesson and other members of the DeKalb Co. Parks Maintenance Dept. |
|
|
 |
| DeKalb Co. CEO Vernon Jones presided over the ceremony. The dog park's original name was Henry Jones Dog Park, in honor of the CEO's spaniel. |
|
|
 |
| The original president of Just a Walk in the Park, Bill Goss, with his dog, Pepper, and family. |
|
|
MAY 2006
The First of the Monthly Clean-Up Days
|
 |
| Back then, before JAWITP and DeKalb Co. Parks Maint. began bringing in wood chips (beginning in 2008) and before JAWITP brought in gravel (Oct. 2009), the main gathering area was just dirt. It was either a dust bowl, as seen here, or a muddy mess. |
|
|
 |
| A dedicated team wrestled for hours with weeds and poison ivy |
|
|
 |
| President Bill Goss carries a bag of poop without giving up his coffee. Notice that so much of the branches and other debris in the park has been removed (by volunteers). |
|
|
 |
| At our first Clean-Up Day, we didn't know that the county would provide us with rubber gloves, so here's Laine in yellow kitchen gloves! |
|
|
 |
| This is the path that leads up toward the second entrance. How different this view looks now! |
|
|
 |
| The path from the second entrance is all cleaned for visitors |
|
|
 |
| Main pathway, looking up toward the main entrance |
|
|
JULY 2006
Clean-Up Day
Meeting with DeKalb Co. representative to discuss erosion issues in the park
|
 |
| After picking up poop, JAWITP members gather for a group shot |
|
|
 |
| DeKalb Co.'s ecology representative gave us advice on erosion control |
|
|
July 2007
Members of JAWITP and other volunteers gathered on a rainy morning for the monthly Clean-Up Day.
And there was a more personal aspect to the day. JAWITP purchased a new bench with a plaque honoring a founding member. Norm Cohn did not live to see the park open, but his memory is kept in the park. Norm's widow and son attended the presentation of the bench.
|
 |
| This is how the park looked when it was still new. A lot of work has been done since then. |
|
|
 |
| They look awfully happy for folks who have been picking up dog poop ... in the rain. |
|
|
 |
| One of the most dedicated JAWITP members is Steve-the-Fireman. He makes sure the paths are clean (and a few dogs really don't like the leaf blower!). |
|
|
 |
| President Bill Goss made a brief speech about Norm Cohn's dedication to creating the dog park. Mrs. Francoise Cohn and several dogs listened as Bill dedicated the bench in the background. |
|
|
 |
| The plaque reads: "In Memory of Norman Richard Cohn / Original Member of Just a Walk in the Park" |
|
|
 |
| (L-R) Mrs. Norm Cohn, Bill Goss, Matt Cohn, and Laine Sweezey |
|
|
|