I visited the dog park at Hickories Park the other day. I\u2019ve been going to the main part of the park since 1986, to jog, walk, picnic, X-country ski, read and doze in my canvas bag chair, to rest after padding from the Village in my kayak and once a year to the Rotary Picnic. I was also there to watch my son\u2019s soccer games, hit golf balls and visit friends in the campgrounds. But, never to the dog park! Hickories Park is the greatest public asset in our town. And now, the dog park makes it even better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entire park was a dog park when I first started going there. Our little cocker spaniel, Jezebel, loved to run free when no people were around. She\u2019d like it even better now if she were still alive – to run free with other dogs and never fear the arrival of the dog warden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have a dog these days; the circumstances of our lives at present aren\u2019t compatible with dog ownership. Darn it! But I found out I don\u2019t need a dog of my own; the people with dogs let you enjoy theirs at the dog park. Actually, it\u2019s not the people who allow it; it\u2019s the dogs themselves that roam free and stop by for a head rub. It\u2019s so nice to sit on a bench or walk along the path surrounded by dogs running free, chasing each other in a game of tag, establishing the pecking order when new arrivals come to join the pack and doing all the things dogs do when allowed a little freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, I don\u2019t have \u201ca\u201d dog these days; Instead, I have \u201cdozens and dozens\u201d of dogs, thanks to the dedicated volunteer members of ODOG, who created the dog park with a generous donation from Adam Weitsman. It\u2019s a wonderful memorial to the memory of his sister, Rebecca, and her love of dogs. ODOG volunteers also help maintain the park and keep it user and dog friendly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t have a dog? Need a dog fix? Stop by and get your fill. And when the ODOG organization asks for help to sustain the place, give it some consideration. Any donation will be greatly appreciated and will get, and keep, a lot of tails wagging around town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n