LONG BEACH RECREATION DOG PARK ASSN.
NEWS FOR 2003

Last updated Jan. 26, 2004

News for 2004

Aug. 9, 2003 Pet Fair: Preliminary estimates show that our third annual fund-raiser brought in about $3,000, which will go toward improvements and reparis at the Dog Park and the Dog Zone at the beach. Some of the proceeds will be given to local animal assistance organizations. Here are a few pictures of the event.
	Clockwise starting from top left: Lisa Bradley; the Pet Assistance Foundation booth; the Friends of Long Beach Animals booth; drawings emcee Carolyn Reed; Michelle Marshall and Michelle Buck at the games booth; and Shirlee Hitchcock at the association's membership table.

Aug. 1, 2003

Dog Zone: The city's off-leash exercise area celebrated its grand opening, above, with coffee and muffins courtesy of Mimi's Cafe, and dog biscuits. About 75 people and pooches were on hand for the opening leash-cutting ceremony by Justin Rudd, left, who spearheaded the effort to establish the facility. While rules at the beach are similar to those at the park, there are two major differences at the beach: Because there is no fence, only one dog per adult is permitted; the beach pilot program is only open for specific hours in the mornings and evenings. Check here for current beach hours and rules.

July 26, 2003

Election: Three incumbents -- Jim Knutson, Carolyn Reed and Jim Walters -- have all won re-election to the Board of Directors. All three are from Long Beach. Jim Knutson has served as president for three years and Jim Walters has been secretary over the same period. Officers for the coming year will be chosen at the board's September meeting.

June 12, 2003

New fence: We've replaced the chain-link fence at the west end of the park with a heavier gauge. In addition, the gates were re-screened and pipe was installed at the tops and bottoms for reinforcement. It seems that some of our park-goers were doing everything they could to get out at the squirrels that love to tease on the outside. The project was completed in a day at a cost of just under $2,000 -- paid by your membership dues and donations. We thank you!

June 1, 2003

Resignation: Nancy Sheriff ("Copper") has resigned from the Board of Directors. The Seal Beach resident, who was elected in 2002, had been unable to make board meetings because of a scheduling conflict.

May 18, 2003

Yard sale: The rain-delayed fund-raiser in North Long Beach went splendidly, according to hosts Gail Nowak and Ray King. A round of thank-yous is in order to all those who assisted. A preliminary total of the day's till shows that more than $700 was raised! That's Gail Nowak, left, Marcia Rohan and Sherry Leach rifling through the merchandise. To see more pictures of the sale, click here.

May 14, 2003

Referendum: The membership has voted to amend our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to allow us to assist the city with additional off-leash exercise areas as they are developed. A total of 15% of the ballots -- or 25 -- were needed to make the election official. Sixty-three votes were cast -- all in favor. This action will enable the association to assist the city in its Dog Zone pilot program at Belmont Shore

Feb. 21, 2003

Maintenance: The park was closed for a week so work crews could add sprinklers, plant trees, improve drainage and add ground cover. At left, Jim Knutson, Ray King and Fred Nicas install one of the new sprinklers in the center of the park. Once the 360-degree heads are put on, we'll be able to give coverage to just about the entire park. And yes, there is a reason for the fancy purple pipe: PVC tubes are now color-coded, with purple pipes being used for reclaimed water.

The association purchased three 25-gallon trees through the city's tree dedication program. The three -- dedicated to Bondo, Argo and Rocco, the first three Long Beach police dogs lost on duty -- were put in near the stump of an old eucalyptus. Two young trees that were vandalized in the small-dog park were replaced, at right, and the park received a donated tree from the Adopt-a-Tree program, an evergreen that was planted near the main entrance.

City crews dug up the two watering stations in the main park and replenished the crushed rock to improve drainage.

More of the rock was used to fill holes that the dogs have dug under some of the benches. And 200 tons of decomposed-granite groundcover was trucked in from outside Norco and spread at the park. The two piles left for digger dogs to play in were reduced from six to three feet in a matter of days! Click here for more pictures.

News for 2002