If you are a Tulsa resident (or live in a neighboring suburb or city), please consider writing your own letter to the South Side Rotary & Biscuit Acres Dog Park Tulsa Parks & Recreation (they are the source of the rule that needs to be changed; here’s a list of the Tulsa Parks Board Members). It is unrealistic to imagine that families with dogs will only be able to visit the park with children over the age of 12. Any school-age child accompanied by an adult should be allowed to visit the dog park with his/her pet.
Update: I have been told that there is indeed a Tulsa City ordinance that bans children under 12 from entering dog parks. I still can’t find it, but I will. I plan to try to make a difference here. At the moment I have several projects that require my full attention until October. In November, I’ll be researching the differences of regulations, ordinances, and laws. I’ll be figuring out how to change this one.
I feel like this is important. I’ve talked to too many people who agree that it’s an unreasonable ordinance, but they feel like they can’t make a difference or it’s too hard to make a change. Someone has to try to make a change. There are national issues I can’t influence, but locally I may have a chance. If nothing else, I can show my kids that if you feel strongly about something, you should do something about it. Win or lose, at least you tried. And come November, I’m giving it all I have.
Dear South Side Tulsa Rotary,
I was asked to leave the dog park today because I was accompanied by my two children. The volunteer who asked me to leave threatened to call the police and stated that it is Oklahoma law that children under 12 are not allowed into the dog park. Obviously I and my children were upset (though we did not argue with the volunteer and left quickly and quietly). Not only should the park be available to families to enjoy their dog, but it is NOT a law that no one under 12 is not allowed into a dog park. To say so is an outright lie and an attempt to bully me and my family into cooperation. I find it hard to respect an organization who would resort to such tactics.
I have read threads discussing this very issue in other places (the Channel 6 web site, for instance) and have seen several arguments against allowing families into the dog park. The thrust of those arguments appears to be that children can rile up the dogs or be knocked over. I would suggest that, while toddlers may be too young to be in the park with dogs they are unfamiliar with, school-age children accompanied by a parent are not. Of course they would have to adhere to rules (no running with dogs, etc.) just as dog owners adhere to rules (leashes only) in a regular park. Rather than place age restrictions, it seems it would be better to list a set of rules (not unlike those listed at the swimming pool). For instance, No running with dogs or No petting dogs without owner’s permission (since those appear to be the two biggest complaints). If I or my children don’t adhere to those rules we can be asked to leave. Denying our entrance into the park based on the presumption that my child will act inappropriately is unnecessary and insulting. If that were reasonable, I believe several businesses in town would have already enacted such rules for the masses.
As a Tulsa taxpayer, I understand that the dog park was built with donations. Was none of it done with taxpayer money? If not, how is it that the dog park is within a Tulsa City park? It certainly looked as if a City of Tulsa crew was working on the park this morning (installing a water feature if I’m not mistaken). I truly would like to understand how this particular park is set up because if it is part of a public park, it seems the restrictions you have in place are tenuous at best. Certainly this must be the case or I would not have been lied to about a non-existent law or threatened with police action.
I strongly encourage you re-think your rules for Biscuit Acres.
Sincerely,
Melanie Nelson, mother of 2 responsible children and owner of one dog who loves to play
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any response from them yet? so glad you’re a letter writer like me. hope she has to eat dog biscuits!