No to Off-Leash Dog Park in Crow Island Woods

It's a great place for on leash walks play. Bu t too close to the school. Makes a great resource as it stands, but that will be destroyed by a play space for dogs.

I don't like either proposed option for a dog park. Both neighborhoods should collaborate and work with the park district to find a space that does not adversely affect residential areas.

Even the most conscientious dog owners sometimes fail to pick up dog feces, or the feces is liquid and impossible to remove by hand. CIW is a treasure to scout groups throughout the area; a dog park will without doubt create a feces-laden environment that will preclude safe and sanitary camping by scout groups that have used CIW for years as a local, convenient, and frankly incredible resource for their youth programs.

I love dogs, but dogs already have the best deal ever! Between our ever-larger houses, fenced-off yards, shopping areas, sidewalks and streets, we've already turned the vast majority of Winnetka over to people and our pets. The other hundreds of species of animals and plants that have lived in this area before we wandered in and decided that we were in charge get only the little bit that's left over (like Crow Island Woods). It's not very gracious on our part to ask for more! Neither Crow Island nor Elm Street is a good spot for a dog park.

There are so many things wrong with this idea, I don't even know where to start.

A dog park would diminish and devalue the natural beauty of our wonderful woods. A dog park is not needed in a town like this.

West Elm Park and Crow Island Woods are completely unsuitable locations for an off-leash dog park.

The idea of a dog park in the treasure that is Crow Island Woods--or in any residential area--seemed wrong to me from the start, but I wanted to see the location and hear what the Park District and others, especially neighbors living adjacent to the site, had to say. Having done so, I am now even more convinced and opposed than before. What a bad idea! I so appreciate the time and effort the Park District has taken to inform and engage residents in conversation. I hope they now hear our concerns and objections loud and clear!

Keep the dog beach - and leave Crow Island Woods alone! I walk my dog on leash through the woods multiple times a week. It is peaceful and serene, and home to many species of birds and animals. We have also been attacked by dogs off-leash with the owners not near enough to prevent the confrontation. I personally am not looking for the opportunity to have more dogs off-leash running around barking noisily. It is unsafe for the Crow Island students.

For years the ecological, stormwater management, park restoration, drainage, educational and historical aspects of crow island woods have been carefully analyzed and studied and plans developed. And now do the village and park district ignore their own plans and studies for a dog park that is not needed?Hopefully, responsible officials recognize that parking on Euclid, a dead end street with only a few houses and no sidewalks or streetlights where children ride their bikes in street, would have to be off-limits.

Winnetka’s neighbors’ comforts come before some people’s dogs. Please respect the opinions of those who would be inconvenienced by this plan.

A dog park makes more sense located in the Forest Preserve District, i.e. Skokie Lagoons area.

I live here, this would be terrible

Please do not put a dog park in the Crow Island Woods - there are better options.

I support a dog park in Winnetka but feel strongly it should not be in the Crow Island Woods. There are better locations for this project.

I do not feel the Crow Island Woods is suitable for a dog park for many reasons but mostly because of the grade school and playground adjoining it! Unsafe!!

Winnetka does not need a dog park - it is a small village, where most people have yards, and there are other options for dogs (beach, nearby towns, etc.). I do not support putting a park at either proposed location. These parks are both special assets for Winnetka that should remain beautiful public spaces. I lived near a dog park at my prior residence in Rowayton, Connecticut, and it caused lots of traffic/parking issues, hyper dogs coming to and from, dogs acting aggressively toward each other, etc. - not what we need here.

Crow Island Woods is an ecological treasure, a statement made by the Park District when they were pushing for a burn some years ago. The area has only been enhanced by the addition of the historical cabin. It woud be a crime to cheapen it.

I believe the dog park could be destructive to the ecology of the area. I also think it would discourage children's and family activities in Crow Island Woods.

I am furious that this is even being considered! The Green Bay Trail has been ruined for me because of all the off-leash dogs, and now the Park District wants to turn over the Crow Island Woods to dog owners, too? This must be stopped.