news reservations for Emma's Run
News
August 25, 2010 - Volunteers are needed for the 2010 Dog Paddle at the City Park Pool on September
12th. (Rain date 9/13)
Please click here for the volunteer flyer with information (PDF)
August 2, 2010 - The City of Iowa City has opened both sides of Rita’s Ranch. The North side was closed due to water damage.
July 24, 2010 - The Iowa City Animal Shelter is having a Summer Fiesta Adopt-a-thon from Noon to 3 PM. PDF file with information
June 24, 2010 - The City of Iowa City has closed Rita’s Ranch due to water from the recent storms. It should be open by Monday, June 28, 2010.
June 17, 2010 - The City of Iowa City has closed the North half of Rita’s Ranch due to water from the recent storm. It should be completely open by Saturday morning. (6/19)
May 24, 2010 - The water in Lily's Pond was tested again for ‘E. Coli’ bacteria. The measured value was 52 per 100 Milliliters.
April 16, 2010 - The Board meeting location has been moved to the Thornberry dog park. (2-4 PM) Please go to the Iowa City Public Library in case of rain.
April 14, 2010 - Lily's Pond is opened. The water was tested for 'E.coli' bacteria. The level was below the detectable limit.
February 17, 2010 - Lily's Pond closed because of thin ice.
February 16, 2010 - The City has redesigned the poop bag dispensers. The new dispensers will be put out soon. You may have noticed that some of the dispensers were removed -- they will be replaced with the new design. The City searched for a better type of bag but could not find any better than the bright green ones. The bags have to dissolve in the underground tanks so that the waste can be pumped out and taken to the waste water treatment plant and treated. There are other biodegradable bags but they do not dissolve sufficiently or quickly enough.
December 7, 2009 - Poop Bag shortage: The Plot Thickens
emphasis added
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:35:47 -0600
Diana,
Further update on the mutt mitts, we knew we would need bags by the end of the month so we ordered bags on November 9th. In the past the supplier has been very good, they have delivered within a week. They delivered 3 cases of our 12 case order, which should have been enough to hold us over. They promised the remainder this week.
Well, two things have happened. 1) We can only surmise some folks are taking many more bags than they need. Of that 3 case 9,000 bag order only about 450 are left. Yes that is correct, appx. 8650 bags have been used in less than 30 days. Large quantities of bags have been used in the past during short periods but never on this scale. We even thought a box may have been misplaced but they are all accounted for. 2) The order has not arrived, which in one sense is not the supplier's fault because their source has not delivered either.
So, what we have done is removed all the water soluble bags from Rita's Ranch and replaced them with regular bags. We have also placed trash cans in Rita's and locked the lid on the tank so it cannot be opened. Staff then took the bags from Rita's out to Thornberry and replenished the front dispensers at Lucky Paws. We believe this will be enough to hold over for the weekend, but based on the information from the supplier we suspect we will have to switch at Thornberry before the rest of the supply arrives. We are placing signs at both parks explaining the situation, but someone may want to post all of this on the web site.
We are trying
Terry R.
Dec 3, 2009 - Poop Bag Shortage
The City is waiting on a poop bag shipment. Some of the
dispensers at Thornberry, especially in Lucky Pawz
Playground, have been empty for the past several days.
Although delivery was promised two days ago they still
haven't arrived.
Please BRING YOUR OWN for the time being. But please DO NOT
USE WASTE TANKS if you don't have the florescent green bags
provided by the city. The other bags, even bio-degradable
ones do not degrade fast enough and clog the tanks.
Park tags expire December 31 - Time to renew!
At the end of December it will be time to renew Iowa City Dog Park Tags. Tags should be available by mid December
Remember, EVERYONE must renew this December. This year, for the first time, it will be possible to purchase either a 1- , 2- or 3-year tag tied to the expiration date of your dog's Rabies Vaccination.
The cost of tags remains the same: $25 per year. There is a $5 discount if you can present proof that the dog was either spayed or neutered. A 3-year tag then, will cost $75 if your dog isn't altered, but only $60 if they have been. There is a low income discount for qualified applicants.
There is no longer a discount for microchips. The board was charged by the city with raising more money. Eliminating a discount for something that doesn't really impact dog park use seemed to be less painful than raising the fee. We still strongly urge people to have their dogs microchipped.
Dog Park tag fees go directly back into the development and improvement of the off leash parks.
December 10 - election of new board members
Three members terms are expiring, three remain. The board would like to have nine members. New members who are regular users of Rita's Ranch, owners of small dogs and special needs dogs are especially encouraged to consider running for the board. If you'd like to volunteer your time and energy as a board member please come to the December meeting and nominate yourself or ask someone else to do the honors. We'd also like you to fill out this form in advance. The meeting will be in Meeting Room B, 7 to 9 pm, in the Robert A Lee Recreation Center on December 10. The Rec Center is on the corner of Burlington and Gilbert, Meeting Room B is on the 2nd floor.
13 November 2009 - Emma's Run & Linder Small Dog Yard
Emma's Run is back as a training area. The grass repairs are finished in the Linder Small Dog yard, the temporary fencing is gone and new turf as filled in the areas destroyed when the asphalt path was put in.
The new turf in the Linder yard now completely surrounds the shelter so the mud should be gone and dogs won't be so tempted to dig there. Please keep your eye out for digging in the new turf areas and replace any divots you see.
The gate between the large and small dog yards has been lowered and cement poured under the gate so the area won't open up when it rains and dogs can't dig under. There is a new maintainence gate on the parking lot side. The city workers did the best they could to make the gate escape proof, but really small dogs may still be able to get out. Please discourage tiny escape artists from hanging out near this temptation.
20 October 2009 - Lucky Pawz Playground
The Parks staff put down 65 tons of gravel in the Lucky Pawz Playground to the right of the entry. That area has been holding water recently. The gravel should absorb the excess water.
Earlier this month the large hole near the first shelter in the Lucky Pawz Playground was filled with gravel.
JC DogPAC thanks the city for its attention to those areas.
Repair to the entry gate coming soon.
6 October 2009 - Linder Tire Service Small Dog Yard Update
Work on the asphalt has been completed and the yard opened again on Friday, 2 October. A new service gate that opens to the parking lot was added for future access to the yard. Sod will added the week of 19 October, and part of the yard will be fenced off to allow the sod to grow.
Please note that one of the park rules is the dogs must be under the handler's visual contact and voice control at all times. There are some gaps at the fences between the Linder Yard and the Lucky Pawz Playground and the parking log. Please work at keeping your dogs away from those gaps until the city has time to modify the gates.
25 July 2009 - Rita's Ranch in Scott Park will open officially at 9:30am
beginning June 22, 2009 - Temporary Yard closures at Thornberry
JC DogPAC has hired Shamrock to add a path from the entry to the shelter in the Linder Tire Service Small Dog Yard, re-surface the path in the Lucky Pawz Playground and add a loop to the 2nd shelter in that yard, and pave the entry area between gates into Emma's Run and the Linder Tire Yard.
On Monday, July 22, Shamrock will start doing the work in the Linder Yard, which will be closed for the day. People with small dogs should use Emma's Run for that day.
Beginning Tuesday, June 23, the work will be done in the Lucky Pawz Playground, which will be closed for at least 3 days. When Lucky Pawz Playground is closed, please use Emma's Run.
April 2009 - JC DogPAC Nominated and Won
JC DogPAC was nominated for and received the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association Lay Organization Award for 2009. This award “recognizes a group of lay people outside of our profession who have support and contributed to the strengthening of programs and resources of leisure services by an outstanding contribution to the park, recreation and conservation movement within their communities, areas, county and state.“
JC DogPAC was nominated by Terry Trueblood, the Director of Iowa City Parks and Recreation. In that nomination Terry wrote, “Since 2002 this lay organization has been instrumental in assisting the department in the development of two premier dog parks for the City of Iowa City, contributing endless skills, time, labor and money. They are a highly energetic committee knowledgeable and sincere in their approach to being a partner.”
JC DogPAC thanks Parks and Recreation for the nomination. We know that working with that group has made it possible for us to have created great off-leash dog parks.
April 2009 - More trees at TOP
Eight more trees were planted at the Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park. As you can see, there is room for several more trees at the park. If you would like to donate a tree, see the recognition levels page.
February 24, 2009
JC DogPAC just published a new information brochure.
February 5, 2009
The Iowa City Press-Citizen newspaper published an article about Rita's Ranch, the east side off-leash area that should open this spring.
Emma's Run can be reserved for special events. Reservations must be made with JC DogPAC; include in your request the number of dogs expected to be involved. The cost is $10/hour, with a 2-hour limit. All dogs that come to such an event must have a current rabies vaccination.
July 25 - RockRed Ridgeback Rescue Dog Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a get together of RockRed Ridgeback Rescue Dogs on Sunday, July 25, 11am-1pm.
May 29 - Quad City Greyhoud Adoption Dog Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a get together of Greyhouds on Saturday, May 29, 1-3pm.
April 10 - RockRed Ridgeback Rescue Dog Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a get together of RockRed Ridgeback Rescue Dogs on Saturday, April 10, 2-4pm.
April 10 - Birthday Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a birthday party for Spencer the Welsh Corgi on Saturday, April 10, 6-8pm.
November 1 - KK/DD Halloween Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a dog Halloween party on Sunday, November 1, 2-3pm.
See Photos taken by Liz Dodge here
October 24 - Solon Dogs Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a get together of Solon Dogs on Saturday, October 24, 1-2pm.
October 18 - Greyhound Rescue (QCGA)
Emma's Run is reserved for the greyhound rescue group on Sunday, October 18, 1-3pm.
October 17, 18 - Solon Dogs Party - note changed dates
Emma's Run is reserved for a get together for the Solon Dogs on Saturday, October 17, 4-5pm; and Sunday, October 18, 11:30-12:30pm.
October 10 - PH Dog Party
Emma's Run is reserved for a dog party on Saturday, October 10, 9-10am.
September 19 & 20 - Reservation for Weimaraner Rescue
Emma's Run is reserved for the Weimaraner Rescue group on Saturday, September 19, from 12 noon-2pm and Sunday, September 20, from 10am-noon.
September 5, Saturday - Reservation for Ridgeback Rescue
Emma's Run is reserver from 12 noon-2pm on Saturday, September 5, for the Rhodesian Ridgeback rescue group.
August 30, Sunday - Reservation by M.M.
Emma's Run is reserved on Sunday, August 30, from 2-4pm, for a dog party.
July 27, Monday - Reservation by K.J.
Emma's Run is reserved on Monday, July 27, from 5:30-6:30pm, for an agility experiment.
June 13, Saturday - Iowa Collie Rescue
Emma's Run is reserved on Saturday, June 13, from 1-3pm for the Iowa Collie gathering for the Minnesota/Wisconsin Rescue Group.
May 29, Friday - Chicory & Rudy's Birthday Party
Emma's Run is reserved by A.D. on Friday, May 29, from 6:30-7:30pm. Rain date: May 30, Saturday, 2-3pm.
May 23, Saturday - Quad Cities Greyhound Adoption
Emma's Run is reserved by the Quad Cities Greyhound Adoption on Saturday, May 23, from 2-4pm for a greyhound play date.
May 5, Tuesday - Jada's Gotcha Anniversary
May 2 & 3, Saturday & Sunday - Weimaraner Rescue
Emma's Run is reserved for the Weimaraner Rescue group on Saturday, May 2 from 12 noon-2pm and Sunday, May 3, from 10am-noon.
News & Reservations
