This month, NPC recognizes Denise Spielman and the Friends of Upper Douglass Dog Park for their hard work improving their neighborhood park by fundraising for a new bench and dog drinking fountain.
What got you started volunteering for your neighborhood park?
Denise: About 1 year ago, a bunch of the "regulars" were discussing some of the problems in the park and we realized that we all were bothered by them. As we talked we gave each other the resolve and commitment to do something together to address them. No one of us would have started down the road alone to attempt what we've done so far, as it's been a lot of work, but together we were able to make the leap.
What is your favorite aspect of volunteering in your Neighborhood Park?
I love the people I meet at the park. We get an amazingly diverse group from across the city who might not otherwise come together but for the common thing that binds us together -- we all bring our pets to the park and meet up there. In the beginning we only knew each other by our dogs' names (such as Yasmin's Mom, and Cody's Dad), but once we got past that the owners became friends, along with their dogs.
Why do you volunteer in your Neighborhood Park?
Since ours is a Dog Park, I do it primarily for my dog Yasmin. We use the park pretty much every day, so improving the quality of the experience there makes a big difference to us. Many of the regulars who have shown the deepest levels of involvement also use the park daily.
What inspired you to work in your community to improve the parks?
In addition to the park itself, I feel a sense of responsibility to the neighbors and community around the park. Some dogs can bark a lot, and some occasionally escape from the park. These things can affect the quality of life for the local residents, and turn them against the park if things really get out of hand. We want to maintain a positive relationship and respect them at all times - so raising awareness and getting all of the park users to police themselves and respect the community is important. This matters just as much as improving the physical conditions inside the park.
