For the past year, The Riverside Parks and Recreation Commission has explored the possibility of a dog park in Riverside and the surrounding area. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County has expressed interest in a possible dog-friendly park in one of the forest preserve areas around Riverside. However, the FPDCC is requiring that a stewardship group be established in order for the project to proceed.
Therefore, the Riverside Parks and Recreation Commission will be hosting a Dog Stewardship Information Night at Riverside Township Hall, Room 4, Monday, May 14th, 7:30 pm.
Our guest panel will include Chicago dog trainer of Hawk City K9 Stacey Hawk, Ananda Breslof-Bosch who is co-chair of Chicago’s Commission on Animal Care and Control, Janis Taylor who is planning coordinator for the Chicago Park District’s marketing and communications department, and Gia Heybrock who is co-founder and co-chair of the Beck Lake Dog Friendly Area Group.
Hawk is the co-founder and co-chair of The Dog Advisory Work Group (D.A.W.G.), co-founding director and training director for Safe Humane Chicago and co-founder and chair of Wiggly Field Dog Parks and Advisory Committee.
Breslof-Bosch is a board member of D.A.W.G. and was instrumental in the creation of Chicago’s first dog park, Wiggly Field.
Taylor has worked for the Chicago Park District for 33 years and has managed the Chicago Park District’s dog friendly areas for the past seven years.
Heybrock is responsible for the creation of Beck Lake Dog Friendly Area, which is currently the only dog-friendly area located within the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
The Riverside Parks and Recreation Commission encourages everyone to come and listen to what the experts have to say about being a dog steward. We hope to see you there.
Susan Casey, chairwoman
Riverside Parks and Recreation Commission
