Millcreek F.I.D.O.S

Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day by joining us at the Venture Outdoors Festival on Saturday, June 19 at Canyon Rim Park in Millcreek from 3pm to 10pm. The Festival connects kids, families and adults with the many outdoor activities and opportunities available in our communities and on public lands. This free, family-friendly event features fun and challenging recreation events, clinics, guest speakers, music, prizes, creative children's activities, and great food all day long. Off-site morning events are offered to get folks outside earlier in the day.

So bring the family and all your friends... because life's better outside! See below for highlights!

Venture Volksmarch Join us for our first annual Venture Volksmarch at 1:00 p.m. The event is a 3-mile, all-ages, all-family Volkswanderen (or walk, in English) through Parley's Historic Nature Park. Modeled after the ages of old German tradition, participants will enjoy the park's natural beauty and unique history while walking and socializing with friends, family and neighbors. In keeping with the German tradition, the Volksmarch will finish with a lively brass band and complimentary kuchen (cake).

Click here to register for the Volksmarch!

Ugly Dog Contest with Millcreek F.I.D.O.S. Do you have a dog that is maybe not terribly attractive but is the world's greatest dog? Then this contest is for you! At 3:45 p.m. on the day of the Festival, Millcreek F.I.D.O.S. is holding an Ugly Dog Contest. Each contestant (and owner) will be accompanied by a beautiful GEMS Talent model. The winner will go home with $100 and there will be additional prizes for the runner-up and of course the most beautiful dog will get a "booby prize"! Remember you can also use a costume to make your fidos a little less beautiful.

Click here to register for the Ugly Dog Contest!

Guided Canyon Hikes Hike 1-2: Millcreek Canyon. Meet at the Millcreek Park n' Ride at 3900 South and Wasatch Blvd. at 9:00 a.m. to carpool up to Millcreek Canyon trailheads. Hikes guided by the Wasatch Mountain Club. All abilities welcome!

Hike 3: Big Cottonwood Canyon. Silver Lake, Brighton, UT. Meet in front of Silver Lake Visitor's Center at 9:00 a.m. Birding hike at Silver Lake - join Bill Fenimore, local birding expert and author, for a bird-filled morning hike at Silver Lake.

Click here to register for the guided canyon hikes!

Volleyball Tournament All ages 4-on-4 grass volleyball tournament! Team entry fee which includes a volleyball t-shirt. Tournament starts at 10 a.m. Early Registration appreciated. Questions? Contact Derrick at 801-243-8532 or derrick@soldsorensen.com

Click here to register for the Volleyball Tournament!

5/28/2010

Important Document information:

Dear FIDOS members and supporters:
Now it is time to take a stand for our dogs. We need people to come to speak to the City Council.

When: June 1 and June 8 (the next two Tuesdays)

7:00 PM

Where: The Salt Lake City Council Meeting

Old City/County Building on State Street in SLC, 2nd floor

What: Mayor Becker submitted his recommendations to the Salt Lake City Council on May 6th regarding the master plan for Parley's Historic Nature Park (AKA the Tanner gully). If you and your dog frequent this park, the Mayor's recommendations will severally impact your ability to use and enjoy this park with your dog.

The Mayor's recommendations reduce the off-leash space from 88 acres to 10 acres (2 small fenced off-leash areas with a connecting trail). The entire southern half of the park will be completely off-limits to dogs. The entire recommendation can be viewed at: www.slcgov.com/publicservices/parks/

The final decision on this park lies with the City Council and they need to hear from you! Please join Millcreek FIDOS in speaking out about the egregious recommendations by the Mayor!

Where you come in: The City Council allows people to speak for two minutes on any topic. People should come prepared with a simple statement of why Parley's is important to them and why it's important to the city. Personal statements are powerful, but we have other talking points we need to weave into our narrative. These include:

The City Council voted definitively on this issue of off-leash use in 2007, the Mayor's recommendations undermine the vote of the Council. Ask the Council to support their original intent and support map/plan A.
The City is short $19 million dollars and is making difficult budget cuts, is this the time to be hiring an expensive consultant and spending money on a new park plan with dramatic changes to a park that works as it is?
As is exists now, this park received the equivalent of thousands of dollars in volunteer services and materials due to FIDOS. How much will it cost the City if FIDOS no longer hauls trash, builds boardwalks, and performs invasive weed mitigation? Not to mention the prevention of criminal activity and illegal dumping because the park is used and loved.
The park is a gem for an important group of citizens and voters: dog owners, and it enhances the City. Dog owners are taxpaying citizens too.
There is no funding for the Mayor's plan and it will degrade the diversity of urban life--it is bad long term planning
This is not just about PNHP, this is an issue that affects all off-leash areas and all districts in the City--not just the district closest to Parleys/Tanner. If this park is not available, where will we go?

We will continue to go to the City Council until they make a decision on this issue. They will meet again the first two Tuesdays in July. We'll send another email before that time.

Please come speak to the City Council and bring friends and children too. When dealing with politicians numbers matter.

This posting also includes some important documents that we should all be aware of:

Anyone new to the area should be aware that Millcreek Canyon is off-leash on ODD DAYS. For example, June 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9th are eligible days. When this rule is not followed, we endanger losing access to Millcreek Canyon. Your Friends at Millcreek FIDOS

"Bark Now or Forever Hold Your Leash!!"

www.MillcreekFIDOS.org

5/20/2010

FIDOS General Meeting

Attention all FIDOS
Millcreek FIDOS will be holding a meeting on Thursday, May 27th, at 6:30 PM at the Sprague (Sugar House) Branch Library at 2131 S 1100 E in the downstairs meeting room. There is a lot going on in the "off leash" dog world right now and we will bring you all up to date on what we know. We are also interested in hearing from you about what you have seen happening.

The most serious threat to "off leash" space right now is the proposal by Mayor Becker to take away the vast majority of Parleys/Tanner Park/"the gully" and leave only two fenced in areas for us. Access to the stream will be mostly removed and the entire south side of the park will be NO DOGS AT ALL, not even "on leash". That means that if you are one of the many neighbors of the park who walk in using the south entrance from your homes, you will no longer be able to. LOSS OF THIS SPACE IS HUGE AND WILL HAVE AN EXTREMELY NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR THOSE OF US WHO CHOOSE TO RECREATE WITH OUR DOGS "OFF LEASH"!!! Mayor Becker's "plan" mentions that additional space throughout the County is needed but does not propose any new areas. This "plan" means that ALL Salt Lake City "off leash" spaces will now be small fenced in areas where you cannot get exercise along with your dog. The "plan" also shows an "off leash trail" but has no definition of what that means.

There are many other concerns across the valley. New signs have popped up at various de facto dog areas. Enforcement has been increased and tickets are being issued in areas that we have always understood were open to "off leash" use. A new sign was posted at the gate in Millcreek Canyon this fall designating the road beyond the gate after the gate was closed as "on leash", a new development and again, contrary to Salt Lake County ordinance.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND JOIN US AT THIS MEETING. THIS IS IMPORTANT!! WE NEED TO LET THE DECISION MAKERS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT "OFF LEASH" SPACE IS TO US!! Once again, the SQUEEZE is on, we are in jeapordy of losing more and more space.

We need your help!! See you there!!

4/28/2010

Parleys Creek Riparian Corridor Workshop

Attention all FIDOS
Your input is requested TOMORROW to help SLC create a vision for the future of Parley's Creek.

WHAT: Two hour workshop for citizen input on Parley's Creek (not a come-and-go open house)
WHEN: Thursday (TOMORROW) April 29, 6:00-8:00pm
WHERE: Highland High School Library (2166 S 1700 East)
WHY: THEY ARE EXPECTING US TO TURN OUT IN DROVES!!!

WHAT TO EXPECT: I attended last night's workshop for City Creek. I WAS THE ONLY OFF-LEASH ADVOCATE and found myself having to defend dog owners against suggestions such as user fees for just us! We were held solely responsible for the poor condition of Memory Grove and upper City Creek and given no credit for the cleaning we do.

The consultants spend two hours giving an overview of their study with baseline assessments. The audience has the opportunity, throughout, to give input about what they want. For example, last night, one citizen stated that he wanted poison ivy left in City Creek, since it was native. This had not occurred to the consultant, but it will be part of the recommendation options.

PLEASE ATTEND TOMORROW NIGHT'S WORKSHOP! HELP THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE USERS WANT FOR PARLEY'S CREEK!

FLYER

4/28/2010

History of Parley's History Nature Park

Click here to view the history of Parley's Historic Nature Park

4/23/2010

May Day Clean Up and Wasatch Canyons Survey

May Day clean Up

We will host an education day and trail clean up next weekend.

Where: Millcreek Canyon

When: Saturday, May 1 from 9 to noon

What can I do? Hike a trail and pick up trash. Email diane at tolo2@aol.com and let her know which trail you hiked and it's condition. Join us at the gate and talk to folks.

Who: Everyone!

For more information, contact Diane at tolo2@aol.com

Wasatch Canyon Survey

We need everyone to complete this survey. Many of the questions don't specifically ask about dogs, but you can write in the comment section that you want canyons open to dogs etc...... The survey takes maybe 10 minutes. It must be done by Friday, April 30th.

Please send this link to everyone. www.wasatchcanyons.slco.org

4/14/2010

Mayor Ralph Becker will be in Parley's Park to hear ideas about the consultant's plan

Mayor Ralph Becker will be hosting an open house in Parley?s Historic Nature Park on Thursday, April 15th at 5:30 pm.

This open house and the comments received will help shape the Mayor?s management plan recommendations to the City Council. Please plan to attend and let the Mayor know how you feel about the Park and the preferred alternative plan designated by the City?s consultant ( A link to the plan can be found here: http://www.slcgov.com/publicservices/parks/Parleys/PHNP%20Open%20House%20Packet%20031810.pdf or go to www.slcgov.com and "search" for Parleys Historic Nature Park)

The proposed plan seriously impacts dog use in the park. It proposes no dogs at all on the entire south side of the park, the entire stream length will be fenced off except for a "pond" that is proposed to be dug at the very west end by the culvert - no stream access for you and your dog, off leash dog use will be limited to two small fenced-in areas at each end of the park with one connecting "off leash trail" linking them and eliminates any off leash use on the north side of (or on) the new bike trail. The new restrictive rules will be strictly enforced by Salt Lake City "staff rangers" as well as "volunteer rangers".

Due to the short length of the meeting and potential crowd size you might want to prepare a comment or two in advance of the meeting to make the most of your opportunity with the Mayor. Meeting participants should feel free to voice any feelings about the plan or Park, but please remember to be respectful in tone and manner with all comments. Also, to allow you to focus on this event, you may want to leave your dog at home.

4/14/2010

3 Acre Cottonwood Dog Park

We wanted to cordially invite you to the inaugural education day at Salt Lake City's newest dog park this Saturday, April 17th. The Cottonwood Park Dog Park is located right behind the Agriculture Building at 350 North Redwood Road. The park features almost three acres of open space with some lovely trees for shade. Future upgrades are going to include a water feature, benches and a "meet and greet" area at the park's entrance. The park is located along the Jordan River Parkway and has a lovely paved trail you can enjoy. Members of FIDOS will be doing a clean up and working a table so please come by with your pooch and say hi. Other community members will be doing a clean up along the parkway so this is a great opportunity to show what an awesome user group we really are. We hope you will come take advantage of this lovely park.

Where: Cottonwood Dog Park 350 North Redwood Road

When: Saturday, April 17th 9 AM to 12 PM

What to Bring: Your Pups

3/16/2010

The draft management plan was released today, and it is *not good* for off-leash use in Parley's.

We need everyone who can to show up on Thursday! The comments we provide should be substantive, address conflicts between the July 2007 council motion and the draft plan, show that dogs and multi-user groups can get along, address the lack of dog space in the City, address flaws in the studies and comprehensive use plan, etc. Angry rants by themselves won't carry the weight we need to change the direction of this plan. We ask everyone to speak their minds, but please if you're representing FIDOS, remain professional!

PHNP Workshop packet 31810.pdf

3/12/2010

Where: City/County Building
When: Thursday, March 18th, 4:00 - 6:00 -
What: Tell the Planning Commission how much you value this space and how you feel about the possibility of losing any of it!!!

Attention all FIDOS - If you use the Parleys (Tanner, the gully) off-leash area, you need to be aware of plans that are in the works to reduce or eliminate the space and trails you may use.

YES, it wasn't that long ago that the off leash user group was acknowledged as a legitimate user group and given a designated place we could enjoy with our human and canine families.
YES, we have all worked hard to keep the gully the wonderful place it is.
YES, the trail construction has done an immense amount of damage, far beyond the impact of people getting their exercise with their families.

But, the Salt Lake City administration has decided that all of that is not important and formed a large stakeholders committee with only one representative who was not a vocal opponent to off-leash dogs to determine what happens to the space. We have not yet seen their decision but based on what we have heard, it will promote big changes and will take away the majority of the park from off-leash use. This plan will be presented to the Salt Lake City Planning Commission on Thursday, March 18th, at a public open house that will be held between 4:00 and 6:00 PM in the hall on the first floor of the City/County Building, 451 S State.

This will be our first opportunity to see what the SLC administration has decided and it is important that those of you who value and have worked hard to maintain this important off leash space look at the proposal and let SLC know how you feel about it.

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!

Places where people who choose to recreate with their dogs are continually being closed. The space that is left is important because there are a lot of us but the response to the complaint of "too many people" should not be limit the space. If the fact that there are a lot of us is really a problem, then the solution should be keep what is there and find more space for us. A busy park is a successful park. A park without people enjoying the space shows that the needs of taxpayers are not being met.

Help to keep Parleys (Tanner, the gully) off leash - if our voices are not heard, we lose space!!! Be at the City/County Building on Thursday, March 18th, at 4:00 - 6:00 - tell them how much you value this space and how you feel about the possibility of losing any of it!!!

F.I.D.O.S.

The MILLCREEK F.I.D.O.S. (Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space) are a group of concerned individuals who have joined together to help secure off-leash areas for companion dogs and their owners in the Salt Lake County area. F.I.D.O.S. works with local governments and regulatory agencies to secure and maintain off-leash areas.

We hope to help dog owners locate areas where they can legally enjoy life in the outdoors with the four-legged members of their family, and hope to help the public understand and participate in the politics affecting these areas that we all love to visit with our dogs. We offer assistance to those who wish to suggest locations for future off-leash areas, and we ask that the public keep us informed of new issues regarding off-leash areas, and coordinate volunteer efforts to maintain the safety and cleanliness of areas that have already been set aside for us.

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
- Unknown Author