One minute, the dogs are living large, hanging on the sands, fetching balls from the surf, keeping order among warring flocks of seagulls. The next, in the name of progress and summer tourists, it’s this: a barren, pebble-lined, fenced-in desperate stretch of land nestled in the shadow of the Ocean City’s sewage waste treatment facility (ok, fittingly nestled, but still). Its own website euphemistically and apologetically describes the park as “sterile.” Even my dumb dogs would know this is not exactly doggie heaven.
Officially known as the Cape May County/Ocean City Dog Park, it was unveiled last month to the backyard-challenged dogowners of the shore as a refuge during summer, when their dogs are suddenly canis non grata on the beaches. They are promising some trees at some point. It’s located at 45th and Haven Streets, with the scary-big pipes of the treatment facilities as the view, complete with the sounds of sewage being treated as you scoop your dog’s poop. Four blocks away, the beach beckons.
Once the dog lovers of Ocean City dreamed of getting a stretch of actual beach front declared open for dogs, even just in the early morning hours. But all their efforts _ and they were considerable _ resulted in this penitentiary-like setting on the bayside of the island. There are a few amenities: a tire to jump through, a cute little water fountain at dog height, double entrances so your dog doesn’t go chasing after a new friend, and, eventually, the company of other dogs. There’s lots of room to throw a ball and to run. It costs $35 a year for out-of-county folks to get a “Paw Pass,” $25 for locals and $10 for a week. Mandy, a 9-year-old miniature pinscher, was the only dog there today. “It is kind of bleak,” her owner, Gene Hall, said. “It’s all gravel. But if you try to take them to the beach anymore, it’s like a federal case.”
This is Mandy, walking the perimeter of the park. I say, better off jumping in the car and heading for that beach on the other side of the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, one of the rare ones where dogs are actually welcome. Or, doing what most people do, sneaking the dogs on the beach in the wee hours. www.oceancitydogpark.org.
Comments (7)
Yikes. That's a pretty pathetic dog park. It looks like poor Mandy is at the pound.
Posted by Ellen | June 5, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on June 5, 2007 16:41
Where do you get your info from? That park's been open for an entire year and officially was opened in Oct '06 according to the website.
Posted by crawdad | June 6, 2007 1:36 PM
Posted on June 6, 2007 13:36
Boo Hoo - my poor dog can't enjoy the beach! Get over it. I dont pay $2000-3000 per week for a beachfront rental so my family can experience the joy of your dog crapping next to my beach blanket. That OC has a dog park at all is a bonus.
Posted by Brian | June 6, 2007 6:08 PM
Posted on June 6, 2007 18:08
I'm not sure what the rules are for State Parks but Corson's inlet is on the end of the island. I can not find anything pertaining to dogs on the website. But it is a great place to let the dogss run. Just make sure they stay clear of nesting birds!
Posted by Shayne Chaney | June 7, 2007 8:46 AM
Posted on June 7, 2007 08:46
these so-called dog "parks" are a awful. they really expect us to pay a fee to bring our dogs into that dump? i wouldn't even go if it was free. its a bad idea to bring your dog into a confined area with a bunch of dogs that haven't met before.
we have a house in ocean city. as taxpayers, i would have thought we'd be able to get at least a small area of beach on the island to use for a few hours a day. i've never heard a good reason they can't be on the boardwalk either, but i don't expect one.
Posted by Ted | June 7, 2007 8:50 AM
Posted on June 7, 2007 08:50
Could you tell me more about the beach you mentioned? You said it still welcomes dogs and it's on the other side of the bridge. Is it nice? Are dogs allowed at all times or just after 5p?
Posted by Meredith | June 7, 2007 8:51 AM
Posted on June 7, 2007 08:51
the beach he's referring to is on the longport side of the OC-Longport bridge. you can't miss it. the beach itself is relatively nice, but parking and getting onto the beach can be an ordeal. once your there though, it is great. i hope the secret doesn't get out too much though because i have a feeling they are going to ban dogs there eventually too. just like in haddonfield where we got kicked out of a park that nobody ever used (except underage drinkers and paintballers).
dog owners are, for the most part, responsible and nature loving people who actually enjoy the outdoors and want to preserve it. yet despite that, we keep getting banned from one area after another.
Posted by Ted | June 7, 2007 9:04 AM
Posted on June 7, 2007 09:04