Noble Creek Park is going to the dogs

November 1st will be a morning and afternoon (10 am-1pm) filled with canine activities. The ribbon cutting will occur at 10 a.m. After the ceremony, local dignitaries will serve as judges for events such as: the Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest starting at 11 am, Biggest and Littlest Dog Contest at noon and the Best of Pet Tricks Contest beginning at12:30 pm (all times approximate).

Pre-registration for the events is not required; simply check in at the Information Booth at least 30 minutes prior to the event you would like to participate in.There will be awards and prizes for the winners and special bags of goodies for the first 500 canines that show up with their human companions. That is one prize per household.

Background and History:
Years in the making, this has been a pet project of the Board of Directors of the Beaumont/Cherry Valley Parks and Recreation District, General Manager Mickey Valdivia, the dog park committee, staff and all the residents of the Pass Area who have been awaiting the arrival of a dog park.

Under proper supervision of their owners, dog parks are a place where canines of all sizes and shapes can weigh in and run free, without the constraints of leashes. "There are two separate dog parks," said general manager, Mickey Valdivia. "Our research has shown that human companions feel more comfortable when their dogs are separated by size in different areas of the park. We are putting the small dogs in their own gated area and the larger dogs have their own turf to run in."

While dogs are required to be on leash until they enter the dog park, there is plenty of room allowed for the humans to get their favorite canines prepared to enter the new world of the Canine Country Club at Noble Creek Park.

Making a major financial and staff commitment was necessary to accomplish putting the dog park into play. "Every good thing starts with a dream," Dan Hughes, Chairman of the Beaumont Cherry Valley Recreation and Parks District (BCVRPD) said. "We had a great deal of public support and that has always helped the process along," Hughes said.

While Noble Creek Park is well known for its baseball activities, there are many features and activities available for the whole family. There is soccer, horse activities and shows and the ability to hook up one's RV and stay on site. The views are spectacular, the activities varied and the ambience friendly and informal.

As the ever changing economy continues to impact families and single people's activities and travel costs, forward thinking city's like Beaumont and the Beaumont Cherry Valley Recreation and Parks District have learned how to keep their residents satisfied within their home city.

BCVRPD general manger Mickey Valdivia, long a practitioner of regional activities jumped, when his board gave him the go ahead to proceed with the dog park. "I have friends and business associates who spend a great deal of their free time traveling long distances to find a safe, legal place for their dogs to run free. We now have the ability to accommodate the people and the dogs in the Pass Area."

"There are restrictions," Valdivia reminds. "While the facility is free, we have prepared signs to remind the public that simple rules have to be followed. People will have to pick up after their pooches and maintain control of them while they are in the park. It's really that simple," Valdivia noted.

Jim Carlisle, Director of Programs for the Park District announced that there will be special canine programs and activities available with the coming of the Canine Country Club. "We are sensitive to the needs of the humans who will come to the park and their canine companions. We will be offering courses in canine behavior, dog training and hopefully anything that makes it a better experience for people to bring their dogs to our special facility."

While the park is still under construction, there is already evidence that dogs will be accommodated with fire hydrants to do their due and all dogs (and humans) will have the ability to stay hydrated. There will be adequate disposal facilities, where humans are encouraged to pick up after their prodigal pooches.

"It's a cooperative enterprise," Valdivia said. "We are providing the facility for people to have a safe and pleasant place to bring their companion animals and meet new human and canine friends. The reality is we all need to cooperate in order for the park to be a great place for all who want to use it."

Zac Batista, Park supervisor of the Beaumont Cherry Valley Recreation and Parks District has been busy making certain the new dog park not only meets all Americans with Disability (ADA) standards, but exceeds them. "We are putting in DG (decomposed granite) on walkways and pathways throughout the park. We have gone beyond the minimum ADA standards so that people with disabilities can enjoy the park with our without their canine companions."

"Our consultants came up with a suggestion that we hadn't even thought about," Valdivia said. "We are creating a Memorial Garden where people can come and honor their canines that have departed. If they want to, they will be able to purchase plaques, bench markers and planting opportunities. After the cost of the material and engraving, all monies will be recycled back into the park" Valdivia pointed out.

"Other than dawn to dusk park hours, there are no time constraints for people who want to visit the park," Valdivia mentioned. We are anticipating that lots of people will come to the park just to be in the atmosphere of good people and their canine companions."

Sidebar of How to prepare to approach a dog park:
Cesar Millan, the famous "Dog Whisperer" makes excellent points about behavior and procedure when taking your dog to a Dog Park. He points out, "if your dog has poor social skills, is overly fearful or is dog aggressive, or if you have not yet established your calm-assertive leadership with your dog, find a more controlled way to introduce the dog to the company of their dogs; such as play dates" with one or two other dog owners."

Millan also reminds dog owners of the importance of exercising their dogs on a regular basis. Taking the dog to a park is no substitute for a walk. Millan says, "If you drive to the park, leave your car a block away and take your dog on a vigorous walk of at least thirty-five minutes to drain some of the energy. Never take an over-excited dog to the park."

The Canine Country Club at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont will be officially introduced on November 1, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Noble Creek Park. Woof! Woof!

For more information, contact Gail Paparian (951) 769-6970; gail@writingsolutions.com.