Dog owners in Nassau County have gotten good news lately on efforts to create new dog parks in Nassau County and one of its townships.

On April 21, Nassau County dog owners were informed by Parks Commissioner Jose Lopez's office that the Parks Dept. is planning to create a new dog run in Eisenhower Park!

The good news is the result of the efforts of Chris L., a Nassau County dog owner and now active LI-DOG member who collected 1,300 signatures on a petition asking for a dog park in Eisenhower Park and submitted it to the Parks Dept. and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi. Chris also handed out hundreds of flyers to fellow dog owners in Nassau County. LI-DOG helped by sending out Chris's flyer and her email to its Nassau County members asking them to contact the Parks Commissioner asking for a dog run in Eisenhower Park. Thanks to Chris and all those who emailed the Parks Dept. Nassau County may soon become a little nicer place for dog owners and their dogs to live!

In announcing its plans, the Parks Dept. said that it would scope out possible locations and look for money for the project in the coming weeks. It also noted that a strong dog owner group is critical to making any dog park a success and it asked dog owners to let the Dept. know if they would be interested in becoming part of such a group.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you want to help create a new dog park in Eisenhower Park, email Parks Commissioner Lopez at jlopez@nassaucountyny.gov and thank the Commissioner for listening to the needs of dogs owners and let him know you would be happy to become part of a dog owner group at Eisenhower Park.

Dog owners are now waiting to hear back from the Dept. on their offer to help find an appropriate site for the new dog run in Eisenhower Park.

The Town of Oyster Bay is also now exploring the creation of a dog park. Through a Town wide mailing, residents were asked to share their ideas about how they would like to see the Town invest SEA Fund III (environmental bond fund) money. Many dog owners communicated to the Town that they would like to have a dog park! As a result, the Town is actively searching for a location and looking to other municipalities to see what works for them in terms of size, park rules, etc.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you live in the Town of Oyster Bay and know of a location that you think would be suitable for a dog run, email us at lidog_news@yahoo.com. You can also write or email the Town and let them know that you are anxiously awaiting the Town's first dog park! Remember, there is only so much money to go around so the more people who contact the Town, asking for a dog park the better! The mailing address is Supervisor John Venditto and Oyster Bay Town Board, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. You can also send them an email by going to the town's website at www.oysterbaytown.com and clicking on the "contact us" tab on the bottom of the left hand side of the page.

    As always, keep in touch by e-mailing us at lidog_news@yahoo.com.