Friday, June 10, 2022

Spring Clean-Up. Our first without Jerry




Jerry Culligan, The Rocky Run's unofficial 'mayor', passed late last year.  For most of the run's existence, he was the point person for our Spring and Fall clean-up events, as well as the person who did much of the daily maintenance work.  He is irreplaceable, and yet, the work must continue.  And let's just say, some things never change.  We once again had problems with wood chip delivery.  

Before I arrived on the scene, it was discovered that the gate used for vehicles to enter the run was rusted shut from lack of use.  With much effort, it was opened.  Bringing us to our next problem.  


The rain-soaked ground was too soft.  The truck was much too large.  (Literally a Mack Truck, which I suppose is appropriate, given those Bulldog hood ornaments they sport.)  There was no way to get the chips inside the run without the truck sinking into the mud. Jerry used to arrange for little Bobcat vehicles to bring the chips inside a bit at a time, but those are under a separate Parks Dept. authority from the one with the trucks and the chips, and I think I already mentioned Jerry was irreplaceable?  

Anyway, we got chips.  We just had to use wheelbarrows to bring them in ourselves.  We have two.  We got two more from Parks.  One of them was broken.  Norma ran home and brought the nuts and bolts and tools to repair it. Norma is likewise irreplaceable.  So is manual labor, at these events.  We've had bigger turnouts, but most of the people who showed up were more than ready to pitch in.  They just needed tools.  

The tools were a bit late arriving, not through any ill intent, but because in spite of Bailea very specifically telling Partnership for Parks what we needed in the application she filled out, a bureaucratic miscommunication caused them to show up with nothing but Parks Dept. swag, T-shirts and such. Appreciated.  Not useful to the task at hand. Bailea remonstrated, calls were made, tools were (eventually) provided.  Bailea is most definitely irreplaceable.  

Now what all this meant was that in order to complete the task in the allotted time, we had to use the truck gate as the wheelbarrow gate.  With dogs present inside the run.  Meaning we had to make sure they didn't decide to go running outside the run.  Because all dogs are, as we well know, irreplaceable.  





The work proceeded--we could all sense Jerry watching us, and shouting instructions (possibly interspersed with the odd snatch of mild profanity), which we were sadly unable to hear, though we could imagine.  It wasn't going to be one of our more ambitious clean-ups, given the various constraints, but Joy Gramolini, who had been organizing well in advance of the event, did want to do something about two of the benches on the west side of the run, which have been gradually sinking into the ground.  They are heavy, but we were determined, and now they are in new locations. Here's Beatrice, testing one out.  (Bea is supremely irreplaceable, as is Joy).







We didn't get all the chips inside, but overall, things are much improved.  There is still so much to be done, though.  The run isn't that far shy of 20 years old now.  The fence has taken quite a few hard knocks, and the level of the ground inside the fence has steadily risen, making the fence less of an obstacle for athletic pooches.  It's still one of the best runs in the city, but it could be better.  Without Jerry, we can't just pretend the run will run itself.  We will need to organize, fundraise, and work with the city to make sure this resources remains available to future generations of dogs and people.  Because a place like the Rocky Run is not only irreplaceable, but invaluable.  As is the community that sustains it.  



Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Petition To Reopen NYC Dog Runs

It's getting hard to find places to reach a lot of local dog owners, and I'm not on Facebook anymore, but if you see this, sign this.

https://www.change.org/p/andrew-m-cuomo-reopen-all-nyc-dog-runs

As of now, I can't get any straight answer from anyone as to when the runs will reopen.  The playgrounds are open, and I saw very few facemasks at Lily Brown playground yesterday.

Dogs don't need masks, and dog people have been great about wearing them, and about distancing.  It's time we got our runs back.


Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Mission Accomplished



All in all, it took about four hours, though a bit of work was done before that.  There was a small snafu with the number of tools and wheelbarrows dropped off, but Bailea got on the phone and it was quickly ramified.  Turnout was large and enthusiastic.  Dogs had fun, and humans had some aches and pains the next day, but overall, a great clean-up.

Sadly, the last two of our original dog run benches (so many memories)were accidentally broken by a Parks truck shortly beforehand (the remains of them can still be seen outside the fence), but this led to the delivery of several replacement benches, which our volunteers placed in strategic locations, so now we have more and better seating than ever.  (If we'd requisitioned new benches, I wonder how long it would have taken?)

A very successful event, and the weather couldn't have been improved upon, nor could the refreshments, brought by volunteers.  Now the dogs will be coming home without a peck of dirt in their coats to spread about the apartment.  Next clean-up will be in the spring, but there's talk of still further improvements--and maybe getting a bit more organized.  I've heard talk like that before, but I have suspicion this time something will come of it.  What do you think, Bea?
















Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Fall Clean-Up. Saturday, October 19th. (This time it's personal)


 



Well, the Spring clean-up never happened.  We got rained out, and rained out again.  The ground got so soft, the Parks Dept. couldn't deliver the wood chips, so the rain date got canceled too. 

But the chips are down this time, and we're going ahead with it even if there's a freak tsunami.  Because we have had it up to here with bringing dogs home covered in dirt.  (The dogs love it, but they don't get a vote.)

Officially, the clean-up goes from 10-2pm, but anybody who shows up at 9 will find work waiting, and it might well go to 3pm.

Refreshments, as always.  Parks Dept. swag, as always.  Bring your dog if you want, as always.  If it rains, come anyway, but it will--not--rain.    


Friday, May 17, 2019

Clean-up moved to Saturday, June 1st!

Sorry not to update sooner (if anyone actually reads this blog), but there will be no clean-up tomorrow, for weather and logistics-related reasons.  Jerry told me last week, but it wasn't 100% confirmed yet, and I put off updating for that reason.  June 1st is definite.  Unless it rains.  (When doesn't it rain?)