Op-Ed Criticizes Dog Owners' Use of Public Spaces in Chicago

A scathing op-ed by Joanne Cleaver provides a laundry list of public spaces and parks in Chicago spoiled, in her opinion, by heavy use from the canine companions of residents.

1 minute read

December 30, 2014, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

A typical complaint of city-dwellers is a lack of space to run and walk their dogs, but there is another side of the story: that of the city dweller constantly put off by the site of urinating and defecating dogs in public.

An example of Cleaver's exasperation:

The Aqua, at 225 N. Columbus Drive, is an architectural treasure, a vertical reflecting pool that overlooks Lake Shore East Park. But along the sidewalk on the northern side of the Aqua, you must skip over wet patches splotching its walls and sidewalk. Before and after working hours, the sidewalk is more wet than dry.

Clearly the pressure to make enough public space for both humans and dogs to enjoy is a quandary yet to be solved by many cities. For instance, in West Hollywood, a controversy recently arose over a lack of space for dogs relative to a surplus in space for children.

FULL STORY: Don't let Maggie Daley Park go to the dogs

Tuesday, December 23, 2014 in Chicago Tribune

Landscape Architecture Illinois Chicago Public Spaces Dog Parks Dogs View More

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