It's Really Happening!

Here's what happened. Late in the morning on Wednesday, October 7th, Bark for a Park's President, Claudine Arredondo-Graf, got a phone call. It was Mayor Langford. (Impressive, right?) His message to her was, in essence, that he'd only recently found out of our longtime efforts to open a dog park in Birmingham, and that he was going to cut all the red tape and simply make it happen. Like, right away.

Mayor Langford called for a press conference at George Ward Park in Birmingham for Thursday, October 8th at 10:30am. It was a gorgeous day. City workers must have arrived very early to set up a stage, podium, sound system, chairs, ice chests filled with bottled water, etc. Bark supporters, some with their dogs, started to gather just after 10am. Tons of news media were there. Everyone mixed and mingled.

The mayor arrived. Claudine took the stage and exuberantly announced him. He spoke for some time, mentioning his gratitude for our advocacy of a dog park, his love of George Ward park and what a great addition a dog park will be, his regret that his own dog couldn't be with him today since he was at the vet (hot spots!). At one point he invited Margaret from Creative Dog Training and her puppy to take the stage with him, and the mayor scooped the puppy into his arms (in the mayor's defense, the pup was irresistably adorable and extremely well-mannered). He invited all the city workers to join him on stage to thank them for leaping into action. Seems they had already begun work on erecting the dog park fencing! Next he invited Conor from Creative Dog Training to take the mic and teach everyone the dog park rules. And perhaps the biggest surprise of all, he told us that the dog park should be ready to open BY TUESDAY!

After the press conference concluded, there was more hanging out. The mayor tried to give some water to one of Claudine's dogs Maybelle (who snubbed the mayor!) The mayor and the Bark for a Park board all lined up for photo ops and interviews. Claudine and Mayor Langford posed and looked happy.

Our sincere thanks to Mayor Langford, his staff, the Parks & Rec staff, the media, and last but not least, Bark for a Park volunteers and donors. It's happening!

Please check the Bark for a Park website to find out how to donate, volunteer, become a member, buy a t-shirt, or support our upcoming events. Now the serious fundraising begins so that we can repay the city of Birmingham for the fencing and purchase all the amenities needed for George Ward Park (and the Hoover dog park close behind!)

Were you at the press conference today? Post a comment sharing your memories, observations and experience of the event.