A new season of playing at Montrose and Foster dog beach is upon us.  The last two years have seen safety measures horrendously disappear.   This is no longer a safe place for dogs. A large amount of sand has drifted to the top of the cement barricades which in the past has kept dogs safely confined in the beach area.    A number of people have have had their dogs escape, never to be seen again, or hit by cars and killed.    Bulldozers are desperately needed to level the sand and move it away from the exterior barrier walls. As done in previous years - and then maintained - they  should be high enough that even the largest dogs cannot scale the walls.

Additionally, since Lake Michigan is receding, the fence separating  the dog from the people beach is now several yards inside the shoreline. This is also a huge problem when dogs can so easily run over to the people beach. The city is sure to get many complaints when that happens. The dogs can run into small children, seriously injuring them, as well as defacate all over their beach.

  We implore the park district to restore AND maintain the safety barriers.    Is the dog beach going to permanently take a hit because of our city's budget deficit? Up until last year, which was the first year of Rahm's rule (don't know if there is a connection), the dog beach was ALWAYS maintained.    The beach used to be a wonderful place for dogs to exercise and play and it's a shame that the park district no longer takes responsibility for its safety and upkeep.
  You can also email the park district. Let's inundate them with emails. InspectorGeneral@ChicagoParkDistrict.com  

Or call---

Kenneth Henderson

Staff Assistant, Office of the Inspector General

Chicago Park District

(312) 742-1127