Many state parks around Maryland already allow pets in certain areas at certain times of year. But officials say they keep hearing from people who want more access for their four-legged friends.

So, the Department of Natural Resources has come up with a plan to expand access at many more parks for at least part of the year. 

They also want to hear from the public on this proposal. You can post a comment here through Nov. 30.

I suspect they will hear from all sides. Some people would likely use the parks more for hiking, picnicing, etc., if they could bring their dogs. But I bet others believe their experience would be harmed if more dogs were allowed -- more noise, more poop, more run ins, etc.

Raise your paw if you're for the proposal.

Photo of Patapsco Valley State Park courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources  

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: News, Parks
        

If you see goats chomping their way around an overgrown stretch of unused Druid Hill Park today, don't worry, they're the hired help.

The Parks & People Foundation brought 40 of them to the Auchentoroly Terrace site at the park to help clear overgrown vegetation and invasive species.

The effort is part of a $10 million project to put the 9-acre parcel and an old mansion back into use. The foundation will eventually use the property as its headquarters, but much of the space will be used for community events. They will also create trails and connect the space to the rest of Druid Hill Park.

The goats have been feeding for two days to make way for construction crews to get near the mansion. They will come back to do the rest of the land at some point.

If you are wondering more about these creatures:

+a herd of 30 goats can eat up to a quarter acre of vegetation a day

+they eat all kinds of poisonous and invasive species of plants including poison ivy

+they can reach vegetation up to six feet off the ground

+the droppings provide natural fertilizer

+they eat brush and not grass

+they have four-chambered stomachs and special enzymes which allow them to digest plants

+these particular goats are a mix of Boer and Spanish species

Supplying the goats was Eco-Goats, a Davidsonville-based company specializing in “environmentally friendly vegetation control."

I have to say, they do nice work. And they're pretty cute, too.

Baltimore Sun photo/Meredith Cohn

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Going Green, Parks
        

The New York Times's Green Inc. blog has an item about an effort to compost dog waste in Ithaca, N.Y. It's kind of a pilot project where dog owners at a certain dog park are given special corn-based bags to pick up poop. They dump it in a special container that is picked up by a composting company.

The compost people haven't yet decided what to do with the waste. They'll mix it with top soil if it's not such good quality or use it in gardens if it's good quality.

But I've long thought about the amount of dog poop I throw away. All those plastic bags that sit in the landfill forever. But the alternative is to leave it on the ground. That's not really an alternative, though. People, including little kids, would step in it. And some of it would -- and lots does now -- end up in our waterways where bacteria already is a serious problem.

But would people actually participate in a composting operation here? There used to be a bin at work that was bright yellow and labelled for ink jet and electronic recycling only. Yet every day there was trash in it. I don't know if people didn't pay any attention or did it on purpose, but either way, I can imagine the other stuff that would go into the compost bin at the dog park.

So, what's the answer?

Associated Press photo of dogs in a park in Ithica, N.Y.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Going Green, Parks
        

It's not too late to head to the beach. Why not plan on hitting Assateague Island National Seashore on Saturday (Sept. 19) and spend a few hours picking up butts and other trash littering the sand?

The ponies, birds and fish will thank you, and you'll be in great company. Last year, 2,600 volunteers collected something like 20,000 pounds of trash - everything from cigarette butts and drink cups to bicycles, porch blinds and a lawnmower.

The Assateague trash roundup, sponsored by Delmarva Power, is part of the 2009 Coastal Clean Up Day, in which volunteers police beaches all around the country. Trash bags will be provided, so  just bring work gloves, sunscreen and bug spray. For more info, go here or contact Assateague Coastal Trust by phone 410-629-1538 or email mail@actforbays.org

(July 2009 photo by Kim Hairston of The Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Looking for a fun weekend activity that doesn't require skill and doesn't pollute? How about tubing in Gunpowder State Park. We went Sunday. The water was cold, but the scenery was fantastic.

The park is almost 18,000 acres in Harford and Baltimore counties. They protect the stream valley of the Big and Little Gunpowder Falls and the Gunpowder River. There are 100 miles of trails, including the 21-mile North Central Railroad Trail, called the NCR, which runs along the portion of the river you can float in.  

You can rent a tube at Monkton Bike Inc. I think it was $10 for a nice big tube. They can also give you directions on getting in and out of the water and estimated times.

My friend Craig organized my trip and brought along his own tubes and snacks. We unintentionally got a little ambitious and stayed out for more than three hours. The water was low and moving VERY slowly. Good thing at the end, there was ice cream, a bathroom and a towel.

Baltimore Sun photo of tubing on the Gunpowder/Kim Hairston

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Events, Parks
        

There were so many great entries into the parks contest. I just couldn't pick.

B'More Green editor Kim Walker stepped in and decided on Leslie, who wrote a wonderful tale about how Susquehanna State Park in Havre de Grace eased her transition back to Maryland and came to be an important part of her life. Read the full post here.

The other entries, such as the one on the family that visits Rocky Gap State Park in Cumberland from Michigan and the couple that married in Mariner Point Park in Joppatowne, were really good. And touching. I'm going to make an effort to visit those parks soon. And Rick, who hiked Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, I'm impressed. I got most of the way there once.

So, I hope everyone will keep the stories coming about good parks to visit. And we'll have another contest soon. If you have suggestions for a good green contest, let me know that, too.

Thanks again for playing.

Baltimore Sun photo of Susquehanna State Park/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Contests, Parks
        

In honor of the fee-free weekend at the National Parks, we are having a park-themed contest.

Tell us which park is your favorite and why you love it so much. It doesn't have to be a national park. It can be a state park or a local park.

Tell us about your first trip, your last trip or all of your trips to this park. Why is it so great? And the story doesn't have to be long or involve climbing to the top of Half Dome or anything.

We'll pick a winner on Friday. The prize is a new Blue Q stainless steel water bottle that you can take with you on the next park visit.

Blue Q bottles have no BPA like some hard clear plastic water bottles and the company gives 1 percent of its sales to support global clean water initiatives.

So, get writing.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Contests, Parks