Time for a new posting. This is one of B’s favorite places to go in town but please know that Arlington HAS leash laws. Some of these pictures may actually show Hugo off leash but it is all a trick of the camera 
Also, one of the last picture we are going to show is actually one of the scariest times we spent with Hugo. Read on to find out more.
Negative – On Leash Dog Walking
As I already wrote, Menotomy is an on leash park. While there are many dogs who may be walking around this area off leash, they all run the risk of being fined. If you do end up taking your dog to this park and take them off leash, please make sure that they are under voice control. There is a playground close to the field that many dogs play on and all owners should make sure that the dogs aren’t running in.
Positive – Great Learning Environment
A great part of this park is all of the signs that they have up either identifing trees or showing the Vita trail. I went on many hikes growing up when we had to identify all of these trees. I really like that they have all these signs up to show kids what they are looking at and know what to identify. Also, Menotomy has a Vita trail. When B and I first moved to Arlington, we went to this park first. We did the Vita trail the first time in the park although all the signs were no longer up. Even more signs fell during the recent storms. I don’t know the origin of the Vita Trails but they are set up as an exercise course in the woods. If you google it you will find them in Missouri and in Switzerland.
Positive – The Field
The field is right after the pond. There is a large area where games can be played. The size is close to about 1/3 of a football field. It is longer than that estimate but narrower. It is a great place to throw the ball. We have the Air Kong Football which Hugo loves. It throws great and has a squeaky in it.
Negative – Icy Hills
As with all of the places we have been so far, the hills are very icy. One nice aspect of these trails is that one section of the hill has errosion steps which help with the incline. There is one very steep hill on the other side of the park that you will need to walk up. You can make a loop to avoid this slope but outside of the pond and the field, the rest of the park is a hill to hike on. There are many places where you will need to climb. This is not a problem outside of Winter but it is a problem if you are going to hike in the winter.
Positive – Friends
This picture was very close to the elusive Oxen Team. There were two other dogs besides Hugo who were playing with sticks in the hill section. While the dogs are always having fun together, the owners are also very nice too. We met with the owners of these two dogs during our walk and B and the brown dogs owner met before in the park. Speaking of, not only are the dogs who frequent the woods friendly but some also have famous connections. The brown dog here is actually the sister of the winner of the best of breed for Retriever (Flat-Coated). You can see his pictures are http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2010/photos/breed/SN72628801.html.
Neutral – The Pond
The final item to review is our first neutral item. The pond is a great part of this park. It is one of the first things that you see when you come in and, during the winter, you will find many people using it for skating. There is also a protective Wetland area (see above) in the pond, the only reason this can hurt its rating is that you need to make sure to NEVER allow your dogs to go into this area. Knowing how curious Hugo is, I knonw this will not be an easy task for many owns. You can see Hugo getting a little confident in the photo below. At the end of the walk he went down to the water’s edge, put his feet in and jumped on the ice. Needless to say this really scared us as the ice is very thin. He did eventually get off but B and I realized that he has to be on leash while passing by the pond.
Overall – Great Park
Menotony is a great place to take a dog for a walk. Please remember that it is an on leash park and this should be respected. Even if your dog is within your voice control, please make sure to keep your dog on leash. There will be some off leash in this park but we should all respect the laws of Arlington. I will post very soon about A Dog, the Arlington Dog Rights Group which we just joined. Until then, enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
I hinted at our trip to the Fellway during the posting on Sunday. When we went to this place, which is very nice, we were under the impression that if was an off leash park. When we arrived we saw all dogs on leash with signs up saying that they had to be. I have let the board who posted that this place is off leash and hopefully it will be updated this week.
Now, with out further ado, our review of The Fellsway.
Negative – On Leash Park
This was the first sign that we saw when we pulled up. We had come to this park thinking that it was off leash but something must have happened since the posting occurred. There were dogs in the park which were off leash but since it was our first time, we didn’t let Hugo off. If we go back a few more times we may let him off but until we know the area, B and I don’t feel comfortable letting him off. Hugo could run up to other people who could ocmplain and we don’t need any more problems with off leash dogs.
Positive – Bellevue Pond
Outside of the posters saying we couldn’t walk Hugo, the Pond was the first thing we saw when we got to the Fells. It was a great pond, good size and even better, a great place to hang out. There was a family there when we went by having fun with a swing that was right next to the path. There is a lot of area available to set up a picnic in the spring/summer in this area.
Negative – Icy Paths
Par for the course so far, everyone will need to make sure that they are careful when walking on these trails. I think the Fellsway posed the biggest problem for us so far due to the hills. The section we were in were very hilly, thankfully we had our boots available to keep our footing (Thanks Lorraine!).
Positive – Signs
One very good part of the Fellsway is all of the signs. Really, at any point we came across a break in the path, there were always signs up guiding us. I would recommend that you pick up a map of the park before you go. They have trail maps up at http://www.fells.org/visit/map.cfm. We are going to get a map and really explore this place more this spring so stay tuned.
Positive – Side Paths
There are many larger bike/hiking paths throughout the Fellsway but there are also a lot of smaller paths shooting off of the large ones. I am not sure if they are all labeled or if people have just created them over time. Above is B and Hugo sitting on top of a great hill path we found. It was a nice little open section in the middle of the hill.
Positive – Random Structures
I am not sure what this actually is but we saw it when we got to the top of the hill. It was getting late at this point so we could not investigate but I really wanted to see if we could figure out where this was in the Fells. Next time we will do more exploring to search out this. Seeing this when we came to the top of the hill made me feel like we were in an adventure movie where the final location was finally in my view. It will be great to find this place. Maybe I will FourSquare it.
Overall – Neutral
I was not happy when we got to The Fellsway. We were very much looking forward to taking Hugo off leash here and did not have his leash stuff with us. There were a lot of dogs off leash there so I think he may get used to running around with the rest of the off leash dogs. Until our next review, enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
I wanted to write quickly to let everyone know about the meeting tonight. First off, bravo to everyone who came out. I was amazed when it came time for the meeting to start to see that the place was full with the Friends of Willard’s Woods. I must tip my cap to Leslie, Sharon and Marjorie for all of their work to get everyone organized. B and I were very happy when we got our buttons and bumper stickers before the meeting and it was great to get the signs for the meeting. I took some pictures but they may be a little blury. I will post them to the blog if they come out.
The Chairwoman started the meeting by stating that due to the turnout at the meeting, the “Dog Issue” at Willards Woods would be the first item reviewed. This was great since there were four hearings and one pending matter which were ahead of our issue. It was funny to read their agenda because it was called “Dog on Conservation Land”. I guess if we just found that one dog causing all the problems then we would be in good shape. Hopefully it isn’t Hugo
The Chairwoman said that they were expecting to receive comments and suggestions from the public on this topic and was amazed when the commission received over 200 emails! Great Job! Long story short is that the proposal to have all dogs leashed has been delayed until at least May 1. A smaller committee will be formed from the commission to further investigate the issue. A posting is already up on Unleash Us where you can read more, http://unleashthewoods.blogspot.com/.
We will be back soon with our two postings for the week about places to bring your dogs but I felt this was more important to get out tonight. Until then, enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
Ok, tomorrow is the big day, the reason why I started posting to this blog. The Lexington Conservation Commission will be meeting to review and possibly rule on allowing dogs to still enjoy Willard’s Woods off leash. For those of you who have not yet heard, buttons and bumper stickers can be picked up at Wales Copy Center at 1810 Mass Ave in Lexington. The buttons are $1.50 and the bumper stickers are $1.75. The costs are set up to off set the cost of making both items quickly and help the team create signs which are being made for the meeting.
The meeting is going to be held at Cary Hall. Word on the street is that the LCC is going to discuss other issues first and that they do not know what time the dog discussion will take place. Please, everyone, get out there early even if we have to stay around for a while. The meeting starts at 7:30. The agenda has been posted for the meeting at http://www.lexingtonma.gov/conservation/Feb%2023.%20agn1.pdf. Willard’s Woods is the second item in the pending section.
There is another blog which has started up specifically for this cause at http://unleashthewoods.blogspot.com/. B and I are thinking about if we are going to make a sign or not. Any suggestions? Final request for everyone out there, the Lexington Minuteman has started a poll about the Willards Woods issue, http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington. Please go on and voice your opinion and until then enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
B, Hugo and I went to find out about another new off leash place this weekend. We found it on a site that is trying to put out as much information on off leash places as they can. You can find them at this location, http://www.ecoanimal.com/dogfun/massachusetts.html. Believe me, I will still use this site and I hope many of you can as well.
The problem we need to deal with now is that town laws are changing often. The place we went to, which will be blogged about on Tuesday, is no longer off leash. We are not saying anything against these towns. Laws are passed with the hope that they will help all, or at least those with the loudest voice. Speaking of, don’t forget, the LCC meeting is happening this Tuesday, more on that tomorrow.
We are not against on leash locations, we just need to know before going to them. Being a lover of all smells, Hugo tries to investigate everything on his walks. If we don’t have his Gentle Leader for walking, he chokes himself when he wants to go after a stick or meet a new friend. Based on our experience yesterday, I came up with a few things to check before going on our next walk:
- Check out sites like http://www.ecoanimal.com/dogfun/massachusetts.html to choose a new location to go that may be off leash.
- Find out if the park has a site or is included in a larger state-wide site. These sites may be out of date but they are a good place to start.
- Go to the town’s website to find out if they do or do not allow for off leash dogs. One note, if it is a State or National Park, town laws may not apply.
- Even if you think the park is off leash, prepare like it isn’t. If you dog needs a Gentle Leader pack it. And please make sure to bring your poop bags, don’t be one of those people.
- If you find out that a park is now on leash, send an email to the site you went to so others will know.
We just sent an email to the site so hopefully it will be updated during the week. Stay tuned for the next post tomorrow about the LCC meeting. Until then enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
Good evening everyone. Hugo is below me enjoying his GI bone so I figured I would share another one of his favorite places, Whipple Hill. WH is located on Summer Street, just over the boarder in Lexington. The entrance to WH appears to be the second driveway after Reed Street but there is a small parking lot for three cars after the straightaway in the driveway. We will talk about this more later.
Positive – Llamas
Everyone who comes to WH knows that before you can enjoy the walk off of Summer Street, you need to pass by the guard Llamas. It is a really fun part to go by with Hugo. I think there are about six of them out there and he starts barking when they come over to the fence. They are a perfect guard to this area.
Positive – Friends
While we do not see as many people in WH, we always see some friends. I will let you all know that if you do see a do g on WH, get ready for some mud. There are a ton of places for dogs to swim on WH, see below.
Positive – Water
As mentioned, there are a bunch of places that water is flowing as can be seen from the picture above. Actually, Hugo got VERY scared just a few seconds before the above picture was taken because he broke some thin ice. Needless to say there will not be too many more pictures of him ontop of ice. Another good example of moving water at WH is below. Most of the creeks are just off the footpath which make walking easier for people. Dogs can just run off the path easily and get to them.
Negative – Icy Trails
Just like WW, the trails for WH are very icy. This will always occur during the winter. PLEASE make sure that you are walking around with very good boots. I have made the mistake of not having good boots. I ended up slipping down the trail in the picture:
Negative – Parking
WH is very hard to find for new people and even harder to park at. There are only three spots available to park in. Also, take a good look before going when the weather is bad because the driveway is never plowed. I got stuck last year and it took me about an hour to get out with the help of a few nice walkers who came by.
Positive – Boots
While you will not see new boots on dogs. the eventual Spring weather will lead to full lengh doggy boots. Below is a picture of Hugo’s legs when we cam back from last week. Hugo usually has half, if not all of his legs covered with Mud. It is fun to watch, just not the best to clean up.
Overall
Whipple Woods is another great place in Lexington that Hugo can roam off leash. Hugo, B and I wil return in the spring so you call all see how great this place is. Good hills to climb up and a big pond for Hugo to investigate. He hasn’t swum yet but we know that he will eventually go after something. We are going to find two new more places to explore this weekend, until then enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
Time to share our first posting showcasing Hugo’s most favorite place to go, Willard’s Woods. WW is located in Lexington, MA and has entrances on both Brent Road and North Street. There is a small parking lot off of North Street that I would recommend you all park at. It is hidden away but does have a Willards Woods street sign next to the driveway. Whenever possible, do not park on Brent Road. There have been many complaints of too many cars and dogs by people on this street. Both entrances on North Street also have trash cans which are emptied weekly for all of your doggie do do. In addition, the local Boy Scout Troop had an Eagle Project which created a good community posting board next to the parking lot.
Positive – Sticks
The first positive of WW for Hugo can be seen above and below. There are millions of sticks of all sizes which are available for enjoying. Many of the dogs love to play fetch with their owners and keep away from other dogs. Hugo has been known to get an Oxen team started with a fellow stick lover. The Oxen team occurs when at least two dogs are fighting over one stick. Instead of playing tug of war, they try to out do the other by running with the stick in their mouths! I am still trying to get a picture of this. B and I also like to call Hugo our little hitman when he has a big stick because he always seems to take us out at the knees. Finally, small sticks are always available to enjoy on the trail during a break.
Positive – Scenery
The scenery is the next best part of WW. Above is the bridge which you will find off of the first field. It goes over a small creek where you will find dogs cooling off during the warmer days. Below are some pictures of the two large fields which look amazing as the sun is rising. Each entrance has its own field separated by the woods.
Negative – Cut Brush
I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think Hugo is a big fan of the cut brush. It is great that a few times each year the brush is cut back to show the sprawling fields, small parts of the brush still remain that are walked over. I notice them as I am walking, they feel like walking on a tough stick that could poke through your boot.
Negative- Ice
While ice will be a problem at any outdoor area during the winter, there are a few spots in WW that you should pay particular attention to. The first is the area around the Mill Pond. There is a lot of foot traffic in this area and it gets a lot of sunlight. Due to this, the snow packs down quickly and freezes. The second area to watch for is below, the hills in the woods. Just like the areas by the Pond, foot traffic turns snow into ice quickly. I have seen dogs and people slip on the ice here.
Negative – Natural Concerns
Just as there will be many icy spots in the woods, there will also be concerns that need to be addressed. One major item is coyotes. If you do go to WW, please do not stay after dusk. Coyotes can come out after dusk and they roam in packs. They will try to get your dog to follow them and they will attack. Safety is not a major concern during the day but it could be a problem at night. Luckily, having dogs be allowed to roam freely in WW helps to keep the Coyotes away. The second item are the environmental concerns regarding the pond. Currently, the LCC has put up a fence around the pond to keep animals out and possibly help to curb erosion. I am always concerned that Hugo may try to get around the fence so we normally keep away.
Positive – Friends
The best part by far of WW are all of the friends that we get to meet each week. Hugo loves to play with all the dogs there and they all seem to have a great time together.
Overall – Best to date!
Willards Woods is by far Hugo and our most favorite places to go and walk. He always has a great time, the people who walk there are always very friendly and it is great to take a stroll through these 100 acres. After seeing a few of these pictures, I hope you realize that you should take your dog here and understand why we are fighting to keep it off leash for dogs right now. We will be back soon posting about Whipple Hill. Until then, enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
Great meeting tonight with the Willards Woods supporters. There were about 40 of us there talking about what needs to happen during the week leading up to the big Lexington Conservation Commission meeting. Looking forward to making a sign for the protest outside the meeting.
Maybe I will use this picture, got it after Hugo’s first experience with snow last year. A long walk through the streets around us finishing it off with a great snowball fight in the backyard. Jake, our neighbor’s nice black lab is behind the fence. This was the first time Hugo barked at him. Unfortunetly, he hasn’t stopped and actually broke part of this fence down (Sorry!)
We will have more photos up soon to start the tour of great parks that Hugo loves. We will start with Willards Woods on 2/16 and Whipple Hill on 2/18. Our goal is to have two new places up each week so please forward along any suggestions for new places. We will start off with Metro Boston locations but we want to branch out.
Either way, we had a great meeting tonight. Briana and I actually went to the wrong location to start with. I got a little nervous since no one was there but it looks like there is a big support base with many people who are able to give a lot to the cause.
Meeting notes are going to be sent out at some point this week but please post if you know of or are a lawyer who could help out the cause. This is going to be a big week so enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
Evening Everyone,
How about all of that snow yesterday. We got more updates to pass along about the LCC situation. A meeting has been scheduled for Valentine’s Day in Lexington at the Library. Below is the information that I have so far. Please, everyone out there, try to make it to this meeting. We really need all possible support possible for the up coming vote on 2/23. In addition, it will be great to meet all of you out there in person. We may actually get to know everyone’s names instead of just being known as our dog’s owner Well as Hugo’s Dad, I can’t wait to see you all. Check out the information below and I will talk to you all soon.
“Aynka Guna (Eli’s “dad”) has reserved a room at the Lexington Public Library for this Sunday, Feb 14th from 4-5 p.m. for us to get together and strategize about the upcoming Feb 23rd CC meeting. I think that Marjorie, Sharon and I would like to outline the current status of things and some of the research we’ve been doing, answer questions, then discuss everyone’s ideas for how best to proceed on Feb 23rd and beyond.
Until then, enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
Good Evening all,
I hope you walks over the past few days have been as good as mine. We are supposed to get some snow tomorrow and Hugo is always a huge fan of the white stuff. Hopefully we will get some time out there during the day to make fresh tracks. If not, we will have to wait until Saturday to enjoy the snow at Willard’s. Speaking of, more information came through from the group today that needs to be shared. Remember, the protest will be 2 weeks from tonight.
In an effort to help the Willards Woods cause, the team is looking for photos of people enjoying themselves in Willards. The request has been made to have these photos be of PEOPLE rather than dogs. The goal is the show the importance of the Woods to the people who go there.
If there are photos which you would like to share of your children, family, ect enjoying the woods, please send them to Marc Sarfati mailto:marc.sarfati@performancedesigninc.com Mark will be creating a powerpoint presentation which can be used for cause.
Briana and I are looking through our photos right now. I am going to bring my camera down on Saturday and Sunday morning to get some more people pics. I hope to see you all down there enjoying the woods and showing support.
Until then, enjoy your walks, I know Hugo sure will.
Kevin
