The Coal Mountain Schutzhund Association hopes to find a new home for dog and handler practices and events in the Forsyth County parks system.The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday night considered the local organization’s request to lease open space.Schutzhund is “a three-phase dog sport that includes tracking, obedience and protection,” according to the local club’s Web site.Dennis VanderLinde, president of the association, said the group has leased a private site in north Forsyth to train since forming in 2006.The property was recently foreclosed, however, and the group has three months before it must leave, VanderLinde said.“We’re in desperate need for a new home,” he said.He said the group of about 20 regular members would be happy to have any site, but the future Eagle’s Beak Park on Old Federal Road seemed most suitable.The property would need to be at least 3 acres of flat ground in an isolated area so dog barking and lights won’t disturb neighbors, VanderLinde said.The group would pay for any necessary improvements and maintain the property, he said.Director Jerry Kinsey, hearing no objections from the board, agreed to meet with the group to draft an agreement for review by county commissioners.Kinsey has nicknamed Eagle’s Beak Park “the hobby park,” since the plans call for continuing use by model aviators, as well as a canoe launch, a BMX track and an archery field.He asked the parks board to consider how it would like to handle the requests for space, which have been frequent lately.“Are we going to try to appease everyone who walks in that door?” Kinsey said. “There’s all kind of projects and hobbies that people want to do.”The Eagle’s Beak Park, along with Matt Community Park and the third phase of Sawnee Mountain Preserve, could go out for development bids early next year and open as soon as fall, he said.“We’re going to get busy here in ’13, we hope, if [commissioners] bond all the money,” he said. “That will be the last of the $100 million parks, recreation and green space bond.”The bond was approved by voters in 2008 to make improvements to the system.
The Coal Mountain Schutzhund Association hopes to find a new home for dog and handler practices and events in the Forsyth County parks system.The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday night considered the local organization’s request to lease open space.Schutzhund is “a three-phase dog sport that includes tracking, obedience and protection,” according to the local club’s Web site.Dennis VanderLinde, president of the association, said the group has leased a private site in north Forsyth to train since forming in 2006.The property was recently foreclosed, however, and the group has three months before it must leave, VanderLinde said.“We’re in desperate need for a new home,” he said.He said the group of about 20 regular members would be happy to have any site, but the future Eagle’s Beak Park on Old Federal Road seemed most suitable.The property would need to be at least 3 acres of flat ground in an isolated area so dog barking and lights won’t disturb neighbors, VanderLinde said.The group would pay for any necessary improvements and maintain the property, he said.Director Jerry Kinsey, hearing no objections from the board, agreed to meet with the group to draft an agreement for review by county commissioners.Kinsey has nicknamed Eagle’s Beak Park “the hobby park,” since the plans call for continuing use by model aviators, as well as a canoe launch, a BMX track and an archery field.He asked the parks board to consider how it would like to handle the requests for space, which have been frequent lately.“Are we going to try to appease everyone who walks in that door?” Kinsey said. “There’s all kind of projects and hobbies that people want to do.”The Eagle’s Beak Park, along with Matt Community Park and the third phase of Sawnee Mountain Preserve, could go out for development bids early next year and open as soon as fall, he said.“We’re going to get busy here in ’13, we hope, if [commissioners] bond all the money,” he said. “That will be the last of the $100 million parks, recreation and green space bond.”The bond was approved by voters in 2008 to make improvements to the system.