Stomp Stomp Dave helped me dig the hole for the post, and I took advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday to install yet another dog station. This makes no. 4. Number 1 was put into Pleasants Park, Number 2 was put on the linear Parsons Park greenway near Holly St., and Number 3 was put in the linear Parsons Park greenway behind the 200 block of Pine (and promptly, sadly, destroyed by vandalism). I hope this new one will serve Overlook condo dog owners as well as the many visitors to Oregon Hill Riverside Park.

I have one more dog station in my shed, and I am eager to install it. So far I am thinking another location on the greenway, either on the northeast corner of Belvidere and Idlewood (next to Expressway ramp), or trying again behind 200 block of Pine. Alternatively, I could see a need on the alley entrance on Idlewood across from the Grace Arents Community Garden (at Linden St.).

All of these were paid for by the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association. Although not the same model as as the ones the City usually installs, they seem pretty durable and user-friendly. Besides adding amenities to OH’s parks, I hope they are part of the solution in combating one of the big sources of pollution in the James River, animal wastes washed in by stormwater. I hope this is the sort of thing that other Richmond neighborhoods are doing. I hope the City is considering it in all new development plans.

Who knows, they eventually may prove instrumental in establishing energy independence.