Richmond Hill K9 Klub
Park Volunteer Reference Guide           rev. 3/25/2010
Greetings!

The Richmond Hill K9 Klub and the Richmond Hill community wishes to thank you very much for becoming a Park Volunteer!
 
Below is a rather lengthy description of what this task entails.  For seasoned park volunteers, this reference guide is updated from previous versions you may have seen.
Since the park opening, we have developed some basic park needs and volunteer requirements.  Through consultation with the Richmond Hill Parks Department, By-Laws, Works, OSPCA and the York Region Police, we have developed some guidelines to get everyone organized and started.
 
The mission of the K9 Klub, as it pertains to this Leash Free Park Pilot project, is to ensure its success.  Please keep in mind that although our Mayor and Councillors approved the pilot project and budget, it was not without disapproval and criticism from senior administrators at Town Hall.  Now that the park is operational, a couple of local residents have also expressed concern.  There are some that will be looking for reasons to close the park when the pilot project is reviewed in early 2011.  We don't want to give anyone any reason to bring down our fences! 
Success as defined by the Park's Department:
  1. High daily usage of the park
  2. Low ongoing maintenance cost
  3. Minimal complaints/issues received by Town departments.
We have achieved the first measure with ease.  We have heard that it is already the busiest park in the Richmond Hill park system! To help us keep track of its popularity, we are asking our volunteers to provide us with some basic statistics after each visit (see duty #9 below).
 
Our mission then, is to assist with the latter two goals.  The K9 Klub has committed to the Parks Department to look after basic daily park maintenance and to inform them when we require their assistance for larger maintenance needs.  The less often the Town's Parks Department has to attend, the better off we all are.
 
As for complaints to the Town, we have committed to educating the park users on the rules posted at the entrance to the park.  For some reason, many of the users haven't even noticed the sign, so make sure you are familiar with it and then educate as needed.
 
Park Volunteer Duties:
  1. Take your dog(s) to the park at least twice per week.  No schedule.
  2. Wear the Red "Park Volunteer Pouch" (Blue for Juniors) and put a pad of paper and pen in it.  We will also get you some generic Klub cards with our website address to have available.
  3. Bring a bag you can use for garbage and a couple of extra poop bags.
  4. While doing your walk about the park, pick up any garbage, poop bags left behind, the odd missed poop and remove anything that could be harmful to our pets.  Remove any containers that people may have left behind for water; we don't want any possibility a dog could be harmed by contaminated water.  As the park was built on land that had never been developed before, our dogs may dig up "artifacts" left behind by years of illegal dumping. Pick up what you are able and report larger cleanups/hazards to the Klub.  Contact info is near the end of this email.
  5. Winter maintenance:  This is optional, but we could use your help ensuring gates function correctly and slippery sections are re-mulched.  At the least, please let us know in your reports as to status.  We are working with the town to keep mulch on hand for coverage of the main slope.  Keep an eye on the stairs at the entrance.  You could keep a shovel in your trunk just in case.  We do not want to encourage any salt or ice melter chemicals in the area for dog safety.  There is a large green box containing sand at the entrance.  We try and keep a little shovel in it for your use. 
  6. Because park users will notice you are an official from the Klub, they will come and ask you questions and offer suggestions.  Find out first if they are on our e-newsletter list and offer them a business card to sign up.  Our website has a ton of info about park rules etc., that you should be familiar with.  Answer what you can to the best of your knowledge and defer the rest to the Klub.  Any suggestions should be noted and put in your park report with the person's name/number/email.
  7. Incidents involving aggressive dogs and arrogant/mislead owners should be documented when possible and reported to the Klub immediately.  If a danger to a park user or dog is imminent, you should contact York region Police via 911.  If you feel the altercation is not putting anyone in harm's way but you feel it should be reported officially, please make sure you keep at least one witness on hand and call York region Police at 905-773-1221 so they can send an officer on a non emergency basis to you. We will have a more official report to complete through our website in next few weeks.
  8. OSPCA officers visit the park from time to time during the week.  They sometimes station their truck in the shopping plaza parking lot across the street on Tower Hill road to take their calls.  They are around to enforce town bylaws as it pertains to animals and ARE NOT authorized to enforce park rules at this time unless it falls under an official bylaw.  Get them involved if they are around if dog handling is required or cruelty is witnessed.  Do not call OSPCA, just document any non-violent issue and inform the Klub for follow-up.  Be sure to have witnesses, names, numbers etc.
  9. Report via email to parkmaintenance@rhk9klub.ca after your visit or save them up and submit weekly.
  
    1. Date and time window of your visit
    2. Approximate number of dogs and people in park
    3. Approximate Temperature & Weather Conditions 
    4. Ambient Noise level rated 0 - 5
    5. Maintenance Issue you observed that needs attention  
    6. Park incident that occurred.  Try and get people/dog names, dog breeds, contact info and most importantly, the contact info for any witnesses - We will need at least one other to get any action on this from town officials. 
 
 
Please understand that you have no authority to enforce any rules or bylaws and we do not expect or encourage any confrontations.  You are Richmond Hill K9 Klub Ambassadors and should act accordingly. You are are the eyes, ears and voice of reason for the K9 Klub and the Park's Department and integral to the park's successful Pilot run.
 
A "Cole's Notes" version of this list will be provided with your pouch for quick reference.  If you need a new one, send an email to wwalker@rhk9klub.ca
 
Junior Volunteer responsibilities are limited to basic park cleanliness and reminding other young people of the park rules.  Lead by example.  This is a dog park, not a kid park. Your pouches will have some simple instructions as well. 
 
Although we encourage park volunteers to be paid members of the Richmond Hill K9 Klub ($20/year currently) it is not a requirement.  If you would like to register, please visit our membership page for full details. 
 
Please note that although we don't expect any issues with our volunteers with respect to a reasonable "code of conduct", the Klub reserves the right to ask for your identification pouch back if in the best interest of the park and Klub.
Now, hopefully I haven't scared you off from helping us out.  It can be a thankless job from the general park user's perspective, but not from the K9 Klub and the true dog lovers in Richmond Hill's point of view!
 
Please join our army of park volunteers, if you haven't already, by ensuring your profile is up to date (You can click the "update profile" link at the very bottom fine print of this email).
 
The next step is to meet us at the park to receive your pouch, instructions and get to know each other and our dogs!  If we know in advance when you'll be there, we can hook up - just drop us an email.  If we've met already, we'll make arrangements to mail your gear. If you have your gear already, welcome aboard!
 
 
Remember,
 
It's all about the dogs!
 
Sincerely,
 

David WalkerMayor Dave Barrow - Ribbon Cutting
Co-chair 

Richmond Hill K9 Klub