TCDOG Projects

TCDOG undertakes projects consistent with the goals
for which it was incorporated:

1. To facilitate communication among dog owners, the public, and
   government about mutual concerns and issues regarding dogs.
2. To increase positive interaction among people and dogs and to
   facilitate healthy dog socialization through the creation of off-leash dog parks.
3. To promote responsible dog ownership, sanitation, and optimal dog health by encouraging: dog waste cleanup; dog obedience training; and dog vaccinations, altering, and exercise.
4. To promote off-leash dog parks as alternatives to excessive use of sensitive natural areas.

Dog Park: While TCDOG strongly supports any proposal to establish an SPCA dog park, the main focus for TCDOG efforts to create a legal, off-leash park continues to be the "Ithaca Dog Park" located just north of the Allan Treman State Marine Park the southwestern edge of Cayuga Lake behind the Hangar Theater.

For thirty years this has been a favorite place for dog walkers, and for the past several years there have been free plastic bags (provided by Wegmans) and a dumpster provided to encourage responsible dog waste cleanup. Members of the Ihaca dog-loving community have been working together to find a way to make this area a legal place for dogs to play, swim and run off-leash. These efforts currently include working within the municipal system to persuade Common Council members to revise the city ordinances, building broad support for dog-based tourism in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region, working with State-wide elected representatives and with NYS Parks, and hosting events for dogs and their owners/walkers at that location.

Jacksonville Community Park: a safe spot for offleash
play and exercise, with protection from road traffic, fresh water for cooling off and retrieving, an open field and a growing network of trails.

The park is just off Rte 96 in the Jacksonville hamlet on Swamp College Rd about 120 yards west of the intersection of Swamp College Rd. and Rte 96, about 10 minutes from Ithaca. Coming from 96N it'd be on your left, with a clearly marked dirt and gravel driveway. It features an open pavilion, waste receptacle and bag dispenser that Stephen Landesman has made for us!

Jacksonville Park Map (marked)
Jacksonville Area Map

Connecticut Hill Loop: a beautiful 3 mile trail on Connecticut Hill -- the Bob Cameron Loop, blazed orange, passes through mixed hardwoods and firs planted 70 years ago. It departs the white blazed Finger Lakes Trail within 30 yards of the main radio tower at the top of the hill, and runs northwesterly down towards Mecklenburg, then returns along a brookside upwards back to the tower, passing over or through two feeder stream crossings and total change in elevation of about 200 ft.

From Ithaca, take Rte 79W through Enfield’s yellow flashing light another 3 miles to Black Oak Rd on your left. Turn onto Black Oak and climb 3 miles to a T intersection. Turn right and right again. The tower will be on your left. Park there and, facing the tower on your left, head directly into the forest. You’ll find the white blazed Finger Lakes Trail. Turn L, or south, onto the trail and continue 50 yds to the orange blazed Cameron Loop. Bring compass, Cayuga Trails Club Conn. Hill section trail map and water. Boots are appropriate. The trail has some steep switchbacks, making for challenging winter skiing. *Bring your own bags.

Finger Lakes Trails: the Finger Lakes Trails cross the southern half of Tompkins County, and are described fully in the Cayuga Trails Club handbook, available locally and from the Club. Three maps accompany the written descriptions of the main sections of the trail, to include Connecticut Hill (Rte. 228 to Rte. 13, Danby (Rte. 13 to Rte. 96B) and Caroline (Rte. 96B to Rte. 79). Each section is between 16 and 22 miles in length, and may be intersected at numerous points where the trail crosses local roads.

The trails run from the Connecticut Game Management area eastward skirting Robert Treman State Park on its south rim, up the Lick Brook section (connecting with a segment off to Upper Buttermilk State Park) to the Danby State Forest via private lands. From there the trail continues to Shindagin Hollow State Forest. About 2/3 of this section is on state lands. Other than paved county and state roads, leashing is rarely needed. There is no enforcement presence of any kind other than regarding hunters during deer season. *Bring your own bags.

Dog-Based Tourism:
TCDOG supports the Dog-Based Tourism Initiative.