EP# 278: Unleashing Community: The Johnson City Dog Park Story

What makes Jennifer Kirkby & Paulett Kehm with The Johnson City Dog Park a good neighbor?

The power of community shines brightly at the Johnson City Dog Park, where passionate volunteers have created something extraordinary over nearly two decades. Board members Jennifer Kirkby and Paulette Kehm join Skip Mauney to reveal the inspiring story behind this hidden gem that operates entirely on membership dues without a penny of government funding.

Founded in 2006, the Johnson City Dog Park stands as the Tri-Cities' first dedicated canine playground, earning national recognition when Modern Dog Magazine named it among America's top dog parks. What makes this achievement remarkable is that the park functions through pure volunteer effort—no staff, no city funding, just dedicated dog lovers who maintain pools, provide water stations, and ensure waste bags are always available. At just $55 annually for one dog and $20 for each additional pet, membership remains accessible while sustaining this unique community resource.

Beyond the physical amenities, what truly distinguishes the park is its remarkable social impact. "When I moved here I didn't have a lot of friends," shares Jennifer, who's been with the park since 2005. "Once I start going to the dog park, I got established in the community." The park has even sparked romantic connections, with at least two marriages tracing back to chance meetings between dog owners. Located within the beautiful Willow Springs Park area, complete with scenic walking trails, it offers a perfect setting for both canine play and human connection. Whether you're new to the area or simply looking to give your furry friend some socialization, visit JohnsonCityDogPark.org to learn how you can become part of this special community where dogs and their people find friendship, fun, and belonging. Ready to experience it yourself? Your dog's next best friend is waiting!

To learn more about The Johnson City Dog Park go to:

https://johnsoncitydogpark.org/

The Johnson City Dog Park

[phone]

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Skip Monty.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the Good
Neighbor Podcast of theTri-Cities.
We've got some very interestingguests with us here in the
studio today, so I'm superexcited to learn all about them
and what they do, and I'm sureyou will be too, because today I
have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbors,
ms Jennifer Kirkby and PauletteKim, who are both on the board

(00:33):
of directors for the Friends ofthe Johnson City Dog Park
Association.
Ladies, welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Welcome, thank you.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
So, like I said, we're super excited to learn all
about you guys and what you do.
So if you don't mind, jennifer,why don't you kick us off by
telling us what you do?

Speaker 3 (00:52):
Well, we are on the board of directors for the
Johnson City Dog ParkAssociation, like you said, and
it's a non-profit dog park thatis all volunteer run and paid
for Wow, and we've been inexistence since officially 2006.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
Wow, so coming up on 20 years.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, so we were the first dog park in the area and
at one time we were also inModern Dog Magazine as one of
the top dog parks in the country.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Oh wow, Very, very interesting.
Well, how did you ladies getinvolved with the dog park?

Speaker 4 (01:36):
Well, I went to one of the meetings and became
interested in the dog park.
I'm fairly new on the board.
I am just a member at large.
I've only been a member forgoing on I guess three years.
Maybe Jennifer it's not toolong.
So I've just started becomingactive in the membership and I

(01:58):
am active at the park itself.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Very good.
And Jennifer, what about you?

Speaker 3 (02:04):
I've been with the park since its beginning.
I've been on the board forsince 2005.
And I just got involved bygoing to a meeting and it was in
desperate need of volunteers,and so it's kind of like long
story short, it's just.

(02:24):
And so it's kind of like longstory short, it's just.
I've been there ever since, andso the park wouldn't exist
without people like Paulettethat take care of the park, and
we've been fortunate to have agood group of volunteers.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Well, it sounds like somebody in the background wants
to get on the podcast too.
I don't know who that is.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'm sorry about that.

Speaker 4 (02:47):
That's okay, mine is sleeping, oh okay.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
I have a very sensitive one.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Mine is sleeping as well.
I'm a dog guy, so I supportwhat you guys do.
Well, what are some myths ormisconceptions in the dog park
association world?

Speaker 3 (03:08):
I think one of the big misconceptions is that we we
receive funding from the stateor the city or anything like
that and everything is paid forour park and is kept up at our
park by the membership dues,which are very reasonable.

(03:31):
It's $45.
Is it $45?
No, I'm like that's $55.
$55.
Yeah, they upped it.
So it's $55 for one dog for theyear and then each additional
dog is $20.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
So it's very reasonable.
Yeah, incredibly reasonable.

Speaker 3 (03:49):
We have great amenities we have pools, we have
water, we have poo bags and youknow.
So occasionally we do getmembers that will come in and
think they don't have to doanything like pick up their poo,
because they think there's astaff.
But there is no staff.
You know, it's us.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, I'm sure you got those little baggy things
all around too, don't you?
Oh yeah, Try to encourage folksto use them.
Well, outside of work, well,this isn't really work.
This is volunteer work for youguys.
But outside of this, what doyou like to do for fun?

Speaker 4 (04:24):
Hike, walk my dog.
I like to sew.
I'm involved in a lot ofdifferent things.
I also teach part-time.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Oh, very good.
What do you teach?

Speaker 4 (04:37):
I teach dental assisting at Northeast State oh
nice, so you're a.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
at one time were a dental assistant.

Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yes, and I was the program director, but now I am
just part-time adjunct, just tohelp them out.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Very good.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Jennifer, what about you?

Speaker 2 (04:53):
Very good, Jennifer.
What about you?

Speaker 3 (04:56):
I like antiques and I like to travel and see the area
and I'm always out exploringsomething, whether it's here.
Lately it's been cemeteries.
I've been interested in thehistory and the cemeteries and
and it's just yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
Fascinating.
So where are you guys from?
Are you originally from JohnsonCity?

Speaker 4 (05:20):
No.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Where are you from?

Speaker 3 (05:24):
You want to go first, jeff?
Okay, I'm originally from StCharles, missouri.
I've lived here for 20, I guess, going on 25 years now.
Yeah, years now 20.

Speaker 4 (05:37):
Yeah, oh, wow, and I'm from Allentown, pennsylvania
, and I came for a position, fora job.
It was started out with ETSUand then it went to Northeast
State, the program, and I'vebeen here probably a little over
30 years.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
Wow, allentown, there's a Billy Joe has a song.

Speaker 4 (05:56):
Yes, that's right.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yes, he does.

Speaker 4 (05:59):
That's what I always say when people ask where you're
from I'm going.
Well, do you remember BillyJoel's living here in Allentown?

Speaker 2 (06:05):
That's where I'm from that's it, but it's actually
not about Allentown.

Speaker 4 (06:09):
It's actually about Bethlehem, but Allentown fit in
the song better.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
Wow, did not know that.

Speaker 4 (06:17):
Learn something new every day, exactly.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
I'm sure everybody in Allentown knows that, though.

Speaker 4 (06:21):
Oh yes.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
Probably Well.
Um, if you guys could think ofone thing that you would, you
would like our listeners toremember about friends of the
Johnson City Dog ParkAssociation, what would that be?

Speaker 4 (06:38):
Probably the friendliness of the people that
go there.
I think dog people in generalare a friendly group.
We all kind of get along andthe dogs seem to get along
really well.
I think the friendliness andthe openness of the park.

Speaker 3 (06:59):
I have to agree with Paulette.
When I moved here I was Ididn't have a lot of friends and
then, once I start going to thedog park, I got established in
the community, made friends andpeople are extremely nice at the
dog park.
I got established in thecommunity, made friends and
people are extremely nice at thedog park.
The dogs are required to havetheir vaccinations.

(07:19):
The dogs are all vetted.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
We take care of things there.
I'm not concerned with takingmy dog to a dog park.
Has always been.
You know they might have atussle with another dog.
Does that happen very often it?

Speaker 3 (07:40):
happens, but it doesn't happen very often.

Speaker 4 (07:48):
And usually the owners intervene most of the
time.
The other thing that'sinteresting is we have I don't
remember.
I know there's at least tworelationships that were started
at the dog park, which is prettycool.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
One's ended up in marriage.
I know.
Well, I think two actually have.
I didn't know.

Speaker 4 (08:06):
The other person which I haven't seen for a long
time.
But they actually got marriedtoo, but they met at the dog
park.

Speaker 2 (08:12):
Wow, wow, great, great story, wow.
Well, for those of us who havenot been to the dog park or are
intrigued by what you ladies aresaying, it sounds like a great
place that my dog would love.
How can we learn more aboutwhat's available?

Speaker 3 (08:30):
We have a website.
It's JohnsonCityDogParkorg, andthat's the best way to get
information about the park.
You can see all the rules andsign up for membership and
anything that's going on in thepark.

Speaker 2 (08:51):
So you can actually fill out a form for membership
on the website.

Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yes.

Speaker 4 (08:55):
Awesome, very good the park is located at Willow
Springs Park, which is abeautiful area.
It has nice walking trails.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
So other stuff to do too.

Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yes, beyond the dog park.
Oh, it's a great park, itreally is.

Speaker 2 (09:11):
Awesome.
Well, we will definitely haveto check it out.
You've sold you ladies, sold meso, and I'm sure you've sold
some of our listeners too.
So you heard it here uh, guys,if you got a dog and they need
friends, go to the Johnson citydog park and Johnson city dog

(09:32):
park and, uh, have a blast.
So, ladies, I can't tell youhow much I appreciate you, uh,
taking time out of your scheduleto spend some time with me and
with our listeners and wish youand your families and your dogs
and the dog park all the bestmoving forward.

Speaker 4 (09:44):
Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1 (09:46):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnptry-citiescom.
That's gnptry-citiescom, orcall 423-719-5873.
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