MARIN COUNTY
Reported by Carrie Harrington of The Marin Humane Society
Have you checked out BayFront Dog Park in Mill Valley? With great gravel walking paths, benches where you can sit and socialize, doggie beaches, and an agility course, all surrounded by magnificent mountain and water views, it’s a wonderful destination for people and dogs alike. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
BayFront Dog Park is maintained by the City of Mill Valley Department of Parks and Recreations, along with dedicated volunteers who have even created a park website complete with photos, events and blogs. Check it out at www.millvalleydogpark.org.
It is estimated that 300 dogs are regular visitors; at peak times, from 3 to 5pm, you can watch more than 30 dogs romping the grounds. Friends of the dog park organize special events regularly, including dog birthday parties, anniversaries, and memorial services. Fridays in the Park evenings, gatherings with great food and conversation, happen from spring through fall.
“Many of us have formed great friendships in the park and have continued seeing each other outside of the park,” says volunteer Marcelo Hirschler. “We are very keen not to exclude anyone from attending or being able to use the Dog Park.”
PENINSULA
Reported by Cathie Chen-Rennie of The Rex Center, Pacifica
Spring is in the air, so it’s the perfect time to check out the San Bruno dog play area in Commodore Park on Commodore Lane and Cherry Ave. (near SFO airport). Not only does it offer small and big dog areas, poop bags, and benches for relaxing, there is a great group of people there. Park regular Valerie says, “We are a super friendly group, a real community. People and dogs who have met at the dog park go on field trips together to visit other dog parks or explore hiking trails. We confer about the best prices on dog food and other dog related items.” They even have a Yahoo group: SanBrunoDogPark@yahoogroups.com!
If you have ever wished that you had a dog park nearby, follow Pacifica’s lead. A group of interested citizens formed a group (www.pacificapooch.com) to advocate for one. POOCH members have worked with the city planning department, identified a location that the city is working on granting, and is now a 501c3 nonprofit group raising money for all that is needed, including grading the land, installing fences, and laying sod. Both small and large dog areas are planned, with enough room to run! On May 1, join POOCH for the second annual Dog Daze of Pacifica at Frontierland Park. There will be agility and herding demonstrations, police dogs for the kids to meet, and great raffle prizes. Venture out to the coast just a few miles south of SF and join the fun!
SAN FRANCISCO
Reported by Neil Spence and Alex Chaffee, SF dog lovers
On the evening of Wednesday, March 3, approximately 75 local residents and other concerned citizens assembled in the main hall at Dolores Park Church for the first public meeting to address the City’s proposed renovations to Mission Dolores Park, hosted by SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty. A panel of representatives from both Rec & Park and SFPD presented an overview of the proposed renovations, their scope, and the budget allocated for the project ($13 million).
Many neighborhood folks who care about dogs attended the meeting. We want to have an active voice in the process because we rely on the park as a place to exercise our dogs and give them a chance to play and socialize off-leash. Lindsay Kefauver of Dolores Park Dogs clarified the current situation for off-leash dog recreation in the park, demonstrating that there are two official off-leash dog areas: one in the SW quadrant of the park (at the drinking fountain), and one in the NE quadrant (next to the tennis courts and encompassing “Hipster Hill”).
Fortunately, rumors of a year-long (or longer) closure of the entire park appear to be exaggerated – though not out of the question. City representatives were very receptive to the unanimous message from the attendees that we prefer a staged renovation. This would allow some parts of the park to remain open while others are closed for construction. In any case, the construction would not begin before January 2012, leaving us plenty of time to participate in the process and influence any decisions that are made.
Two separate park renovations are actually in the works: one of the playground only, and one of the rest of the park. Construction on the playground project is expected to last from October 2010 to April 2011. During the playground construction, the rest of the park will remain open and accessible, including both dog areas. (See www.doloresparkworks.org/2010/02/213/ for further details.)
We hope that maintaining (and improving) recreational opportunities for our dogs can be an integral part of the ongoing planning process for Dolores Park. If you have an interest in this project, please make your voice heard. One thing that was made quite clear at the meeting is that the City is open to input from park users. Stay tuned to www.doloresparkworks.org.
SAN MATEO
Reported by Scott Delucchi of The Peninsula Humane Society
Forget the doom-and-gloom real estate news – for dogs living in San Mateo, the property value just spiked. Following spirited debate among dog owners and residents without dogs, the City of San Mateo’s Park and Recreation Committee approved a pilot off-leash dog program that adds four additional off-leash areas to the one already established at Shoreline Park.
The program is intended to operate for up to one year, with three evaluation periods to determine its success. If dogs and, more importantly, their owners, remain well-behaved, the assumption is that the spaces will become more permanent. The Peninsula Humane Society happily served as a pro “bone-o” consultant to draft a dog park etiquette brochure for park users.
Here is information about all San Mateo off-leash areas:
- Shoreline Park, open 7 days a week from 6AM to sunset
- Los Prados Park (fenced area), open 7 days a week from 6AM to sunset
- Bayside-Joinville Park (off Anchor Road), open 7 days a week from 6AM to sunset
- Central Park (Fitzgerald Field only), open Monday through Friday from 6AM to 8AM
- Beresford Park (Chanteloup Field only), open Monday through Friday from 6AM to 8AM
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