East Bay
When discussing Bay Area Parks, terms such as “nature preserve” and “environmentally sensitive” have become disturbingly trendy among the anti-dog crowd. In this day of legitimate concern about the state of the environment, some unscrupulous “experts” use such terms as a cover for the ugly politics and greed that have become part and parcel of the fight over Albany Bulb.
Albany Bulb is a lollipop-shaped piece of dog heaven along the East Bay shoreline. It is many other things, as well. The area was a city landfill from 1963 to 1983. Huge chunks of concrete, rusty metal, rebar, and old tires leftover from those days have since been twisted and formed by local artists into a unique sculptural landscape that is integral to The Bulb’s current ambiance. It has become known as a public space in the truest sense, inspiring many visionary artists to create beauty out of what was once a dump. It has also been a very popular off-leash dog area for a long while. All that started to change in 1999, when The City of Albany made a deal with the state to incorporate the area into an official park
As the area is gradually assimilated into the The Eastshore State Park system, the offbeat art, the free-roaming dogs, and the Tao of The Bulb are all threatened. According to the EBRPD, “improvements” such as enforcing leash rules for dogs and removing art are necessary in order to protect the “natural habitat.” Metal pyramid sculptures have already been removed without any notice to the community of artists who could have saved them by moving them to a different site.
The Sierra Club and Citizens for the Eastshore State Park have been instrumental in lobbying to stop off-leash dog use in the quest to protect the environment, while avidly supporting the development of a 325,000-square-foot hotel and shopping center on the “environmentally sensitive” land adjacent to the bulb. A soccer field has already been approved. The owner of Golden Gate Fields has also proposed building a conference center and hotel on the site next door. All of this while the art that was created from already existing materials is being removed because it is “encroaching” on the “preserve.”
Something smells at The Albany Bulb, and it isn’t the fish. Who are the culprits here? Norman LaForce, Sierra Club SF Bay Chair, for one. He is on record as a vitriolic opponent of off-leash dog parks. Primary users of the park – dog guardians, dogwalkers, and artists alike – say they have tried to have meaningful dialogue with La Force and State Park planners but have been ignored, despite the claim on the EBRPD website (www.ebparks.org/parks/eastshore) that “over 4000 major stakeholders and interested parties reached substantial consensus on the future uses and improvements for the park.”
The Bulb itself is not in the hands of the State as of yet, even though there is a signed lease in existence. The terms of the lease require conformity to state park standards, which allow only for “regulated” art and dogs on leash. Since the leash laws are currently not being enforced by the city of Albany, dogs may roam free at The Bulb itself for the time being – on a “don’t ask, don’t tell” basis.
The neck of land leading up to The Bulb, including the beach, is under state control, and leash laws are technically enforced there. According to park users, the state’s attempts to enforce the leash laws are sporadic at best. State parks are woefully under-funded, and this one is no exception.
But don’t be lulled into thinking this situation won’t effect you or your dogs. The long-range plan is to continue “improving” the park so it will appeal to the masses, not “special-interest” groups like you — the community that has enjoyed this park, unregulated and self-maintained, for many years.
If you want to have a say in the future of Albany Bulb, call or email the East Bay Regional Park District to express your views (1-888-EBPARKS; info@parks.ca.gov).
San Francisco
Recent actions by the SF Rec and Park Department put a further stall on “timed use” for dogs at City parks. At a meeting held Aug 16, RPD announced that the City’s Dog Advisory Committee (the body that approved timed use) is no more, and that no new off-leash areas will be created until a city-wide analysis of where they are most needed is done. Considering the sluggish pace of RPD’s progress on dog-related issues of late, completion of such a study could be a long way off.
If you know of an off-leash issue that deserves attention, contact editor@baywoof.com.
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