San Francisco
With all of the recent closures of GGNRA lands to off-leash dogs, at least we can count on the City to serve the needs of thousands of resident dogs and their people. Right? Probably not. Turns out that the SF Rec and Park Department and the GGNRA have a lot in common. At a City meeting held July 28, Rec and Park Director Yomi Agunbiade announced the presence of ten new park patrol officers to increase citations for park code infractions. There was also discussion of elevating park tickets – including those for off-leash violations – to misdemeanor status. All of us would love to see less vandalism, drug use, and the like in our parks (Golden Gate Park is literally littered with needles), but the park patrol seems particularly interested in off-leash dogs. This is especially the case as of late in Washington Square Park, where park patrol is aggressively ticketing the guardians of our furry friends.
What about the recent shootings of coyotes in Golden Gate Park? I know that we don’t normally think of coyotes as off-leash dogs, but they are related to the creatures we call “pets.” The “official” killing of coyotes may date back to the time Europeans first settled here, but that doesn’t make it right, especially in a city named after the patron saint of animals. After a young coyote was killed by a car days after Parks and Rec sicced the federal Department of Fish and Game on the mated pair of coyotes, it became apparent, as many suspected, that the poor animals were defending their young, and that the “attack” on the tethered Ridgeback (a nip) was probably only a warning.
And what happened to “timed use” for off leash dogs in City Parks? The proposition for timed use was all set to go to a vote before the Rec and Park Commission earlier this year, but nary a word has been said about it recently. The concept was approved by the city’s Dog Advisory Committee back in March, but the DAC was subsequently dismantled and there hasn’t been any follow-up.
That’s not all, folks. The SF Rec and Park Department’s “Natural Areas” Program has recommended an immediate closure of 15% of park land they deem environmentally sensitive. The areas that are slated for immediate closure are in MacLaren Park and Bernal Heights, two of my favorite off-leash dog areas.
All of these activities have occurred under the watch of Yomi Agundiade. This is a perfect storm in the making. If the GGNRA and Rec and Park have their way, we will have very little area for our dogs to roam off leash, at best. At worst, we will be harassed as criminals whenever and wherever we give our dogs the freedom to be themselves. Contact Yomi.Agunbiade@sfgov.org to let him know how you feel. Letters or calls can be directed to 501 Stanyan Street, San Francisco, CA 94117; 415-831-2700.
East Bay
A new design is in the works for Ohlone Dog Park in Berkeley, arguably the very first off-leash dog recreation area anywhere (it opened in 1979). As part of the planning process, the Berkeley Parks & Recreation Department will host neighborhood meetings throughout the design phase of the improvement project. To prepare dog park patrons to participate in a meaningful way in the public meetings, the Ohlone Dog Park Association is hosting a panel discussion – The State of the Art of Dog Park Design – on Wednesday, September 12, from 7:00 to 9:30 PM at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave.
The expert panel will include Marybeth Carter, ASLA, AICP, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, City of San José; Claudia Kawczynska, Editor in Chief, The Bark; Emily Rosenberg, Co-founder of Oakland Dog Owner’s Group (ODOG); and this reporter. Other well-known Bay Area dog folks have been invited to speak but are not yet confirmed. Stay tuned for more details at www.ohlonedogpark.org.
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