Walnut Creek Dog Park Discussion

The Walnut Creek Park, Recreation, & Open Space Commission (PROS) has had this on the agenda for last month's and this month's meeting.

Last month's agenda is located at: http://www.walnut-creek.org/pros_commission/pros2004/pros.091304.agenda.htm

This months' agenda can be seen at: http://www.walnut-creek.org/pros_commission/pros2004/pros.100404.agenda.htm

Has anyone been attending these to see what is going on? I can't go due to other commitments.

Thanks,
Stephanie

Currently, the severely limited hours of the park force all interested dog owners into a short period of time. There's no choice but to create high traffic into those hours. That's a consequence of the current rules.

Opening up the hours of the park would logically decrease the density of the attendance there. It's silly to contend that all the dog owners in WC would voluntarily show up simultaneously during some other time of the day and create the theoretical traffic mess.

Instead, it's more likely that the dog owners would be spread out and only there a few at a time at any time of the day. And unlikely that they'd be there so early in the morning as to disturb a quiet cup of coffee - but that's the way it's legislated now.

Let's be honest: that park isn't used by sports teams - its topology is too irregular. No one picnics there, and there aren't any other extant structures that make it useful for anything else.

It's a nice, pretty, green area that - with some very low-level modifications to prevent potential dog escapsim - makes a perfect area for a dog park. It's a shame that this is being prevented by folks, simply out of worry.

My Family likes to hang out at the "San Miguel Neighborhood Park" and we used to use the field alot more for Picnics and Soccer. Both my Soccer Teams play here in off season and we have fun. The downfall is typically "Dog Doo"
90% of the Dog Folks clean up after themselves very well and are great people but we still get ALOT of Feces in the grass and Yes in the Playground.
That is just Gross!!!
We don't picnic there and lay on the grass anymore - who would!!

I live on Los Cerros and and feel that the proposed spot by Shadelands is appropriate and will be working hard to get that funded and built.
The Traffic is Ridiculous and dangerous and the morning hours are all that is needed.

Thanks Dmax for your thoughts, I agree.

I have used the dog park occasionally but find the hours are too limiting.

To use the park as soccer field is unrealistic, if you’re interested in soccer we have Heather Farm just down the street.

As far as clean up, that’s a separate issue. When you’re at the dog park while other are around, you ARE WATCHED to make sure you pick up after your dog.

I COACH 2 teams from the neighborhood and we play there all the time.
Tell my girls that it is un-realistic. They'll show you a Good Time.
We play there because it is convenient and Oh Yeah, its our Park!!

As I said, 90% of dog owners clean up after themselves but there are still pretty of goodies left behind.

At our Easter Egg Hunt, members of WC Dog came back and helped us clean up and the event was a success.

This is a Park for the People First and is shared with the Dogs until 9AM

I adopted a puppy back in May and could not believe that Walnut Creek did not have a dedicated/fenced area for dogs. I asked around and a few people indicated that San Miguel was an option and so I investigated it. I concluded that the basics were not covered (1: not completely fenced, and 2: the hours). I spoke with people walking through San Miguel and heard about the
discord that had been building.

It was really disappointing to find that Walnut Creek had no comparable solutions to a couple of our neighboring cities especially because Walnut Creek attempts to bestow the image of high echelon. When I first moved here fro SFO, I was delighted by lots of things such as the walking/biking trails, open space, master planning, and more visible items such as the downtown area. I was impressed that Walnut Creek was one of the few cities that had budget surplus.

I for one would like to see a premium site designed and built for dogs in Walnut Creek...something approached with vigor and sanctioned by the city/county similar to the skate park (incidentally, I do not understand how this project flew while other less expensive projects flop). As for San Miguel Park, I can understand and agree with various points of view. The library project did not size out existing buildings to move into so why should those with animals accept a shoehorn solution? Granted, the scale, benefit, and impact is considerably different, but I think this illustrates the point.

What are the next steps? I am not sure. Could anyone comment on happenings with the city/county? I wonder what has historically been said/done with this issue? I am on mail lists dealing with this topic but all is quiet.

I think that everyone can agree that nobody is bleeding money these days but I have a hard time believing that there is not some sort of funding (or donations by deep pockets corporate or otherwise…other hobbies I am involved with have city/county funding as well as sweat equity). Perhaps those that are interested could brainstorm possible solutions or at least agree to an eventual goal? Anyone have any thoughts?

As I said, 90% of dog owners clean up after themselves but there are still pretty of goodies left behind.

At our Easter Egg Hunt, members of WC Dog came back and helped us clean up and the event was a success.

This is a Park for the People First and is shared with the Dogs until 9AM

Wow. As a soccer coach myself, I'd be furious if I were relegated to that uneven field. Particularly one with goodies left behind. Maybe there's a better field, more proper for soccer? That makes more sense to me than preventing dog owners from using it so that soccer teams can use it 2-3 hours a week.

I'm afraid to ask what "it's our park" means, since I live in WC as well. But I'd think that, just like I don't personally climb on play structures - I still support their existence in our community. From a bigger perspective, it's not "it's our park" but "it's our city."

I do love getting into it.
As the statement "It is Our Park" went,
The park is designated a "Neighborhhod" park
more or less for the Neighborhood RSM.
I am not advocating that the dog owners shouldn't use the park.
Feel strongly that the morning hours are sufficient as does the City.

As for Soccer, we love using a field that is right next door and will continue to do so for Years and Years. Again, this is the San Miguel Neighborhood Park

:shock: