Supporters
Press
October 9th, 2008, Coast News
A Big Day For Dogs
By Theresa-Marie Wilson
Arroyo Grande will soon have a little more ball chasing and tail wagging. About 50 people and their canine compan
ions turned out for a ceremonial groundbreaking on October 4 announcing the soon-to-be-installed Arroyo Grande dog park.
Through funding by the nearly 300member Five Cities Dog Park Association (FCDPA), the off-leash pooch playground will offer nearly 3/4 of an acre with two fenced areas for the furry four-legged pets to romp about on the south end of the already- existing Elm Street Park. “It is a recreational option for a lot of adults, “ says Cynthia Eckland, FCDPA president. “It’s so nice to be able to go to a park and bring your furry companion with you.” Eckland also says a dog park brings together people of different ages, interests and socioeconomic status. “Before you know it, you have these really strong bonds with people you never would have thought you would meet. It’s rather magical.” According to City Manager, Steve Adams, the city, which owns the property, will maintain liability and continue routine maintenance. FCDPA is responsible for additional upkeep and construction, such as the proposed fence and surrounding sidewalks, budgeted at $30,000.
According to Greg Perry, board member and fundraising chair for the FCDPA, plans for the park initiated in 2006, after the “closure” of the Costa Bella Park, an unofficial dog park in Grover Beach. Perry says after neighbor complaints, animal services began cracking down on unleashed dogs and began citing their human companions, who subsequently discontinued using the area. “Dog parks are necessary to foster good pet ownership and to keep dogs well-behaved and socialized,” says Perry, a Grover beach resident who has two canine companions. “A socialized pet is a happy pet and a safe pet.” According to Adams, the city knew a park was needed, and finding a big enough location that wasn’t already being used for other purposes was only one of the problems. Neighboring residents voiced opposition, fearing loud barking, odor from urine and feces, and possible parking problems.
“The City Council decided to go ahead because they did not feel the impacts that the neighbors were concerned about would actually occur based on our research of other dog parks in other areas,” Adams says.
However, according to Adams, the City Council was sympathetic to concerns, implementing mitigations to limit hours of operation preventing possible noise disturbances. The Council also required an evaluation after a few months of operation to assess any problems and to make necessary adjustments. In addition, FCDPA volunteers will visit the park on a daily basis to pick up any droppings and fill and clean water sources.
“We will ensure that the park is picked up and clean,” Eckland says. “It has to be attractive not only to the neighbors but to us because we are using the park.”
In February of this year, shortly after the City Council approved the dog park, the owner and manager of the adjacent Park Place Apartments filed a lawsuit against the city. The suit contended that the dog park was an “abuse of discretion” that violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which does not directly regulate land uses, but instead requires that development projects submit documentation of their potential environmental impact. The plaintiffs contended that the city should conduct an environmental impact report.
“It’s a park now, and dogs are allowed on the park now, so we are kind of altering the area a little bit, but we are not really changing the use,” Adams says. “So under CEQA, that doesn’t trigger any kind of environmental impact report.”
San Luis Obispo County Superior Court rejected the suit on June 3.
Perry says he expects that construction on the park will begin before the end of 2008 and will take less than two months to complete. An official name for the park has yet to be decided.
The FCDPA is a nonprofit organization under the umbrella of the San Luis Obispo Parks Open Space & Trails Foundation (SLOPOST). Through member efforts, the association has raised about $15,000—half of the projected funds to install the park. Future plans include a dog park in Grover Beach. Donations can be mailed to Five Cities Dog Park/SLOPOST, at P.O. Box 61, Pismo Beach, CA 93448. For more information, visit www.fivecitiesdogpark.org or leave a message at 270-6364