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Park district to examine pros, cons of dog park
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Mike Green’s Australian shepherd likes to run.
“I’ve gotten to the age where I have bad knees and everything, and I can’t run,” the Oak Park man said. “My yard isn’t suitable for the dog to get out and run. If you know Oak Park, nobody has big yards.”
That’s why Green likes the idea of a local dog park, where pooches can run free.
He isn’t alone.
The Oak Park Municipal Advisory Committee member is often stopped on the sidewalk by fellow dog walkers wondering why the unincorporated community doesn’t have a dog park. He advises them to tell the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, which owns and operates the parks in Oak Park.
More than two dozen dog park boosters turned out earlier this month at a meeting of the Oak Park Recreation and Planning Committee, which advises the Park District’s board. The committee couldn’t discuss the issue because it wasn’t on its agenda.
Instead, district officials will evaluate the possibility of putting a dog park in Oak Park and present the findings to the committee in January.
“Staff will evaluate the pros and cons of it,” District General Manager Larry Peterson said, adding the report would include an analysis “of possible locations and costs.”
Any decisions about a dog park would ultimately be made by the Park District’s board of directors.
Peterson said one limitation is that a dog park would be situated at an existing facility, which may cause concern among those who may not want to share space with a pooch park. The district is also looking at other amenities with broad appeal, such as a water feature at one of the community’s parks.
The district has $500,000 budgeted to build a dog park in the Big Sky development in Simi Valley. It would be the district’s first park for canines, and it is expected to be completed this fiscal year, Peterson said.
Posted by horsespinner on October 31, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I ride my bike by the TO one often. No noise just a lot of men meeting women while the dogs run. I wish I was a dog
Posted by sdetatae on October 31, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
funny, my brother met his partner at a dog park.
:)
Posted by mom4life on November 6, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I enjoy taking my dog over to the TO dog Park. He has a great time playing! I have only had positive experiences so far and hope that is how it stays. I think any town would benefit to have one. Not only does it bring dogs enjoyment you get to meet other people from your communtiy.
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