We went to the site of West Seattle’s future second official dog park (aka off-leash area) toward the end of Thursday’s lightly attended “open house” to get a quick in-person update on what’s next for the project, currently planned for construction next year. (If you’ve missed previous reports, this is in an area south of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot at 4432 35th SW, for which it’s currently used as overflow parking.)

The project team told us this is the last public meeting before construction next summer/fall. The main purpose was to show the “schematic design” they’ve settled on (on the easel shown above, plus page 8 in this slide deck), from the three possibilities they had shown previously. The main changes include an added pathway plus “more developed drainage.” And they still have a few things to decide, such as gravel vs. wood chips; both have their upsides and downsides, fans and detractors.

They also want potential future users to know that an area in the northwest section of the site is still planned for a small lot where city EVs can recharge. No public access, they said. (At one point, you might recall, the entire site was under consideration for a city EV lot INSTEAD of the dog park.)

For one last round of feedback, they now have an online survey you can answer here, and the project webpage features an explanatory video walking you through the current plan. The survey’s open until June 23.

If you’re interested in plans for West Seattle’s second official off-leash area – aka dog park – tomorrow’s your next chance for a look. As we first told you three weeks ago, Seattle Parks will have an “open house” on the site just south of West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW), now used as overflow parking.

SPR’s project team and design consultant will be available to answer questions, present the preferred schematic designs, and gather valuable community feedback. Additionally, officers from the Seattle Animal Shelter will be present (to) offer community resources. … (The park) will include fencing, seating for pet owners, and an environmentally friendly stormwater bioretention area with thoughtful plantings. An online presentation and a survey will be available on the website following the meeting.

The drop-in event is scheduled for 4-6 pm tomorrow (Thursday, June 5).

According to that postcard received by a reader, Seattle Parks plans an “open house” about West Seattle’s new off-leash area – aka “dog park” – Thursday, June 5. That’ll be the first public Q&A opportunity since the department tabled about it at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in February. The off-leash area is planned for what’s currently a parking-overflow area south of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot, and that’s where the open-house event on June 5 will be, 4-6 pm. The postcard promises they’ll have new schematic designs to show at the event. The new off-leash area is expected to be built next year.

10:50 AM: As we’ve been previewing, you can visit the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today for more than shopping – you can also check in with the Seattle Parks team planning West Seattle’s second off-leash area, on the south side of the WS Stadium grounds, in an area currently designated for overflow parking. Today’s booth is under the red canopy you’ll see close to the north end of the east side of the market, with the three design concepts on easels:

We asked the off-leash area’s designer Steve Nowaczyk, who’s with landscape-architecture firm HBB, about the primary differences to look for. He said the entryways on the north side are significantly different, as are the concepts for separating areas of the park, and how you’d travel through the park – two designs have a “social trail” around the periphery, while the other has a trail that’s more central. Each will have some accessible parking, but no additional general parking area beyond what’s already there for the golf course and stadium – the idea is for this to be more of a draw for those within walking distance, a more “neighborhood”-focused facility. They’re also particularly interested in whether you think the dog park will need lighting – it’s not currently planned, but could be incorporated. Meantime, at today’s event, you can put heart stickers on features and/or entire concepts that you like:

They’re also taking written comments:

And ready to answer questions – that’s Steve at right in the photo below:

In addition to stopping by this booth before 2 pm today, here’s another way to get a close-up look at the three concepts, and offer your opinion: An online survey will open soon. These designs will also be added to the website for the project, which is slated for construction next year.

8:53 PM: Just checked the project site, and it’s been updated since today’s event. Here’s the survey, which includes all three of the concept graphics shown today, and a request for you to rank them.

(WSB photo at future off-leash-area site during October event)

Even if you don’t usually go to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, you might want to visit this Sunday (February 23) if you have something to say about the plan for West Seattle’s second off-leash area. Almost a year ago, Seattle Parks announced that an area on the south side of the West Seattle Stadium grounds would become the site of our area’s second dog park. At the Farmers’ Market this Sunday, Parks plans an “open house” table/booth, four months after the previous “engagement event” at the future park site, currently used for overflow parking. Parks says its project team and design consultant will be at the market to show “concept design options” as well as gathering feedback and answering questions. The West Seattle site, expected to be built next year, is one of two new off-leash areas in the city that are budgeted together for $3.1 million from the Seattle Park District‘s second “funding cycle.” Sunday’s “open house” is scheduled for the same hours as the regular market, 10 am-2 pm.

(WSB photo at future off-leash-area site during October event)

As first reported last March, Seattle Parks has officially chosen an area on the south side of the West Seattle Stadium grounds to become the site of our area’s second dog park (officially, “off-leash area”). Today, Parks announced the next opportunity for community comment: An “open house” at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sunday, February 23, 10 am-2 pm. That’ll be four months after the previous “engagement event” on the future park site, currently used as an overflow-parking area. Parks’ announcement says its “project team and design consultant will be available to answer questions, present concept design options, and gather valuable community feedback” to help shape the park’s final design. So far, they’re planning that it will include “fencing, seating for pet owners, and an environmentally friendly stormwater bioretention area with thoughtful plantings.” It’s one of two new off-leash areas budgeted together for $3.1 million from the Seattle Park District‘s second “funding cycle,” and construction is currently projected for next year.

By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Neighbors gathered Wednesday afternoon at the site of West Seattle’s future second off-leash area (OLA) dog park to learn more about the project and to give feedback to the project team.

Members of the public are encouraged to share feedback by taking the online survey, which is open until November 11th.  Project information from Seattle Parks is available online here.

As we previewed here, the “West Seattle Stadium Off-Leash Area outreach event” was held at the proposed site just south of West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th Ave SW), as illustrated in this 2023 image from Seattle Parks:

The location for the site was finalized 6 months ago, and this Seattle Parks visual from yesterday’s event gives a closer look at the overhead view of the site:

The site area is 16,000 square feet (.37 acre) and the team is in the early stages of gathering community feedback. The project charter is to “turn the current unpaved overflow parking lot into an OLA (off-leash area) featuring a fenced area for unleashed dogs, seating, and a planted stormwater bioretention area.”

After the survey closes on November 11th, the team will work on design options to bring back to the public for feedback in February/March 2025, and then more detailed construction designs will be created. Actual construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and be completed in fall 2026.  Seattle Parks is providing $3.1 mm for the planning, design, and construction of two OLAs, including this one at West Seattle Stadium as well as one at Othello Playground (4351 S Othello St.)

Team members on-hand Wednesday included project planner Colin Campbell from Seattle Parks, landscape architect Steve Nowaczyk from HBB Landscape Architects who will work on the site designs, and Alec Rodenhauser the chair of COLA (Citizens for Off-Leash Areas) who work with Parks and do local advocacy for OLA projects.

Team members said there was a steady stream of people (as well as 4-legged canine citizens) stopping by on Wednesday afternoon, some who intentionally made the trip, and others who were walking through the area and happened across the event (which project planner Campbell said is “encouraging” and “tells us we’ve got the right spot.”)

Attendees provided their feedback verbally, via note cards as well as sticky notes and stickers, regarding desired features and preferred usage of the OLA:

Project signage is also posted at the site:

The West Seattle area’s only current OLA is further south at Westcrest Park (9000 8th Ave. SW).

For questions about the West Seattle Stadium off-leash project, visit the project website or contact project planner Colin Campbell at 206-790-6642 or Colin.Campbell@seattle.gov.

Also, not far from West Seattle, the project team will also be at Othello Playground (4351 S Othello St, southwest corner of the park) today, Thursday, October 24th, from 4-6 pm to gather community feedback about a similar off-leash project that’s planned for that location.

(2023 Seattle Parks image of stadium study area for off-leash area)

Half a year after finalizing the location for West Seattle’s second off-leash area, Seattle Parks is inviting you to a “community engagement event” to find out more about it and offer comments. It’s set for 4-6 pm Wednesday, October 23, at West Seattle Stadium (where the new off-leash area will be created in the “unpaved overflow parking lot” south of the stadium). Parks’ announcement of the event says, “SPR’s project team and design consultant will be available to answer questions, present design concepts, and gather valuable community feedback (to) help shape the final design.” The announcement adds, “Attendees are also encouraged to bring their dogs on-leash in costume for a fun treat. SPR will be accepting pet food donations to benefit the Seattle Animal Shelter at the event or you can visit seattle.gov/animal-shelter/get-involved/donate to donate.” Parks says the off-leash area “will include fencing, seating for pet owners, and an environmentally friendly stormwater bioretention area with thoughtful plantings.” The project page says Parks is currently aiming to build the new West Seattle off-leash area in 2026.

P.S. We asked Parks two followup questions about the October 23 event – where exactly at the stadium, and is it strictly “drop-in”? Spokesperson Rachel Schulkin replied, “The gravel overflow parking lot that is usually chained/blocked off. Take the turn off of 35th Ave SW down the driveway toward the stadium/golf course and it will be immediately on the right. We’ll be the first thing people see when they pull into the stadium/golf course driveway so it should be easy to find as if they use the address for the stadium/golf course. And yes, this will be a drop-in event.”