Home › Forums › WSB Reader Recommendations › Potential dog park locations ?
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February 26, 2008 at 12:26 am #586458
ToddinWestwoodMemberOk, since I have been the one complaining the most about dogs at local parks off-leash, I am here to help now.
I propose we as West Seattle residents who love dogs, own dogs or even know people with dogs go to the city and ask them for a dog park.
What areas can we petition the city for a new park?
Roxhill? Lincoln Park? Other open space that could be used?
Thanks,
Todd
February 26, 2008 at 2:19 am #616017
CroweMemberI think Lincoln Park will be tough because of the wildlife that occupies the beach. ie, Herons, baby seals. MAYBE Alki? More people and sandy beach, could have a space for dogs to swim, but maybe too many high brows who won’t want to share, but may be worth a try. Is there usable space further down, past the Alki Tavern??
Just a few thoughts.
February 26, 2008 at 4:16 am #616018
herongrrrlParticipantThere are public health rules preventing dogs from being off-leash anywhere people might swim, at least within Seattle city limits–which is why Alki and Golden Gardens are posted for no dogs on the beach (and they are places where you are actually somewhat likely to get ticketed for breaking that law). There is that spot right around Duwamish Head, don’t remember the name of the park, but it’s basically a lawn between Alki Ave and the greenbelt on the bluff, maybe that would be a good site?
February 26, 2008 at 7:50 am #616019
gregorywadeMemberFirst, there is an off-leash area with access to the water in Magnuson Park, so clearly public health rules are not insurmountable. Second, the entirety of Lincoln Park is not on the water.
I think Lincoln Park is a fine location for a dog park. There is plenty of room amongst the various nooks and crannies. In fact, an unofficial off-leash area in Lincoln Park already exists. I would certainly support any efforts to establish on there, and I would use it regularly unlike the one east of High Point which requires the use of a car.
February 26, 2008 at 12:29 pm #616020
littlebrowndogParticipantI remember the process it took to get the current off leash areas several years ago. It was a protracted (a couple of years) process with many, many heated public hearings with much opposition to every site that was proposed. I know that Lincoln Park was suggested early on and immediately rejected by the city. I know that Alki would never meet the criteria. Among other things, the areas must all be fenced off from the general public, and there will never be a fenced off area at Alki. The group that started and maintains the park in Marymoor provided technical assisstance, and then a similar group was started here in Seattle. I don’t know if those groups still exist, but perhaps if there are people scheduled to clean and patrol the existing areas they may be a part of those groups. For every potential site there was a huge “not in my park” uproar. It was not pretty. Animal Control and the City Council were of course involved, and they were among the big opponents. Jan Drago was the champion of the efforts on the city council. I know that at times even she became frustrated and exhausted and threatened to withdraw her support. But she is who I would contact to begin the effort.
I don’t want to sound negative about this, as I also think it is a good idea. I just want to let you know if you weren’t around in the past or watching the process what a huge undertaking it is.
February 26, 2008 at 7:54 pm #616021
AlkiParticipantI would like to see a place somewhere on the edge of Schmitz park… that’s close enough to Alki that we could tell folks along Alki to leash up their dogs and head just two blocks away for a dog park… and I would take my dog there!
There are so many dogs near Alki yet no place for them to hang out. It would also help because peeople keep their dogs off-leash in Schmitz anyway, so now they’d have a place to do it where it’s actually OK.
February 26, 2008 at 10:46 pm #616022
BBMemberHow ’bout we put this energy into improving our already good off-leash area at Westcrest? I see the same 5-10 people helping at the work parties every time. It would be convenient to have an off-leash area at one of the places that has been suggested, but knowing the difficulties of getting a new OLA approved I would think think we would all be better served with some fund-raising and volunteering for Westcrest.
February 26, 2008 at 11:17 pm #616023
EKMemberThe group to take this up with is COLA – Citizens for Off Leash Areas – http://coladog.org You can attend meetings and bring any concerns there. I have gone to a few and did ask about other locations in West Seattle. The group actively works to get new dog parks opened and the process takes a few years. I’d guess it’s unlikely we’ll get a 2nd West Seattle one anytime soon, but it doesn’t hurt to try. When I went to my first meeting about 3 years ago, they were in the process of developing the Belltown and under I-5 (Colonnade) locations, so you can see how slowly things progress.
Secondly, the person to meet at WestCrest is Steve the park steward. He has a beagle named Buddy and is very friendly. He can direct you in your desires to volunteer or donate. Work parties are a good outlet for this.
February 27, 2008 at 2:00 am #616024
beachdrivegirlParticipantI actually inquired into this last fall: Here is my response I continued the discussion with Laurie until she put me intouch with “friends of lincoln park.” I got the feeling though that since we have our one park in “West Seattle” currenlty we are pretty low on the totem poll… However, maybe if we all hound Laurie we can move on up…
October 3, 2007
Dear Miss Allen,
There are no plans for an off-leash area at Lincoln Park. There are several factors that make an off-leash area there unlikely.
We strive for fair distribution of off-leash areas city-wide. West Seattle has an off-leash area at Westcrest Park, while some areas—Queen Anne and Magnolia—still have none.
The possibility of siting an off-leash area at Lincoln Park has come up in the past, but the citizen group that takes a lead stewardship role with the park, Friends of Lincoln Park, strongly opposed the idea. As well, the fact that Lincoln Park is an Olmsted-influenced makes it less likely that an off-leash area could be approved there.
Currently there is no money budgeted for an off-leash area. If you would like to petition for money to be added to the budget for new off-leash areas, you can contact the office of City Councilmember David Della who is chair of the Parks, Education, Libraries and Labor Committee. His e-mail address is david.della@seattle.gov
Thank you for your inquiry!
Best,
Laurie Dunlap
Superintendent’s Office, Seattle Parks and Recreation
February 27, 2008 at 6:41 pm #616025
RainyDay1235MemberSo sad. It seems Camp Long or Lincoln or Schmitz Park would be great options….
I love the IDEA of WestCrest. I do think there is a good community and it’s kept clean. I just don’t like everything that goes with it. The the only way to improve it is to have a constant police presence it seems. It used to be awful – then it cleaned up – and now it’s just awful again.
Why would I park my car there when there have been so many break-ins? I know several people who have interrupted liasons in the woods (ick). I myself have heard noises and had to leave quickly. The guys parked in their cars waiting for their ‘hook-ups’ (drugs, sex, who knows) are too creepy….it’s a shame.
February 27, 2008 at 11:26 pm #616026
kParticipantRainyDay1235-I agree with you regarding WestCrest. It’s just not a safe place to go. I go alone with my dog and don’t feel at all comfortable. I have gotten out of my car and watched people case my vehicle while sitting in theirs. I have seen people smoking crack. I have interrupted sexual encounters and seen more than my fair share of broken window glass. No fun for anyone including the dogs.
February 28, 2008 at 1:03 am #616027
WSMomParticipantAre the Seattle police completely aware of how bad it is at WestCrest? Apparantly the city put the dog park in the scariest park in West Seattle in order to push the bad elements out…unfortunately it sounds like the bad elements are pushing back. I too have felt uncomfortable leaving my car in the upper parking lot completely out of visual range of the dog area. Perhaps we all need to write to Laurie Dunlap of the Superintendent’s Office, Seattle Parks and Recreation and ask for the parks department to reassess this situation. Maybe a new parking area that is in view of the dog area could be considered. I know this idea might be expensive and controversial, but what if lighted soccer fields were added (nothing like a herd of vigilant soccer moms to make WestCrest less hook-up attractive.)
February 28, 2008 at 5:48 pm #616028
RainyDay1235MemberGreat idea! What would be best – one email with names (“signatures”) or individual emails to Laurie Dunlap and David Della (david.della@seattle.gov)? I can’t locate her email online…..
February 28, 2008 at 7:11 pm #616029
WSMomParticipantHey RainDay1235:
I couldn’t find Laurie Dunlap either, but here is what I sent to David Della and the Parks Superintendant and staff:
david.della@seattle.gov; dewey.potter@seattle.gov; timothy.gallagher@seattle.gov; sandy.brooks@seattle.gov
“Dear Mr. Della,
I am a resident of West Seattle and an occasional user of the West Crest Park dog off-leash area. Are you aware of the issues associated with West Crest Park? We have to deal with cars being broken into regularly and people using the park for drug and sex hook-ups. The illegal behavior of a few people is keeping a large number of dog owners in West Seattle from using West Crest Park.
I have some suggestions:
1. More lighting, even if just temporarily. Light the park up like a Christmas tree. Add more lighting to the parking lot. The wooded part of the park is dark even in the summer. Perhaps the parks department could place a couple of big spotlights shining down the paths, even just a couple hours a day a couple of days a week. Bad things happen in dark corners, bring in lights and police and make West Crest Park too visible for the shadow elements to want to play there.
2. West Seattle could use more lighted soccer fields…why not turn the big meadow into a regulation soccer field complete with lights. Nothing like a herd of vigilant soccer mom’s descending every day upon West Crest Park to make hook-ups less attractive.
3. Have the police walk the trails with big flash lights on a regular several times a day basis.”
I’m curious if anyone else has any ideas for making West Crest less scary. My ideas may be too expensive or controversial, but I thought I’d send them off anyway. I’ll report back if I hear anything.
February 29, 2008 at 4:20 pm #616030
beachdrivegirlParticipantLauries email came from: Parks Correspondence (imailagent) [Parks@crm.seattle.gov]
Here is another phone number and email address someone named Mary sent me. This was after I had wrote Laurie back asking her for more contact information for the Friends of Lincoln Park organization so i coudl gain a better understanding of what there concerns are with a dog park being located there.
Dear,
I am herewith forwarding your request to our Volunteer Office (ParksVolunteer@seattle.gov, phone 684-8028) so that staff there can put you in touch with a Friends of Lincoln Park contact.
Sincerely,
Mary Alderete, Superintendent’s Office, Seattle Parks and Recreation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Different note: I completly agree with everyone in regards to the safety o West Crest park and that is what originally got me motivated to contact the parks departmetn. It is a shame when I am afraid to go to the park without my husband because i am afraid of the people I might run into there….
March 2, 2008 at 1:28 am #616031
WSMomParticipantI just received a very nice reply from the Park Department. Our concerns about safety at West Crest Park are being heard. Here is part of the letter I received:
“I have heard from several citizens that the occurrence of “unwanted and illegal” behavior within the Park has increased. I have been in contact with the Seattle Police Department regarding a number of safety issues at both Westcrest and Georgetown Parks. As a result, I am organizing a “walk through” of Westcrest Park with Seattle Police Department and interested citizens. The walk – through is being planned during the week of March 10th. The tentative date is March 11th at 2pm –I’ll confirm the date with you late next week. We will be looking at ways to increase the safety and security of the Park and Park users. Several staff members from both Parks and Police will be attending. We have also invited other citizens who have contacted us regarding the same issue.
Are you interested in joining us in the walk through? Please feel free to notify other Park users  all welcome to come and discuss strategies.”
I’ll be there for the walk through on March 11 @ 2:00 at West Crest.
March 2, 2008 at 1:36 am #616032
ToddinWestwoodMemberawesome! I will try to be there as well. I will be contacting all my dog owner pals too.
March 2, 2008 at 6:14 am #616033
JanSParticipantsqueaky wheels…WSMom..you know what they say…way to go!!
March 2, 2008 at 6:42 am #616034
beachdrivegirlParticipantI will do what I can do be there…although it might be little tough. If only they would do this on a weekend so we wouldnt have to rearrange our work schedules.
March 2, 2008 at 9:43 pm #616035
WSMomParticipantJanS:
Thanks Jan. You’re right, hehehe! (I think we should all have at least one hehehe in every post)!
March 2, 2008 at 9:50 pm #616036
AnonymousInactiveOh WSMom- why must you taunt me so:-) Now I’m going to have to go on an immature rant!
March 2, 2008 at 10:07 pm #616037
ErikParticipantHehe
March 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm #616038
AnonymousInactivehehe
March 3, 2008 at 2:48 am #616039
JoBParticipantFor goodness gracious LOL why don’t you:)
the walk through at the park sounds good tho.. i think i will try to attend since that sort of thing is taken more seriously if more people show up.
besides, handicapped little old ladies who just want to walk their dogs always get attention:)
March 3, 2008 at 5:35 am #616040
JanSParticipantWSMom, Erik, NewRes…thank you…hehe
JT..you OK? ;-)
JoB..never in a million years will I think of you as a “handicapped little old lady” – but we have to use it as we see it. This cane of mine has worked wonders for me at times…and I don’t mean because I used it over someone’s head – lol
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