SUNDAY: Talk with city reps about where West Seattle’s second off-leash area should be

Reminder – tomorrow in The Junction, you can talk with Seattle Parks reps about where you think West Seattle’s second off-leash area (aka dog park) should be. Two locations are under consideration, as first reported here last month: Upper Lincoln Park or just south of West Seattle Stadium.

So far, we haven’t heard of organized opposition to the stadium-adjacent site, but wildlife advocates have been lining up against the Lincoln Park site. Whatever you think, you’re invited to drop by Parks’ pop-up 10 am-2 pm tomorrow (Sunday, July 23rd) in The Junction. Note: The original Parks announcement said they’ll be at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), while a subsequent reminder said the Farmers’ Market – so look there if you don’t find them in the park. If you haven’t already answered the online survey, that’s supposed to stay open through the end of this month – find the link, and details of the city’s proposals, by going here.

admyrl byrd July 22, 2023 (9:36 pm)

Stadium site is the only realistic answer. Serves much more of the population, less opposition, and Lincoln Park and Westcrest are too close together. People junction north, ,particularly north admiral and alki, won’t be served at all by the Lincoln Park location. C’mon Seattle do the right thing.

Katie Bucy July 22, 2023 (9:44 pm)

Open space parks like Lincoln Park and Discovery Park are not the right places for off-leash areas. They are respites from city life and require constant vigilance to keep them that way. The stadium is more appropriate.

Nino July 24, 2023 (1:00 am)

The metro area has a couple of examples where open air parks complement off leash dog parks very well in Magnuson and Merrymoor.

ttt July 22, 2023 (11:08 pm)

Stadium area is the right place for an off-leash area.

Jim July 22, 2023 (11:32 pm)

Stadium site is the old driving range. Yeah. West Seattle had a driving range.

Chemist July 23, 2023 (2:02 am)

Did they have a driving range before or was it part of the plan seattle parks had to try to get more money out of municipal golf by creating a driving range there, which was studied and then put on hold and forgotten.
- WSB July 23, 2023 (3:03 am)
  
  No, it was not “studied and … forgotten.” We covered that extensively more than a decade ago. It was most definitely and simply canceled.
  https://westseattleblog.com/2011/02/west-seattle-golf-course-driving-range-decision-cancelled/
  - Jim July 23, 2023 (8:01 am)
    
    I can remember going there in the 60’s when my brothers were here on work visas and driving a bucket of balls. I was on the neighborhood council when they were looking for a site for a range, and I asked about the old site, and they had no idea it had been there.
    - WSB July 23, 2023 (10:02 am)
      
      I was only referring to the proposal for one earlier this millennium – that it had been scrapped in 2011, not shelved as the commenter suggested. Earlier history, I definitely defer to those here before us (1991)!
    - Chemist July 23, 2023 (12:23 pm)
      
      Kind of odd how the 2011 story linked to by WSB says “It turns out this project, as it can be physically fitted into the course, is not consistent with the course’s historic design,” if there was a driving range there in the 60s though. But, ok, not put on hold and forgotten, guess it was formally cancelled.
      
      I question how frequently the proposed area gets used as “overflow parking” and the time of day it’s needed vs usage of city dog park patterns in general. A dog park does generate vehicle traffic that would also want parking and nothing in the proposal outlined creating new/replacement parking spots.
  - jim July 23, 2023 (8:25 am)

WTF July 22, 2023 (11:42 pm)

If you care, do not allow them to F up the second park like they did Westcrest. None of the work that they did is conducive to dogs’ abilities to run and play there… Many dogs have been injured by the crap rock they put down. COLA has asked for fixes, which all fell on deaf ears. The use of Westcrest has dropped drastically. Professional dog walkers with any sense no longer take their clients there. Seattle City Parks is clueless and doesn’t care.

SJ July 23, 2023 (12:23 am)

I wonder how the stadium site would impact wildlife in Camp Long – seems equally disruptive as off leash dogs in Lincoln Park.

Jamie Kinney July 23, 2023 (4:23 pm)

There is a big difference between building the off-leash area adjacent to a park vs. in the middle of it. The Lincoln Park proposal is sighted immediately next to an area where Barred Owls roost.

Admiral-2009 July 23, 2023 (9:02 am)

I see people playing with their dogs at numerous parks and for the most part I see it as a positive as long as they are well behaved and clean up after their pet does it’s business.

Josh July 23, 2023 (4:17 pm)

How is letting dogs run free a positive? Even if they are “well behaved” how does letting dogs running around on and off established walkways and trails on beaches and in the water (often these waters are marine sanctuaries) disturbing wildlife and eroding the forest while contaminating the water end up being good for anyway except the dog owners who are too lazy to care for their animals properly.
ConcernedParent July 26, 2023 (9:40 pm)

Ask parents and coaches of kids who have to deal with poop on the sports fields at these parks.