Dog-park suspense to last a while longer: Thursday meeting canceled

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The Seattle Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners won’t be hearing the final choices for new dog parks this Thursday night after all – the meeting’s been canceled. That announcement comes one day after an update that the meeting would include a briefing on the plan but not a public hearing. Today’s cancellation notice promises only, “The items that were going to be covered in this meeting will be moved to a future meeting.” (This was the only major item on the agenda.) The board usually meets twice a month. West Seattle’s not the only area of the city where Parks has been mulling additional off-leash areas, but it’s been closely watched since the department announced Lincoln Park and West Seattle Stadium sites as the finalists. Last month a Parks executive told the Fauntleroy Community Association that the site on the south side of the stadium property would likely be the winner, but the plan hasn’t been officially unveiled yet

Rules Don't Apply February 6, 2024 (3:18 pm)

I hope the stadium site is the choice. I think it would be more convenient for all the dog folks in the Junction and the Admiral District. But I also have to say, it’s kind of ludicrous to have so much deliberation by Parks and Recreation because the reality is that every Seattle park, play field and public beach is an off-leash area for dogs of irresponsible dog owners. The other day when walking the waterfront at Lincoln Park we overheard a dog owner say to her walking partner “I’m going to take Winney down to the beach so I can take her off leash so she can run”! The next day at Whale Tail park we counted 5 dogs on the play field and when I commented on it, we had a conversation with a woman who overheard me make the comment. She told us her young daughter (who looked about 6-7 years old) had been knocked down by off leash dogs at play fields 5 times… starting when she was 3 years old. One of those dog owners suggested she should keep her daughter on a leash. And of course, anytime we walk in Camp Long, Lincoln Park or Alki Beach we encounter off leash dogs. We routinely see people with their dogs on the Bob Booth and Whale Tail Park tennis courts. All these places have signs posted that dogs are not allowed in any of these areas….. but no officials from any office of any agency in Seattle ever appear to do anything about these violations. I seriously doubt creating actual off leash parks will do anything to curb the abuses that take place daily.

Duffy February 6, 2024 (4:17 pm)

Entitled Seattle dog owners. There are thousands of them around the city.
Derp February 6, 2024 (4:29 pm)

Well said. Too bad there are some many privileged people in West Seattle that do whatever they want, whenever they want, no matter what the issue is. It is time for people to start policing people, or calling them out when you see this. Shame the hell out of them. And keep doing it until people get the hint. This is not your own little world people. Yes you
- 937 February 7, 2024 (5:53 am)
  
  “Shame” them?? lol. What does that even mean? Are you going to wag your finger? Make eye contact and spit on the ground? How about stocks in the junction?
  
  I personally don’t know any of these scofflaws – but I have seen them around – to and fro these shared open areas. By the looks of them and their pompous attitude, I can tell you that your (or anyone’s) “shaming” (again – what does that even mean??) isn’t going to matter one whit to them.
Rude and Entitled February 6, 2024 (5:06 pm)

Well said. As a frequent visitor to LP w my own small, leashed dog, the number of entitled scofflaws who think only of themselves, is maddening. Not to mention dangerous, as I’ve had to pull her up into my arms several times to keep her from aggressive dogs who could have really hurt her. / I am really hopeful that Kersti is correct in her recent comment here that it WON’T be LP, and all this drama is for naught. Along w the idea for pickleball courts that even the players aren’t asking for, it’s time to start thinking about starting a Lincoln Park Preservation Society. As best as I can tell, the Parks has this obscene notion that empty spaces must be filled to have any value in our society. Um, the idea of a few remaining open spaces is the whole point. No on LP dog park. No on pickleball. Both are bad ideas in the wrong places. / I personally look forward to the day when I can start telling the scofflaws to go to the approved off-leash park by the golf course. And to Rob Saka while I have you: how about some honest to goodness enforcement? The city pound could pay a month’s budget in one weekend at LP alone! Sensitive marine area mean anything to you? I love you, WS! Entitled dog owners? Not so much.
- Alki resident February 6, 2024 (6:45 pm)
  
  It’s not an “ empty space”. It was once a tennis court fully enjoyed by families and friends. The concrete slab has been there for years. Lincoln Park is a multi use park and it needs to stay that way. Kersti doesn’t speak for everybody nor is it factual that pickleball players are staying quiet about getting our space restored for use. We’ve been VERY vocal about getting it restored and wanting pickleball in Lincoln Park. No reason not to have it there or the dog park. Having a dog park at LP will allow dog owners to let their dog run around and the owner to enjoy the park and beach before or after attending the dog space. It’s a win win.
- Buddy February 7, 2024 (1:01 pm)
  
  Lincoln Park has already fenced off the area for the pickle ball courts. And when I recently went to Lincoln Park and got a parking spot with only 3 left available and went on my walk, I saw a very large dog running around with no leash. I understand how you feel almost having a wrist sprain or broken from trying to hold onto your own dog leash when a dog is off leash comes running up to you. I can’t stand people who have those extremely long, retractable leashes because they assume everyone thinks they want their dog to smell strangers or jump on them.
ConcernedParent February 8, 2024 (2:14 pm)

Sorry to hear about your experience. This matches our experience as well. When our daughter was learning how to walk we tried taking her around our neighborhood, to parks, playfields, etc and everywhere we went we were accosted by dogs. My wife would tell them dogs aren’t allowed and they would yell her head off (“well get us more dog parks then!”)We tried talking with many of them about our concerns but so far we’ve only had one productive conversation (before she responded she controlled her dog, took some deep breaths, and approached calmly). Others get pissed off, their dog reacts, and it quickly escalates.We now report every single person we see to animal control with license plate or address information. It has changed our neighborhood for the better. It is nice seeing kids getting to use sports fields instead of waiting on the sidelines until the illegal off leash dog owners leave.You can clear them out with persistence. Animal Control is responsive if you provide actionable data (identifying information).

Kyle February 6, 2024 (10:03 pm)

Parks with a last minute cancellation of a meeting? So out of character for them…

Kersti Muul February 7, 2024 (8:21 am)

But not before they cancelled the public comment period first 😆Typical parks indeed. No matter. They’ve already confirmed the stadium site.

Rob February 7, 2024 (11:43 am)

West seattle stadium is perfect but combine in the budget for a pedestrian over pass .

Friend of Fairmount February 8, 2024 (9:55 am)

Regardless of where the new dog park goes, the off-leash situation in WS is completely out of control. Children and properly leashed dogs are at risk with unleashed dogs around, and that’s completely unacceptable. So many firsthand experience with this.Dogs are also turning Fairmount Playfield into even more of a mud pit than it should be, and also dig big holes that are hazardous. These are people parks, not dog parks. Leash laws should be ENFORCED!

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