FEEDBACK WANTED: West Seattle Stadium off-leash dog park is in early planning stage

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

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.

CarDriver October 24, 2024 (4:40 pm)

Betting the money spent will not include enforcement of existing leash/no dogs on beach/scoop laws. Betting that while the millions (probably more as they will be over budget) spent will get usage there won’t be a noticeable drop in the number of off leash dogs running around wherever their owners fell entitled to let them.

SRHNA October 24, 2024 (8:38 pm)

Nobody who actually read the sign would bet against you since it clearly states the budget is for “planning, design, and construction” but I’m guessing you just wanted to be first to make a snarky comment?
North Admiral October 25, 2024 (7:14 am)

I wish you lots of light and levity today

AH October 24, 2024 (5:24 pm)

Why does installing a dog park take so long to roll out? I am sure one of you could give me a simple answer ( no charged/snarky responses please)And I have heard people complain about west crest small stones/gravel on their pets’ paws and therefore do not go. I do not need an OLA however I thought I would add this incase someone has a strong opinion when they show up to the the cities outreach.Good Luck with your project

David October 24, 2024 (5:29 pm)

This area was originally created as the site of the tons of dirt that was excavated and removed and dumped here from Jefferson Elementary School footprint and playground in the project that created Jefferson Square. It was meant to level off the existing slope of the West Seattle Golf Course Driving Range to make it more feasible for golfers.

Hudson October 24, 2024 (7:27 pm)

Anyone know what’s going on with the bike park that was talked about uphill and adjacent to this area?

Lucy October 24, 2024 (9:12 pm)

Yes! I’m all for off leash dog parks. But. There must also be enforcement of leash laws and no dog areas on our beaches.

Mellow Kitty October 25, 2024 (8:59 am)

Yes. Build lots of off-leash parks for the dogs and get them out of non-off-leash parks.

DH October 25, 2024 (12:00 pm)

The timeline is so long because A) Parks need time to solicit community input; B) create designs based on that input; C) put the three design proposals out to the community for a vote; and D) wait 9 – 12 months for a building permit. If any of you have built/remodeled lately you know how long permitting takes!

Dog Owner October 25, 2024 (1:17 pm)

Thats a great spot. People can stop letting their dogs off leash in the public park. My dog does not like other dogs and has leash aggression. If a random dog runs up to my dog, he has a right to bight them. I have seen people with unleashed dogs on the beach and run up and to try and attack my dog. I was pissed. Leash your pets.

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