Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Off Leash Dog Park Closer than West Crest Park?
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May 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm #590955
Dalamar437MemberI would love it if West Seattle had an off leash dog park. Something closer to California Ave or 35th maybe? Maybe no further south then the Gatewood area?
The closest one I know of is West Crest Park.
http://www.explorerdog.com/offleash/westcrest.htm
I honestly don’t consider that close and really don’t even think of it as part of west Seattle since it is so far south east.
I’m not trying to sound lazy I can always pack up my dog and drive to West Crest but I think I’d go more often and meet more of my neighbors if one was closer is all I’m sayin. So many West Seattle residents have dogs I think we need our own closER park!
May 20, 2009 at 7:59 pm #667182
ellenaterMemberAgreed. but where? I can’t think of an area that would be more than a little square. UNLESS, we took over the Hold Foods pit and made a doggie skate bowl/offleash park. YES!
May 20, 2009 at 8:02 pm #667183
west seattle golferMemberI heard a *completely unsubstantiated* rumor that one was being considered on Sylvan Way someplace. Not sure where it would go, what with High Point, the Cemetery, and the new condos further down. Would be sweet if it were true though!
May 20, 2009 at 8:08 pm #667184
Dalamar437MemberI was thinking there is a nice plot of land on the corner of SW Holly St and 34th Ave SW. Seems like if it had a little fence it would be perfect! I’m assuming the land is already owned by the folks building all the new high point houses though.
May 20, 2009 at 8:08 pm #667185
KimberleyParticipantYou mean Lincoln Park isn’t an off-leash dog park? Could have fooled me given the number of leashless dogs I see every day.
May 20, 2009 at 8:10 pm #667186
Dalamar437MemberHehe Kimberly I was thinking the same thing about the High Point Playfield.
May 20, 2009 at 8:18 pm #667187
beachdrivegirlParticipantI do not believe that West Seattle is on the list to get an additional off leash dog park any time soon. I contacted the parks department about it about a year ago. There are other neighborhoods that are worse off then we are that are ahead of us on the list. Here is some of the correspondence I received back from the Parks department. I am with you though. We do need an additional park! :)
Dear XXX,
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
May 20, 2009 at 8:19 pm #667188
beachdrivegirlParticipantMore correspondence:
I’m Toni Imfeld, the new COLA chair. We would love to have more involvement and input from members, thank you for volunteering. You put your finger on exactly what you need to show the Parks Department that there is neighborhood interest in a new Off Leash Area: a petition. Please understand that both COLA and Parks have limited resources, and that those resources can only be committed when a need or desire is evident. In the case of off leash areas, that means significant neighborhood interest and commitment on the part of people in the neighborhood to the several-years-long process to identify, site, finance and shepherd through the public process a proposed new off leash area.
Even with significant public interest, some areas are simply deemed not suitable. We have had difficulty getting any additional water access in the Seattle area, in part because of the environmental impact statement, and the expense that is associated with it, that any beach area requires. I’m not familiar with Lincoln Park, but some on the Board have suggested that it may be an Olmstead-designed park. That would be another hurdle to overcome, as any design change to a ‘legacy’ park is highly controversial. At present, Parks is still working to fulfill it’s long-range plan to have an off leash area in each neighborhood, so may be more interested in siting new OLA’s in neighborhoods which do not presently have one, although only Parks can say that for sure.
Charles Sablan is the Parks Department representative in charge of the Off Leash Areas, and would be your best resource in Parks to discuss the feasibility of putting an OLA in Lincoln Park, or in another area of West Seattle. We also suggest that speaking to your Seattle Counsel representative about your interest in another OLA. With a petition showing neighborhood interest, we can put your suggestions into COLA’s long-range plan. I’m also forwarding this on to our Volunteer Coordinator, Dave Figueroa. Thank you for your interest, and please let me know how your inquiry turns out. I hope you’ll come out to Dog O Ween at Genesee Park this Saturday, it’s a hoot!
Best regards,
Toni Imfeld
Chair
COLA
May 20, 2009 at 8:24 pm #667189
KBearParticipantLots of otherwise nice people seem to think that the Pathfinder playground is another off-leash area.
May 20, 2009 at 8:25 pm #667190
KimberleyParticipantThere were meetings back in 2006 about putting OLA in Magnolia and Queen Anne and nothing came of it. I’ll try writing to Charles Sablan too beachdrivegirl, it can’t hurt.
As an aside, does anyone on the forum use Super Happy Fun Dog?
May 20, 2009 at 10:06 pm #667191
guidosmomMemberDid anyone else catch that story on NPR a while back about a woman who was laid off, and ended up starting a private dog park? I forget what she called it, but she ended up getting a lot of investors, and building a large indoor play area/dog park for dogs. I believe it was in Texas, so they needed it to be indoors due to the heat. It ended up doing very well. They even added a bar on the second level so owners could have a drink while watching their dogs play below. They employed people to break up any dog fights and keep all the dogs under control. I thought it was a great idea. Of course there was a fee to enter. Someone should start something similar in West Seattle. Maybe less fancy though.
May 20, 2009 at 11:12 pm #667192
hopeyParticipantreally don’t even think of it as part of west Seattle since it is so far south east.
Wow. Just, uh…. wow.
I guess I don’t “really” live in West Seattle then. Give me a break. If it’s not in West Seattle, what neighborhood is it in? It’s not White Center. It’s really not South Park. What other neighborhood could it be?
I am sorry that not all of West Seattle is gentrified enough to meet your standards of what “West Seattle” is supposed to be. And I’m sorry it takes you all of 15 minutes to drive from your residence on Admiral or Alki all the horrible way down to Westcrest.
Jeez.
May 20, 2009 at 11:26 pm #667193
RSMemberI noticed that too Hopey! Although I’m willing to give the OP the benefit of the doubt that they are not a snob and just want to, as they said, meet more dogs in the neighborhood, comments like that often get read as insulting to that part of town. There’s often some implied classism/elitism that comes with those kinds of comments, and people who live there get pretty defensive. Let’s hope that wasn’t the intent and the OP just chose his or her words poorly. :)
May 21, 2009 at 2:39 am #667194
datamuseParticipantAre we gonna have another round of that argument about whether anything east of Delridge is “really” West Seattle? Again?
Signed,
A Highland Park resident who does live in West Seattle thank you very much
May 21, 2009 at 6:01 am #667195
ellenaterMemberHi. I live on the border between all the lessser people, and all the snobs who are so clearly better than me. I am confused. Will someone please tell me which dog park to go to? Thanks!
Also, is where I live considered “West Seattle”? I thought so but there are a lot of white people on my street so I am worried I might be gentrified.
Finally, I don’t like Westcrest because noone watches their dog. Clearly I am racist. Can someone please help me with this problem?
Thanks!
May 21, 2009 at 2:42 pm #667196
Dalamar437MemberI live nowhere near Admiral or Alki and meant nothing elitist about it. I figured SOMEBODY would take insult to that statement but I’m not interested in walking on egg shells in a public forum. Please don’t take my post out of context. It’s merely my opinion and you’re welcome to disagree with it but it certainly isn’t the subject at hand in this post.
I started this post because judging by the 4 people with dogs off leash I busted yesterday in 20 minutes of having my dog outside (and all others I seem to run into daily) we clearly need more designated off leash areas. I don’t think that will suddenly stop everyone from letting their dogs run free but it might reduce the amount of people doing it if they have designated legal place to do it in.
My dog is a rescue dog and sadly has obvious abuse issues in her past. She gets very aggressive toward other dogs when on her leash. I know nice and well intentioned dogs want to just come up and say hello and if my dog were off her leash she would be ok with that. But if she is on her leash and an off leash dog comes running up to her, she will be willing to fight to the death. I want her to meet other dogs; I just want to be able to walk her in peace.
May 21, 2009 at 3:20 pm #667197
sam-cParticipantI agree with Hopey-
“I honestly don’t consider that close and really don’t even think of it as part of west Seattle since it is so far south east.”
sounds pretty elitist to me.
“West Crest isn’t close to me, and I’d like another DP in West Seattle” would be an un-snobbish way to express the same sentiment.
back to the subject-
another off leash dog park in West Seattle would be good. West Seattle is a pretty big area, and a variety of types of dog parks would be nice. Our dog LOVES swimming at Sand Point/ Magnuson DP, but that is a far drive. It would be nice to have a dog park adjacent to a beach in West Seattle, but that seems like a stretch…
May 21, 2009 at 3:34 pm #667198
Dalamar437MemberI like guidosmom’s post about a private park. I wouldn’t know the first thing about getting one started though.
I’d definately be willing to contribute to getting one started.
May 21, 2009 at 3:56 pm #667199
maplesyrupParticipantWest Crest is not that far away, even if you live in the Admiral district.
And it’s a nice park, totally worth the 15 minute drive.
You could try the park off of Genesee in S. Seattle though. Sometimes it only takes me 10 minutes to get there. Save 5 whole minutes!
;)
May 21, 2009 at 4:13 pm #667200
RainyDay1235MemberI have the same problem, and the exact same issue with my dog as you do Dalamar. And yes, WestCrest is far or me as well – and frankly, I (and my car) just don’t feel safe there. We go for a hike, or to Edmonds or Golden Gardens on the weekends.
Good news! HIGH POINT K9 CLUB IS WORKING ON THIS! :)
May 21, 2009 at 4:28 pm #667201
beachdrivegirlParticipantWow, thanks for the link RainyDay1235. :)
May 21, 2009 at 4:29 pm #667202
maplesyrupParticipantYou don’t feel safe there? Really?
Have you had a bad experience there or something?
I’ve seen more riff raff at Magnusson than West Crest.
May 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm #667203
Dalamar437MemberWow this is awesome! Thanks RainyDay1235!
I’m particularly interested in this…
“In February of 2009 the community was given the go-ahead to create an off-leash area (OLA) for dogs to exercise at SW Sylvan Way, High Point Drive and SW Holly Street. On the development plans it is referred to as Block 31 “Triangle Park”. “
I’d love to see these development plans!
I’ll definately be checking this out more.
May 21, 2009 at 4:46 pm #667204
guidosmomMemberI agree with Westcrest not always being safe. I feel safe there most of the time, but have had a few weird experience:
Once while walking that look, I saw a half naked man walking through the forest towards me! When he saw me he turned around and walked away.
Another time while riding through the trails near the park I saw another man walking through the trails without pants! It was amusing after the fact, but kind of scary.
May 21, 2009 at 4:49 pm #667205
datamuseParticipantThere’s been a time or two that I’ve felt unsafe at Westcrest. It’s admittedly difficult for me to tell sometimes if that dog that’s chasing me is being friendly or not, especially if it’s growling.
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