HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/7/2021 Item 3, McKenzie
Wilbanks, Megan
From:John McKenzie <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Parks & Rec Commission 7/7/21 Meeting - Blueprint for the Future
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
________________________________
Dear Commission,
Friends of SLO City Dog Parks (SLOCITYDOGS) fully endorses Parks and Recreation’s Blueprint for the Future 2020-2040
(Blueprint). It was very encouraging to hear the City Council’s support of dog parks at their Study Session, and their
suggestion of finding recreational items that would fall into the ‘quick build’ category, including dog parks.
As the merits and need for enclosed dog parks have been previously discussed (and recognized in the Blueprint as a high
priority), we would like to focus on what we think could be quick build dog parks for the City’s 13,000 dogs.
The beauty of establishing an enclosed dog park, assuming at least ½ acre of useable land is available, is that the
improvements initially needed are not too costly (install fence, water lines, and groundcover) and the shape of the park
can be variable, as long as there is good drainage and the slope is not too steep. As additional funds become available
more amenities would be added to make for a signature park (if needed). Further, there is a non-profit group ready to
help make the dog park a success. Lastly, the City has 11 existing City parks that could accommodate dog parks (1/2 acre
or larger) and still provide existing recreational uses with minimal impacts.
In reviewing the City’s existing parks and other new development, SLOCITYDOGS thinks that the following two, maybe
three, options have the best chance to provide the quickest path to an enclosed dog park.
Option 1 – Righetti Ranch
· A small Dog Park is already planned for community park within Orcutt Area Specific Plan (Righetti Ranch); · Each home
sale has included monies earmarked for park development. As a few phases have already been built, and more are
under construction, funding is currently available to construct essential park elements; · Enough residences (with a third
of these households having dogs) are now occupied to trigger final design and construction of the City park portion of
the Specific Plan; · The City owns several parcels within Righetti for park use; while the larger community park area will
require a couple of years to design and build, there are other smaller pieces that are almost ‘dog park ready’, and would
require minimal design efforts and be built quickly; one of these parcels, a one acre lot between the railroad and
Righetti Ranch Road, would be perfect for an enclosed dog park;
- Pros for this site: nearly level, near water source; no nearby residences occupied (yet); would serve Righetti
development and nearby existing French development (for now); fence already exists along one side; would be at least
½-acre in size;
- Cons – existing staging area for home construction effort – would need to relocate; no shade; limited/no nearby
parking (however portion near driveway could be left open for interim informal parking until final recreational use
determined); no bathroom;
- Could be permanent location or interim until larger park details are finalized and an adequately sized dog park is
located within the larger planned park.
Option 2 - Laguna Lake Park (LLP)
1
· Dog use already established (but only for dogs that do well without needing a fence, or small/big dog separation); ·
Blueprint recognizes this park as a good candidate; · LLP is an underdeveloped park that could easily accommodate an
amply-sized enclosed dog park; larger size allows for higher quality park with additional elements to make for a
signature dog park experience (e.g., include a memorial walkway and circle with dog-inspired art/poetry; larger area
could accommodate limited dog-related events (e.g., trainings, agility course, fundraisers, etc.)); · Partial ‘safety’ fence is
already in place and could be used as a part of the fully enclosed dog park; · Existing parking and bathroom; · Existing
water source with a couple of existing dog water stations; · Existing benches, dog waste stations (bags, trash) and
signage; · San Luis Ranch’s development agreement directs some recreational fees towards Laguna Lake Park of which
some could be used for a dog park.
Option 3 – Emerson Park
· The City has submitted a grant application with the state to renovate Emerson Park, which includes an enclosed dog
park; · Should this grant be awarded construction could begin as early as next year; · This would serve existing
downtown residential communities; · Could also serve downtown hotels that are dog-friendly, and other downtown
visitors with dogs.
SLOCITYDOGS is prepared to conduct fundraising efforts to supplement the cost of amenities not included in any initially
constructed dog park that has limited amenities to help make each new dog park a desirable place to take one’s dog to
play. We are so excited that the City has interest in including dog parks as a part of the ‘quick build’ concept as a part of
our most immediate recreational needs.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Tails wagging (with just a little drool),
John McKenzie
Friends of SLO City Dog Parks
2