HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2026 Item 4a, Newel (2)
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
From:CityClerk
Sent:Wednesday, December 3, 2025 3:52 PM
To:Charles Newel
Cc:Avakian, Greg
Subject:cc Newel - Question about Emerson Park plans
Bcc: Council All
Charles Newel,
Thank you for taking the time to contact the City Council on this issue. The City Council has received your
concerns and Greg Avakian, Director of Parks and Recreation who is responsible for responding is copied on
this email. Greg or a member of his staff will be following up with you within five business days.
City Clerk’s Office
City Administration
City Clerk's Office
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218
From: Charles Newel <
Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 12:49 PM
To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.org>
Subject: Question about Emerson Park plans
Hello,
I am writing as a SLO born and raised man in my late 30s to sincerely suggest the City of San Luis Obispo
DOES NOT convert any of Emerson Park to a dog park. I have lived just two blocks away from Emerson
Park for the past 12 years. Many of my friends in the neighborhood have kids, and everyone I’ve talked to
so far, even those with dogs, do not believe it is an appropriate use of funds to utilize any of this space as
a dog park. The field at Emerson Park already serves the public, especially children, in so many great
ways, bolstering community, sense of belonging, and overall well-being. This neighborhood is one of the
most economically diverse, densely populated, and renter-dominated neighborhoods in the entire city. I
work with many youth, including at-risk youth, in my line of work, and it’s not uncommon for our youth
programs and groups to gather in spaces such as Emerson Park. Taking away half of the only open usable
field in this neighborhood, for a dog park, is inequitable, and a detrimental misuse of city funds. My
question is, how does taking away what little field space children and the public have access to in our
neighborhood do anything to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the thousands of people who
depend on it? We didn't hear anything about this proposal until recently and want to encourage the city
to rethink this plan.
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Sincerely,
Charley Newel
--
Charles Newel
Tel: 1.805.503.5434
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