HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2026 Item 4a, Saedi
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
From:CityClerk
Sent:Friday, December 5, 2025 4:07 PM
To:amirz334
Cc: Greg
Subject:cc Saedi - Emerson Park renovation project
Bcc: Council All
Amir Saedi,
Thank you for taking the time to contact the City Council. The City Council has received your concerns and, by
copy on this email, it also being shared with Greg Avakian, Director of Parks and Recreation.
City Clerk’s Office
City Administration
City Clerk's Office
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218
From: amirz334 <
Sent: Friday, December 5, 2025 1:49 PM
To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.org>
Subject: Emerson Park renovation project
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to formally object to the proposed plan to convert approximately 50% of the grass field at
Emerson Park into a dog park as part of the upcoming renovation project.
Emerson Park’s field is a vital and irreplaceable resource for our neighborhood. It is the only open green
space in the area that can accommodate informal recreation, team practices, youth activities, and
community gatherings. Reducing the field by half would effectively eliminate its use for nearly all ball
sports, group play, and many of the activities that currently make it such an important shared space for
residents.
Additionally, many members of the community—myself included—were never asked whether a dog park
should be included in the project at all. Instead, we were only asked which features we preferred within
an already-assumed design. This raises significant concerns about transparency, fairness, and whether
proper public process was followed. A past Mayor and City Council member has indicated that the
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process may not have met the legal requirements for true public participation. These concerns deserve
careful attention before any irreversible decisions are made.
Beyond the loss of open space, the proposed dog park introduces several issues that have not been
adequately addressed, including increased traffic, parking strain, and potential safety concerns for
nearby homes, pedestrians, and the many children who use the field daily. Prioritizing a dog park over the
needs of the broader community places the interests of a small subset of users above the needs of the
majority.
I respectfully urge the City to pause this plan, re-open the public input process, and consider alternatives
that preserve the full grass field while still exploring options for dog owners—either at another site or in a
manner that does not compromise the only open playing field in this neighborhood.
Thank you for your attention and for your service to the people of San Luis Obispo. I appreciate your
thoughtful reconsideration of this issue.
Sincerely,
Amir Saedi
805-550-9330
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