HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2026 Item 4a, Harklerode
Richelle Harklerode <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Request to Preserve Emerson Park Playing Field & Address Process Concerns
Dear Parks Commission Members,
I am writing as a concerned resident to express strong opposition to the current Parks & Recreation plan to convert
approximately 50% of the grass field at Emerson Park into a dog park as part of the renovation project.
Emerson Park’s grass field is the only open, flexible playing field in the neighborhood and is heavily used for children’s
play, informal sports, youth team practices, and community gatherings. Reducing the field by half would eliminate the ability
for meaningful team or group play and significantly diminish the park’s value for families and residents who rely on this space.
Equally concerning is the lack of transparency and community engagement in this process. Many of us residents were not
notified that a dog park was being considered before approval, despite its significant and permanent impact on the park and
surrounding neighborhood.
This renovation prioritizes a single, specialized use over the needs of the broader community. The vast majority of park
users—especially children and families—will not use a dog park, yet we stand to lose the neighborhood’s only open green
field. In addition, the proposed dog park raises unresolved concerns related to traffic, parking, safety, noise, and conflicts
between users, none of which appear to have been adequately addressed.
This is not an anti-dog position. Dog parks are valuable amenities—but Emerson Park is not an appropriate location for
one, particularly when it comes at the expense of the neighborhood’s only multi-use field.
I respectfully request that the City:
Reconsider the current plan
Preserve the full grass playing field at Emerson Park
Conduct a transparent, legally compliant process with proper notice
Engage residents in a meaningful discussion about alternative locations for a dog park
Thank you for your time and service to our community. I urge you to protect Emerson Park as a shared, inclusive green space
for people—especially children—now and for future generations.
Sincerely,
Richelle Harklerode
533 Pismo St, SLO
Resident / Park User
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