HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2026 Item 4a, Rodgers
Peter Rodgers <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Emerson Park
January 29, 2026
SLO City Park and Recreation Committee
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
RE: Emerson Park Beautification - Oppose
Dear Commissioners –
Thank you for considering improvements to this very valuable park in our neighborhood. I am writing to express my
OPPOSITION to remove the grassy open space for a dog area.
To be clear, I have a dog. I go to dog parks. I love dog parks. Dog parks have their place and have real
benefits. Obviously, one benefit is that they allow people in the neighborhood to exercise their dogs without getting
into a car and going to the Laguna Dog park. But it is not needed here.
The existing grassy area allows multiple recreational opportunities. Here is a short list of the activities that will be
severely constrained with this “one-use” proposal:
Informal pick up football, soccer, frisbee, softball, whiffle ball, kick ball,….etc! the list goes on!
Youth Recreational Flag Flag Football
Mission prep Spring Football practice.
Organized (mostly youth) soccer drills and practice
People of all ages spread out on the grassy area and read, sleep, meditate, do whatever they want. Downsizing this
open space is a LOSS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. Making this “free play” space available only as a dog park is a
horrible mistake.
I recognize grant funding might provide for this “benefit”. I say downsize the dog park (if we even need one here?) and
relocate it to the largely unused blacktop area.
Thank you very much for taking my comments. Please don’t make this mistake that is a loss to our
neighborhood. Please feel free to call me if this is unclear, or to answer other questions.
Pete Rodgers
237 High Street
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805-710-6644
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