HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2026 Item 4a, Pinard (9)
FW: Emerson Park – Unresolved Community Concerns
From: Peg Pinard <
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 10:39 AM
To: Shoresman, Michelle <mshoresm@slocity.org>; Francis, Emily <EFrancis@slocity.org>; Marx, Jan
<jmarx@slocity.org>; Boswell, Mike <MBoswell@slocity.org>; Stewart, Erica A <estewart@slocity.org>
Cc: Adian Lenz < ; Benjamin Winter < ; Carla Cary
<
; Pete Evans < ; Jeanne
Newell < ; Gayle Mills < ; Cathy Owen
< ; M Ocelnik <
Subject: Emerson Park – Unresolved Community Concerns
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I’m writing to follow up on the Parks & Recreation Commission’s recent discussion of
Emerson Park. While the Commission did not reach a recommendation, the core issues
raised by neighborhood residents remain unresolved.
As a reminder, residents have raised concerns regarding equity, safety, and compatibility
with surrounding homes, including:
1. Equity and access: the City previously certified to the State that the Emerson/Old
Town neighborhood has a "critical need for active recreation space", and residents
have concerns about losing the area’s only open field for active recreation within
walking distance.
2. Neighborhood impacts: residents have concerns about the siting of a dog facility in
the middle of a dense residential area, including ongoing noise, stress, and quality-
of-life impacts on surrounding homes.
3. Safety and use conflicts: residents have concerns about foreseeable safety
conflicts between a fenced dog area and children’s active play, including balls,
running, and informal field use.
These issues were raised repeatedly during the Commission’s discussion and were not
resolved by the Commission’s non-decision. I am writing to ensure the Council is aware
that this matter remains active in the neighborhood and warrants direct engagement.
Peg Pinard
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