Current park locations cannot host dog park
January 7, 2011
By Staff
The Parks Commission should either find a suitable location for an off-leash dog park in the city or recommend to the City Council that no park be built in Newcastle at all.
The two locations still being considered — the southwest corner of Lake Boren Park and the future sports park to be off Southeast 95th Way — present issues significant enough to warrant disqualification as potential sites.
Olympus residents have expressed concern about the Lake Boren Park location. Some live a matter of yards away from the proposed dog park site, and have objected to side effects of what a dog park could bring, including noise and sanitation issues. These residents are concerned a park could aversely affect the value of their homes, and they might be right.
Many dog owners who would use an off-leash park — including those from the Newcastle organization Friends Embracing the Canine Heart — have rejected placing a dog park at the site of the future sports park, citing concerns with the site’s remoteness and its location near the city’s south limits. Thus, the city is likely to get little or no private financial assistance in constructing or maintaining a park here.
Given the city’s tight budget, financial assistance is imperative, and if dog owners will not use a selected park site, building one would be pointless and a waste of money.
The Parks Commission has twice gone through the process of winnowing out locations not suitable for a dog park, and if it chooses to return for a third try, it needs to find an alternative site. However, if all of the parties involved cannot reach a compromise, the commission should recommend that no park be built.
There is a need for a dog park in the city, or so say dog owners. As more multifamily homes are built in the city, the need will only increase. But a dog park is not critical to the health of a city. If there are no right locations or donations of time and money from dog owners, the city should not feel bad about choosing a no-build option.
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Current park locations CAN host an off-leash dog park!
By Jim Palzer
The Newcastle news finally stated the obvious in their recent editorial. They made such points as “The Parks Commission should either find a suitable location for an off-leash dog park in the city or recommend to the City Council that no park be built in Newcastle at all. There is a need for a dog park in the city . . . . As more multifamily homes are built in the city, the need will only increase . . . . “
I commend the person or persons at the Newcastle News that took the first step in suggesting that the Parks Commission make a decision, any decision.
I couldn’t agree more that it’s time for the Parks Commission to make a decision and move forward with the recommendation to the Newcastle City Council regarding an off-leash dog park. The Parks Commission has toured properties, heard from residents about the benefit of an off leash dog park, and also heard from opponents regarding the same.
It’s my personal opinion that the Parks Commission doesn’t seem to want to make a decision because they are not use to hearing from so many people and groups that are for and against an issue such as the off-leash dog park.
As an example, when the Parks Commission had a public hearing on the installation of the $325,000 children’s play area at Lake Boren Park, only four people showed up in support of the play area, one of which was an elementary school student. Conversely, the Parks Commission is hearing opinions from people and groups supporting both sides of the issue related to an off-leash dog park.
I suppose that the Parks Commission could be confused and uncomfortable being out of their ‘comfort zone” of not having any opposition on an issue or are trying their best to make everyone happy. The reality is that some people will be happy and some people will not be happy with their decision.
Do you know that in American cities, 46% of the households have children? Do you know that in American cities, 40% of the households have dogs? Think about it, Newcastle is currently spending $325,000 (yes it’s state funding) on a new play area for children at Lake Boren Park. Why wouldn’t the city consider an off-leash dog area that will cost the city less than $25,000. As a benefit to the city, and taking the current state of the economy into consideration, F.E.T.C.H. has committed it’s group to collecting private and business donations to considerably offset the cost of an off-leash dog park in Newcastle.
In an effort to summarize the obvious, and to educate those that are not aware of the potential issues of the proposed locations, I am sharing some “facts” regarding each of the three locations being considered:
1. Future Sports Park
a. The “future sports park” location should be taken off the table and removed from further consideration. My reasons for this observation are as follows;
i. It’s at the furthest reaches of the city.
ii. It’s a “drive to” only location.
iii. It’s not developed in any way.
iv. It’s not a safe location for people to run their dogs if they’re alone.
v. It’s currently a ‘waste land”.
vi. It was the dumping ground for the excess materials removed for the construction improvements for Coal Creek Parkway.
vii. The surface area is made up of sharp rocks and other debris that would cut the feet of dogs and people.
viii. It is not ADA accessible.
ix. More Renton residents would use the area than Newcastle residents.
x. This would be only a “temporary location”.
xi. It would cost four to seven times more to establish and off leash dog park in this location.
xii. There are no restrooms or lighting at this location.
xiii. There would be no support from people or groups in securing personal or business funding to offset some if not all of the costs of establishing an off-leash dog park in this location.
xiv. Even the Newcastle News stated that “Given the city’s tight budget, financial assistance is imperative, and if dog owners will not use a selected park site, building one would be pointless and a waste of money.”
xv. It’s not a functioning community park, is not an established or a popular destination and does not meet the recreational activity needs of Newcastle residents.
xvi. Walking access to the Future Sports Park is not pedestrian friendly or safe, especially along the lengthy section of 95th, a narrow curvy road without curbs, sidewalks and lights.
xvii. The Future Sports Park is directly adjacent to May Creek, a wild life corridor with wild life that can be a threat to pets and humans.
2. Lake Boren Park
a. General Overall Comments regarding LBP.
i. The number one Park’s Goal in the City’s Comprehensive Plan is; The City of Newcastle should build, operate and maintain a system of parks and recreational facilities that are distributed throughout the City and responsive to the needs of Newcastle residents.
ii. The 4th Park’s Goal in the Comp. Plan is; The City of Newcastle should provide opportunities for varied recreation activities and programs that are responsive to the needs of a wide range of Newcastle residents.
iii. LBP is a community park closest to the greatest concentration of Newcastle residents.
iv. BP is already been established as a very popular walking destination for many dog owners.
v. More dog owners bring their dogs to LBP throughout the day than parents bring children.
vi. An off?leash area at LBP best serves Newcastle due its close proximity within safe walking distance to the greatest concentration of Newcastle residents.
vii. A quality off?leash area at LBP will be a positive park amenity, adding to the diversity of recreational activities at the park while providing a venue for dogs living in homes with small or no yards to play, train and socialize off?leash.
b. SW Corner of LBP that is west of the parking lot and adjacent to SE 84th Way.
i. Some Olympus residents have expressed concern about the SW area at Lake Boren Park. Some live immediately next to and above the proposed dog park site, and have objected to side effects of what a dog park could bring, including noise. These residents are concerned a park could adversely affect the value of their homes, and they might be right.
ii The first Parks Commission public hearing was attended by a large number of home owners adjacent to the SW corner of LBP. These homeowners opposed this location.
iii. The SW location at Lake Boren Park is only 96 feet to the nearest home. This area has no buffer of shrubs or trees between the proposed off-leash dog park and homes, thus there is no mitigation for noise or views for the homeowners nearest the dog park. Further there is an elevation gain of only approximately 25 feet from dog park to the nearest home.
c. Location that is located at the far north end of Lake Boren Park.
i. Parks Commission should reconsider the North area as the only valid option.
ii. The original recommended location that is in the far north section of Lake Boren Park is located 339 feet away from the nearest home with the added benefit of having trees and shrubs between the proposed dog park and the homes to add as buffer for sounds and views. Further, there is an elevation gain from the dog park location to of 65 feet from the dog park to the nearest home. This is 2.6 times more than the SW location.
iii. Parks Commission should observe the following environmental facts regarding the North area;
a. The proposed North area is about 1.25 acres with grass ground cover. 1.25 acres of grass that absorbs nitrates and nitrites, found in dog urine, as fertilizer.
b. Between the North area and Lake Boren there is about 1.5 acres of grass, native growth, invasive species and deep rooted trees that would absorb remaining nitrates and nitrites as fertilizer before reaching the lake.
c. The North area is roughly 150 feet from Lake Boren, well outside the mandated buffer required for a Class III Wetland. (Lake Boren is classified as a Class III Wetland)
d. Observations of dogs arriving to the park have shown most dogs urinate prior to arriving at a play area. Most dogs arriving by car urinate close to the parking lot upon arrival.
e. The North area has been a popular location for off?leash activities and past use of that area has not shown any impact to Lake Boren.
f. The greatest threat to Lake Boren comes from failing septic tanks and over?fertilized lawns adjacent to and up?stream from Lake Boren.
My hopes are that the Newcastle Parks Commission will move forward with making a decision and then forward their decision on to the City Council for their approval.
If by chance you’d like to learn more about the off-leash dog park you are welcome to attend the upcoming Parks Commissions public hearing meeting this coming Wednesday, the 12th of January at 6:00 pm at Newcastle City Hall located at 13020 Newcastle Way, Newcastle, WA.