Shoreline has a great park system. The citizens proved that parks were a priority by overwhelmingly approving an $18.5 million park bond in 2006. Over 28 beautiful parks in our city of 53,000 people.
In a city with all these great parks, it seems strange that one thing our city is missing – completely without – is an off leash dog park. More and more people have dogs – the City of Seattle is estimated to have 45% more dogs than kids.
The hope of a dog park is what launched Shoredog in 2004. Shoredog is the off leash park advocacy group that is still up and running, despite numerous setbacks over the last four years. Initially, it was thought that an off leash park could be in place by the end of 2005. Didn’t happen. Since then, Shoredog has gathered more members and the leadership changed. When a group’s purpose goes unfulfilled for this many years, you have to be really committed to keep the energy high and the group going.
Shoredog board members Shari Tracey, Terri Fenn, and Karen Kreutzer, along with the assistance of a few others, hold monthly meetings at Third Place Commons, set up booths at local community events, and even the random grocery store or pet store, all to rally support for an off leash area. They receive regular updates from Shoreline’s Off Leash Area Study Group and the City’s Parks Department, both of which have the same message: “Be patient.” But patience is running thin, Autumn will soon be Winter, and another year will have passed. And even though it seems like they are close, at times it seems like an off leash park in Shoreline will never be a reality.
“I never considered myself to be an activist, but wanting a place for my dogs to run and meet other dogs has meant many hours of hauling around Shoredog literature and talking to lots of people. We need a collectively loud voice to make the park happen,” said Terri Fenn, Treasurer of Shoredog.
Shari Tracey, co-chair and Treasurer of the successful 2006 Shoreline Parks bond explains, “I worked hard for the parks bond so that everyone could continue to enjoy the parks in Shoreline. The need for, yet absence of, an off leash dog park was just one more critical reason to get the parks bond passed. I figured that if we had the money set aside, getting a park would be relatively easy. Talk about a lesson in public process!” Only $150,000 of the $18.5 million parks bond was set aside for this project.
Finding the right site for an off leash park is as difficult as finding the right place for a jail or a dump. Most people realize it would be a good thing, but some raise their hackles from fear of the unknown. While neighbors may have concerns about a dog park, statistics and research shows that these parks are self-policed and that dog owners act responsibly. They clean up after their pets and keep them in line. And just as there is sometimes a playground bully, when that happens at a dog park, the other users step in to restore the peace. Dog parks are also a great way to socialize and teach manners to a young dog, in a dog friendly environment.
However, like many community issues, the few people opposing a project are the most vocal. “We need all the supportive people to come and have their voice heard. We know they are out there, because we have over 200 on our e-mail list. Without those voices, the City may not understand how important this park is and that we need to get it in place,” said Shari Tracey, who also serves as Secretary of Shoredog.
An Off Leash Area Study Group, appointed by the Parks Board earlier this year, picked six potential sites with caution and thoughtfulness. Placing an off leash park in a neighborhood park that has drug and other undesirable activity is a great way to clean up the park. One of these sites, the North City Park, has already had a group of neighbors sign a petition and speak at a Parks Board meeting against using this park as an off leash area, and many of the other sites appear to be on the chopping block as well.
The six sites originally proposed were Aldercrest, North City Park, a small portion of Hamlin Park (known as the SPU lot that was purchased with park bond funds), SCC Greenwood Lot, the north portion of Saltwater Park, and the Metro North Base lot. The Aldercrest site, owned by the Shoreline School District will likely be sold. Environmentalists have come out against the Hamlin SPU lot. The SCC Greenwood lot has bureaucratic problems and is tied-up in red tape. At this point, only Saltwater Park and the Metro site remain potentially viable options. Saltwater Park will likely be used as a “timed” off leash area – meaning it will be open to off leash activity October through February or March. Not exactly when you want to be walking on the beach with your dog. Fortunately, King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson is trying to help bring Metro to the table with the City to discuss the use of this property, but no one is sure what the outcome will be. The Metro site is promising because of its location – bordered by the power station, the transfer station and the Metro bus barn – and was originally intended for public use by Shoreline residents. Because of its location, it has been a largely unused piece of nicely mowed grass for a number of years. The employees who work at the site agree that an off leash area would be a great use of this property.
In contrast to the snail’s pace of Shoreline’s experience, Mountlake Terrace received approval and funding for a new off leash park in just over six months – and with no parks bond or any other type of designated funding. “It’s hard to understand why a city that is as community driven as Shoreline can’t come together on this issue. Parks build communities, and the dog community is out there – waiting for a place to meet,” said Tracey, who also serves as a member of the City’s Parks Board. “We are fired up and ready to go, all we need is a park.” You can join Shoredog by visiting their website: www.shoredog.org. A public meeting on the potential off leash areas will be held on October 29, at 7 p.m., at the Shoreline Historical Museum, 749 N. 175th Street. The public is encouraged to attend.
