April 15, 7 pm in the Council chambers at City Hall, the parks and rec
commission is hearing the concept of a Dog Park for Yorba Linda. The last
time it was presented, the commissioners had questions of staff. Staff is
ready with the information they requested. I have attached the staff reports
for your review.
When the Dog Park was presented at the Commission meeting the first time, no
one from the public attended to support this idea. The commissioners
comments indicated that it did not appear there was support for a Dog Park.
I know each of you who are receiving this email had expressed interest in a
Dog Park. If you are wanting to see this happen in our community, you will
need to make an effort to attend this meeting and speak in support when it
is presented. Also, if you have friends who are interested, pass them this
information also. Source Jan Horton
Documents for Dog Park hearing:
Parks MAtrix Dog Fun Zone
Dog Play Lot revised
Dog Play Lots Rules – Attachment B
My thoughts :
Why do we need a dog park?
Because for some silly reason people are getting tickets for walking their dogs in the Yorba Linda lakebed without a leash. I guess technically dogs off leash is illegal in Yorba Linda but really giving people tickets for having their dogs off leash in the Yorba Linda lakebed is a waste of time and resources.
I am pretty neutral when it comes to a dog park idea. Okay I lied. I am rarely neutral on any topic. Seems to me the city could use a SKATE park more than a dog park. I mean aren’t our little OC skater dudes more important than some dogs?
And as far as ticketing people for having their dog off leash? HELL YES IT IS WORTH IT. I loathe..and HATE people who have their dogs off leash. I personally have seen more than one dog fight up at Veteran’s park with toddlers and small children only feet away. If you have a dog, LEASH IT. Or leave it at home when coming to a crowded park during baseball/football/soccer season.
Whew. Feels good to vent. Thanks.
A dog park would be a great addition to Yorba Linda’s community.
I too am sick of people taking their dogs in public without having them on a leash. Having a public space where the dogs can roam and interact without being tethered may help curtail such rude behavior on the part of dog owners who feel entitled to let their dog roam unrestrained.
Even if a person feels their dog is well-trained, they are never 100% controllable.
I also think a dog park would be a great addition. I wish they would build one at Tri-City Park there is a huge area of unused space in the back of the park. I hope people support the YL dog park!
Yep, I’m all for ticketing owners with unleashed dogs. The Lakebed is for everyone, not only dog lovers. I happen to love dogs, but I do not appreciate being approached by a unleashed dog while their owners are a couple of bends in the road behind them.
I’m sure the horseback riders don’t appreciate the dogs either. The horses don’t know if the unleashed dogs are “friendly” or not. Who should take on the liability if the unleashed dog spooks a horse and the rider falls?
Follow the rules because we live in a community and it’s the right thing to do. Leash all dogs.
Melaine,
Below Statement is from a Resident who lives around the Lakebed.
A number of months ago, someone called county animal control complaining that people were walking dogs off leash in the lakebed. People having been walking dogs off leash down there for over forty years. Because the officials were called, the county put up signs all around the lakebed prohibiting dogs off leash. Several people have been ticketed and fined. Some members of the equestrian community actually ride in the lakebed with their dogs following them off leash. The equestrian community seems to be divided on the issue.
In response, the group http://www.yllfa.org with over fifty families and growing who believe in multi-use privileges including walking dogs off leash and we’ve adopted the lakebed to do periodic cleanups. They are currently working on a presentation to be taken to our county supervisor to explain how all types of lakebed users may be allowed and accommodated.
I too, am a resident who lives around the lakebed, and I am very happy to have everyone use the lakebed…within reason. I am opposed to any building in the lakebed. I am also opposed to any kind of special dog walking schedule like unleashed hours.
As homeowners, we have spent many hours and lots of dollars on replacing sprinklers on our hill that have been broken by loose dogs running on our hill. Our old dog died with a scar on his nose from a loose dog fighting through our fence. My daughter was chased down by a loose dog. None of these dogs were behaving as their owners expected them to at the time, but they behaved like dogs. Sometimes dogs can behave unexpectedly.
Since the lakebed is used by horses, walkers, runners, dog walkers, etc. I don’t think that any one group should be given rights that infringe on the rights of all of the other users.
A Dog Park would be of immense value! I live on the Lakebed too and as I sit here this morning with my cup of coffee I can hear a dog fight going on down there with a male owner yelling “NO-NO-COME HERE-COME HERE!”. I’m certain there is no leash involved in the scenario……
And to say “don’t build a dog park, build a skate park”, well we need both and both are reasonable and doable but to compare them is senseless. Both are needed in the community but not to the exclusion of the other!!
I am neutral about a dog park. I do want to comment against a skate park if it’s going to be open for anyone. For the most part, YL kids have good manners and respect people, but a skate park would bring skaters from other cities who don’t behave properly.
Do we really need a dog park? NO. Land of Gracious Living looks like Land of Slum, look at boarded up houses on Lakeview and surrounding area. Council can not make a decision – to repair or destroy.
Several members of City Council live and drive by these streets, are they blind?
Has there been any news on this? My daughter was thinking about approaching the city about creating a dog park for her Girl Scout Gold Award project. We had no idea one was even being thought of. I would love to know if anyone has any additional information. Thank you!
The dog park is on the new budget.
http://www.horton4yl.com/community-news/council-updates-budget-sewer-system-rates-savi-ranch-housing-vote/
Follow up with Jan Horton (one of our council members) for more information
Dog park is on the Capital Improvement Budget approved for this coming year. The Parks and Rec commission and staff will work on this project, noticing the surrounding neighbors and putting together final design. We are a step closer!
A dog park would be a nice addition to Yorba Linda – but NOT the Yorba Linda Lakebed in it’s entirety! It is 88 acres of trails, NOT fenced in. It’s honey-combed with trails used by walkers, joggers, horse riders, Esperanza HS (cross country running) and the occasional elementary school on a nature field trip. To make this area a free-for-all for the dog owners would be a grave dis-service to the residents and other users alike.
There are just a couple of men who use this area almost daily as if it is their own private preserve and really cause problems with their MANY unleashed dogs running amock.
Dog park? Yes. Someplace that’s FENCED IN and controlled.
Being a dog owner and a Yorba Linda resident, I have to say that compared to other comparable cities, we do not have enough resources or community features such as a dog park or even dog friendly facilities. I’m not saying I want to take my dogs everywhere, but it would be nice to know of more restaurants with patio service or open promenades to shop that are pet-friendly.
I think ticketing residents with off-leash yet controlled dogs is a little ridiculous. I can understand a violation or warning. However, as a dog owner I would never walk my dog off-leash – not because I fear what they would do, but what other dogs, heavy street traffic, wildlife, etc. could do.
Dog parks bring community and residents together. Let’s be honest, not all “dog people” are carrying their dogs in their purses and carting them around like children. Some of us has wonderful larger dogs that love to play, run, be outside and it is actually more beneficial for dogs to be just as social as humans in order to grow, understand limits, learn from experiences and be comfortable in a social setting. Yes, I am sure someone is nodding their head saying “take them to your backyard” but there are more positive reasons such as what was stated above for dog parks or large facilities that allow dogs to be off-leashes and the community to have another free, outside venue, to be a part of.
Having lived outside California in the past (spec ifically,Texas), they actually have dozens of designated acres for both large and small dogs, lakes, trails, obstacle courses, benches with coverings for us human-folk. It really was quite an experience meetings all types of dogs, learning about breeds and breeders, meeting new people. My pups (at the time) looked forward to their day at the dog park! Everyone was reponsible for cleaning up for their pooch, there were no attendants or staff – just weekly landscaping attendants provided by the city. They even had showers to rinse off your dog (outside the entrance) after swimming in the lake.
To end this long rant, I think a dog park would be great for our community. It would be nice to have to drive to Fullerton, Irvine or the Beach – although, those facilities are great too. I would love to take care and use a facility like this in my own community!
Being a dog owner and a Yorba Linda resident, I have to say that compared to other comparable cities, we do not have enough resources or community features such as a dog park or even dog friendly facilities. I’m not saying I want to take my dogs everywhere, but it would be nice to know of more restaurants with patio service or open promenades to shop that are pet-friendly.
I think ticketing residents with off-leash yet controlled dogs is a little ridiculous. I can understand a violation or warning. However, as a dog owner I would never walk my dog off-leash – not because I fear what they would do, but what other dogs, heavy street traffic, wildlife, etc. could do.
Dog parks bring community and residents together. Let’s be honest, not all “dog people” are carrying their dogs in their purses and carting them around like children. Some of us has wonderful larger dogs that love to play, run, be outside and it is actually more beneficial for dogs to be just as social as humans in order to grow, understand limits, learn from experiences and be comfortable in a social setting. Yes, I am sure someone is nodding their head saying “take them to your backyard” but there are more positive reasons such as what was stated above for dog parks or large facilities that allow dogs to be off-leashes and the community to have another free, outside venue, to be a part of.
Having lived outside California in the past (spec ifically,Texas), they actually have dozens of designated acres for both large and small dogs, lakes, trails, obstacle courses, benches with coverings for us human-folk. It really was quite an experience meetings all types of dogs, learning about breeds and breeders, meeting new people. My pups (at the time) looked forward to their day at the dog park! Everyone was reponsible for cleaning up for their pooch, there were no attendants or staff – just weekly landscaping attendants provided by the city. They even had showers to rinse off your dog (outside the entrance) after swimming in the lake.
To end this long rant, I think a dog park would be great for our community. It would be nice to not have to drive to Fullerton, Irvine or the Beach – although, those facilities are great too. I would love to take care and use a facility like this in my own community!