City Public Hearing On Off-Leash Parks Tomorrow

A Blog reader would like to pass along that on Thursday evening, the  Board of Park Commissioners is holding a Public Hearing on the People, Dogs and Parks Strategic Plan at the Miller Community Center at 6:30pm. 

The closest off-leash park to Laurelhurst is Magnuson (7400 Sand Point Way).

The information provided by the City says:

The plan will guide the operations of existing off-leash areas, and provides strategies for development of future off-leash areas. It provides direction on how to spend Seattle Park District funding designated for existing off-leash areas over the six-year term of the Park District funding plan (2015-2020).

Seattle currently has 14 fenced off-leash areas totaling 28 acres. The People, Dogs and Parks Plan offers recommendations on how to add new off-leash areas, and how to improve off-leash area conditions and user experience.  

New off-leash areas may be added through new park development, existing park redevelopment and community requests, on park land or non-park public land. All new off-leash area proposals will be reviewed by a committee of environmental and dog advocates, community members, animal behaviorists and Parks staff, who will make a recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Superintendent.    

The Plan recommends that future off-leash areas be fenced, does not recommend allowing unleashed dogs on trails, and recommends against establishing more off-leash areas on beaches. User conflicts, limited enforcement and maintenance resources, and environmental concerns limit the capacity for adequate management of unleashed dogs in city parks outside of fenced off-leash areas. 

The plan proposes the use of Seattle Park District funding to improve existing off-leash areas based on site assessments included in the plan and to explore possibilities for partnerships and sponsorships to expand resources. It also proposes the creation of a license for dog walkers, and limiting the number of dogs in a dog-walker pack to three unless dog walkers complete an approved animal behavior training program. 

Those who want to give input on the plan but are not able to come to the meetings can give written comments, which bear equal weight to verbal comments. Email comments to rachel.acosta@seattle.gov.