Group hounds city
for pooch park
SPENCER SOPER
Staff Writer

North County Times
October 28, 2001

People and Dog Zones is a new nonprofit group that has identified five potential dog-park sites, including a utility easement on the east side of town and a sliver of city-owned land along Interstate 5 in Leucadia.

"We believe dog zones bring benefits to the whole community and not just dog owners," PADZ member Deborah Polich said, adding that it removes the temptation to let dogs run free in inappropriate areas.

Encinitas has no dog park. But Orpheus Park on Orpheus Avenue and Encinitas Viewpoint Park at Cornish Drive and D Street allow dogs to run unleashed from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Building a permanent dog park is not a new idea in Encinitas. Dog owners have persistently complained that the dog hours offered at the parks are limited and inconvenient.

But dog parks bring some opposition. Last year, the city's Parks and Recreation Commission scrapped plans to have leash-free dog hours at Scott Valley Park on Willowhaven Road. Residents complained that the unleashed dogs would endanger children and befoul the park.

Also last year, the Cardiff school board voted to ban dogs in a 3-acre field next to Cardiff Elementary School when people complained about pet droppings.

PADZ members say their group aims to educate people about the benefits of dog parks and promote responsible dog ownership. Dogs live in about 35 percent of the homes in Encinitas, they say, which is why, they maintain, a dog park is needed. As the city continues to grow and homes are built on smaller lots, the need for leash-free dog areas grows, the members said.

"If you have a little yard, your dog doesn't get any exercise," said Lu Meyers, chairwoman of the group and an Olivenhain dog trainer. "Taking them out and walking them is not enough."

About 50 members attended a City Council meeting Wednesday to make their pitch. They proposed the following sites for consideration:

* James MacPherson Park, a small sliver of city-owned land between Orpheus Avenue and Interstate 5 just north of Leucadia Boulevard. The site offers mature shade trees and room for a parking lot and several dog areas. But it also has freeway noise.

* A San Diego Gas & Electric easement off Mountain Vista Drive east of El Camino Real. This site has ample street parking and lots of room for dogs to run, but it would require a fence.

* Part of Indian Head Canyon, a 59-acre preserve at the southeast corner of Saxony Road and Quail Hollow Drive in Leucadia. The site offers extensive trails, but it would require a fence and could present some environmental hurdles.

* The Robert Hall property, a 43-acre nursery east of Interstate 5 between Santa Fe Drive and Birmingham Avenue that the city bought earlier this year. This site has a lot of room, but is expected to take a long time to develop into a park.

* A vacant city-owned site on Quail Gardens Road designated for a future park.

Council members say they condone the group's efforts. Creating some leash-free dog areas was a council goal established in January.

"I don't see why we couldn't accommodate some pet recreational zones," said Councilman Jerome Stocks, who owns two dogs.

Councilwoman Christy Guerin said she wants the council to make finding a dog park a priority next year. "The council recognizes there are a lot of citizens who want this," she said.

Contact staff writer Spencer Soper at (760) 943-2313 or ssoper@nctimes.com.

A Response: Letter to the Editor

Encinitas needs its own dog park
Having driven all the way to northeast Carlsbad twice in the last week to visit that city's new dog park with our dog, I was thrilled to read about the group People and Dog Zones that is lobbying for a dedicated dog park in Encinitas. Frankly I'm tired of having to drive to Carlsbad to visit a decent library and to let our dog exercise off leash. True, Encinitas doesn't have oodles of extra cash as Carlsbad seems to, but creating a dedicated dog park needn't be expensive, and obviously there are at least five small pieces of land that could easily be used for such a purpose.

We've tried Orpheus Park during the limited times when dogs are allowed but stopped going because of the lack of fencing. Our 20-month-old rescued lab mix is a work-in-progress and, like many dogs, can't be trusted to come when called all the time, especially when romping with newfound friends.

Dog parks provide an obvious value for dogs and their people but actually benefit the entire community, as well-socialized, exercised canines make far better citizens than unsocialized, underexercised animals.

DIANE CALKINS
Encinitas