Title
Establish Dog Park Service Area Standards
Body
Parks staff continues to receive a number of requests each year for new dog parks. Given the deficiency of dog parks on the west side of the city, staff's focus has been on providing new dog parks in this area. The Odana School Park dog park was constructed and opened in 2013, and the Walnut Grove Park dog park was constructed and opened in 2014 after multiple public input meetings with various neighborhoods. A dog park at Elver Park is also under consideration. The 2012-2017 Park and Open Space Plan states that while the Dog Park Fund revenues have been steady, expenses exceeded revenues in 2010 due to the construction of two new dog parks. The west side dog parks will hopefully increase revenues through the sale of additional dog park permits given that this area was deficient in dog parks; however, other locations potentially suggested for a dog park are within the service area of existing dog parks and may not generate any significant increase in revenue to support the maintenance of another dog park. Creating a sustainable park system in terms of park size, amenities and maintenance is one of the recommendations in the Park and Open Space Plan.
Staff recommends referring this item to the Long Range Planning Subcommittee to develop dog park service area standards for our park system.