EDITORIAL

A small group of Huntington Beach residents are growling over the

location of the Huntington Central Park-based dog park.

And we think their bark has some bite.

Earlier this month, the city’s Community Services Commission

unanimously agreed to cut back the park’s operating hours to allow some

relief for surrounding neighborhoods.

Some residents -- specifically eight living on Lakepoint Lane across

from the canine park -- don’t like the incessant barking and traffic that

comes along with the park.

And they have a right to feel that way.

When these residents moved into the neighborhood, they knew Huntington

Central Park would bring some noise and traffic to their community.

But they had no idea that noise would include the barks and growls of

dogs.

So in December, each of the eight residents filed a $1-million claim

against the city of Huntington Beach saying that the barking from the

dogs at the park has been a bane to their quality of life.

Excessive barking can be a nuisance. Everyone knows that.

Changing the hours of the dog park won’t change the excessive barking

these residents hear -- it will just be heard at different times of the

day.

And instead of relocating the park and making it a problem in another

neighborhood, like these residents are asking for, we have a better

question.

Why not just do away with the dog park altogether?

Dog parks are not always the best things for a community. Nearby Costa

Mesa has had trouble with its park and the mess created by it.

Furthermore, other towns have held fast against creating parks for

canines precisely for these reasons.

Surf City dog-lovers already have dog beach to walk on and let their

dogs run free.

That should be enough.

The rights of even eight residents to enjoy the peace and tranquilly

of their homes far outweighs the needs for dogs to romp leash-free in a

park.

City officials should do the right thing and close down the dog park.