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.
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