Teeth are bared in dog park debate

Dogs will continue to frolic in the confines of their familiar park

for at least the next couple of months.

Huntington Beach’s Community Services Commission voted at its meeting

last week for city staff to return in 60 days with answers to questions

the commission had about the possible relocation.

The suggestion on the table is to move the Best Friend Foundation’s

Dog Park from its current two-acre plot near Talbert Avenue and Edwards

Street to a new 1.7-acre site atop a knoll adjacent to Gothard Street in

Central Park.

Commissioners posed concerns about the proposed site after hearing

from area residents and park users. Many people are concerned about

potential noise from barking dogs, the hours of the park, impact on

wildlife and park events such as concerts and nature readings, access to

runners and walkers that use the knoll now, erosion and water quality.

Central Park regulars are concerned that the city wants to relocate

the dog park to an already developed area that people use.

“This is a beautifully developed area of the park that’s not just

affecting one small area,” said Nancy Nishioka, a daily park user who

gathered 130 signatures in opposition to the relocation. “I’m not against

a dog park, but this is not the answer, it can’t be the answer. We value

things like a park because we are surrounded by roads and concrete.”

Howls of dogs disrupting the tranquillity of Central Park concerns

commissioner John Scandura.

“We need experts out there to conduct a sound study about noise that

would be going into Central Park from this,” Scandura said.

City staff does not agree.

“Park activities such as concerts and nature readings in the

amphitheater would not be impacted, said Jim Engle, Deputy Director of

the city’s Community Services Department.

“The goal is to keep the site on a knoll so it’s separated from the

remainder of the area,” Engle said.

The proposed site sits 850 feet away from the nearest residential area

as opposed to 175 feet at the current site. It has a 50-space parking lot

and is not used for camping or picnicking, Engle said.

“It’s a transition area with a paved path that goes down into the main

Central Park area,” he said.

A move would cost about $25,000, which includes relocating a

chain-link fence at the existing site and adding a water line, Engle

said.

Dog park users upset about the changed hours at the current park say

they will do anything they can to make the move happen.

“We will cover any costs to make this work,” said Laura Garay,

chairwoman of the Dog Park Foundation. “Huntington Beach is a trendsetter

in community parks where people can go to socialize with their dogs.”

If a move is made, commissioners and staff agree it should be to a

permanent location.

“We need a long-term solution and not make these people move again,”

said commissioner Gary Ernst.

Staff will also look at the possibility of moving the park to the

former gun range site in Central Park.