Advocates for an Off-Leash Park in South Lake Union

 Denny Dog Park has been open for over a week, but we're still working on some loose ends.  In about two weeks, we should have running water in the dog park that is not rusty and will be safe to drink.  We'll have a hose to wash off the dogs.  We'll have a job box to store the mutt mitts.  And the bottom of the fence will be adjusted to prevent canine jailbreaks by those dogs who can slip through the cracks.

The SLU Dog Park organization will continue working towards getting a permanent OLA in South Lake Union.  Denny Dog Park is the first step, but we ultimately need a bigger space.  With the help of you, our supporters, we will make that happen.  Soon, City Light will hold a public meeting to determine what the community wants to see at the Greyhound bus barn site on Denny, where City Light will build a substation on a portion of the property.  We need you to come to the meeting and let it be known that we need a bigger OLA!  Also, did you know that we are part of the COLA organization?  www.coladog.org Joining COLA is a great way to show support for off leash areas in downtown.  

See you at the dog park!

It's been a long time coming.  SLU TempOLA is finally open!  Huge thanks to Seattle Parks, Vulcan and Amazon.com for being so supportive of our project.  The weather was ridiculously bad, but there must have been 100 people and their dogs in attendance.  Everyone was super-excited to let their dogs off-leash and watch them sniff and play.  Things are not yet 100 percent together though.  The water situation needs to be worked out...in the short term I'd recommend that you bring water with you for your pup...I donated a bowl and hopefully that will not be "removed."  There are plenty of dog bags there, thanks to the marvelously fabulous Dave from Scraps.  We now have a place where dogs and their humans can socialize and have fun.  This is new to all of us...please feel free to contact me at newdogpark@gmail.com with questions, concerns, or even thank you's!

It blows my mind to think how far we've come in so little time.  On March 30, 2012 from 3-5 pm, we'll be celebrating the Grand Opening of the temporary off-leash area at Denny Park.  We could not have done it without the amazing partnership of public (Seattle Parks) and private (Vulcan and Amazon) support. Not to mention the support from you all, who care enough to follow the story of SLU Dog Park.

Lately, I've been thinking about our future.  I wouldn't even want to guess how many dogs live and work here;  hundreds, at least.  In the coming years, who knows, maybe thousands.  Once thing is for sure.  The number of people and dogs in our sleepy little SLU will grow exponentially.  More big and little paws will be scampering in, and peeing and pooping on, the limited areas that are not paved.  If things aren't properly designed, and plants properly chosen, all will be trashed.  Although we have some input into how that evolves, our influence will likely be minimal.

We all know that there are many good, consciencious dog owners.  I'm going to assume that you are one of them.  But what about those others.  You know the ones.  They seem to think that picking up is for "other people."   The "oh sh*t, I forgot a bag (again for the umteenth time) people.  Meanwhile, the neighborhood goes to (dog) crap.  And those who don't believe that dogs have a right to live and work downtown rebel against additional, necessary dog amenities (like a larger dog park).  

We need to minimize the stuff that provides ammunition for the dog haters.  What can you and I do about it?  Let's set an example for our slovenly SLU sisters and brothers.  Carry an extra bag at all times to give to someone who's forgotten theirs.  Pick up that pile that some jerk left for an unsuspecting human to step in.  Stuff like that...it's that simple.  If we can positively influence others in this way, I believe that we can effectuate a cultural change that will make our neighborhood a better place for canines and humans, alike.

 I am happy to report that the Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to authorize funding for 2012 on the new substation at the former Greyhound bus barn.  Work has begun.  

City Light representatives will make a presentation at the April Cascade Neighborhood Council meeting to discuss the project, including both the environmental clean-up and potential components of the overall project.  We were successful in packing the house when Parks had their hearing about a Denny Park off-leash area.  We prevailed because a huge number of OLA supporters came to the meeting and spoke up. Thanks to you, we'll have a new temporary OLA very soon!  But it is nowhere near the size it needs to be to accomodate SLU Dogs, long term.  The April meeting is our chance to have our voices heard.  There will be a lot of competition for what will co-locate on this site.  We need to pack the room with SLU Dog Park supporters!  

 I was invited to attend a Vulcan-sponsored discussion (mostly populated by urban planning professionals) about the challenges in South Lake Union caused by the growing population of people and, more specifically, their dogs.  At issue is the impact of canines on the urban greenspace.  The goal of the discussion is to determine if specific landscaping in the public right-of-way, around office buildings, and near residences can be designed to stand up to the increasing number of dogs.  Is there a way to make urban landscaping more dog-compatible?

 I met today with Kelly Goold (Seattle Parks' Denny TempOLA project manager) and Brenda Kramer (Parks' COLA liaison) in Denny Park this afternoon.  The basics for our Denny dog-park-on-a-budget includes drainage improvements, a water source for irrigation and for thirsty dogs, a poop bag dispenser, a garbage can, and a place to sit and to put leashes and stuff.  We talked about choosing a fence that would look nice, to help blend into the Olmstead-inspired Denny Park.  Parks requires a standard kiosk for posting the dog park rules, general information, and steward contact info.   

 NEWS RELEASE 

-Parks will develop criteria for evaluating how the temporary off-leash area is working. 

-Parks will evaluate how the temporary off-leash area is working nine months after it opens, and bring that evaluation to the Park Board. 

-Parks will continue to work to identify a site for a permanent off-leash area in the South Lake Union neighborhood. 

I was hopeful that we'd get a good turnout at the Parks Board meeting, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see so much support.  What a great showing you made...the room was packed!  Your pro-OLA comments were smart, funny, poignant, insightful---just plain wonderful!  The most popular option appeared to be Denny Park but there was opposition to that raised by two "protect our Olmstead-inspired park"supporters. Fencing the rectangle near John Street in Denny Park is in the lead as the most popular option. (The other options were an unfenced South Lake Union, which did not have alot of support, or Cascade Park, which also did not have alot of support.) One outstanding issue that appears to be on the minds of Parks Board members is, how do we pay for this?  I hope that the private sector companies in the neighborhood (I am not naming names) will step up to the plate and help us out!

So sleep well tonite, my dog loving friends, with a smile on your face.  You done good.

P.S.  You have until Thursday, October 27 to submit written testimony to sandy.brooks@seattle.gov. The Board will hold a discussion and make a recommendation to the Parks Superintendent at its November 3, 2011 meeting

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 Dog-O-Ween 2011!

COLA’s most important fundraising event will be held this year on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 11am–2:30 pm.  We’re excited to have a new partner, new venue and –soon—a new off leash area.  This year’s Dogoween (our twelfth!) will take place at the future site of the next Seattle OLA:  Magnolia Manor Park, 3500 block of 28^th Avenue West, Seattle. There will be fun, food, and fashion galore with prizes, raffles, and vendor booths catering to every pampered pet. The grand finale is a costume contest where all the most creatively dressed pooches strut their stuff for celebrity judges to win great prizes! 

But that’s not all.  COLA has teamed up with the Friends of Magnolia Manor Park (FMMP) to co-present this event.  Magnolia Manor Park is undergoing an exciting transformation which, when completed, will triple the size of the park, and make room for both an OLA and Magnolia’s first P-Patch, along with a walking trail, access to the site from 27^th and 26^th Avenues West, and open up view corridors to Mt. Rainier and the Cascades, all on land already owned by the City (Seattle Public Utilities).

 Click on the Attachment below - 2011.FMMP_.COLA_.Dogoween.Info_.doc - to download the entire info packet.