The Orange County Register

Dog-park opponents not ready to roll over 
Nearby residents want more space for a playground in the redesign plan. 

July 5, 2001

By PAIGE AUSTIN 
The Orange County Register 


Orange-- Backers of the city's proposed dog park are feeling the first 
bite of real opposition since pet owners first came up with the idea 
more than two years ago. 

The future canine haven is slated for the northeast corner of Yorba Park 
at East Chapman Avenue and Yorba Street. 

Neighbors on Burly Avenue are circulating a petition against the 
dog park, saying a recent community meeting showed the city is putting 
the interests of a well-organized dog lobby over their concerns.

"The Dog Park Association is in full force and organized. We felt it 
was a done deal as soon as we walked into the meeting, and that 
sparked the anger," said Burly Avenue resident Mary Dargatz.

Neighbors want the city to build a new playground at the 8.54-acre park,
which has been closed so methane gas in a landfill below it can be dealt 
with. They hadn't realized dog-park plans were so far along.

The Dog Park Association, formed more than two years ago, has attracted 
about 250 members and raised more than $25,000 for the park. 

In 2000, the City Council unanimously approved the concept of a dog park.

Now, two conceptual redesign plans for Yorba Park include dog-park options. 

One calls for four softball fields for Central Orange Girls Fastpitch 
and 1.3 acres for the dog park. 

The other calls for two fields and 2.3 acres for the dogs. Both plans 
include at least 60 new parking spaces.

Final park designs will likely go before the council in late August, 
said Pamela Galera, the city's dog-park project coordinator. The city 
hasn't allotted money to build the park. The dog-park group will pay 
for fencing.

Among the reasons for choosing Yorba for the park: The nearby Costa Mesa 
(55) Freeway should drown out the noise of barking dogs.

Critics say the land is also at the corner of the city's busiest 
intersection, adjacent to the school district's Regional Occupation 
Program classes and near a preschool, YMCA and BMX bike park.

"We did look at all possible parks, but most are surrounded by residences. 
At Yorba, there are really only residents on one side," Galera said.

Some neighbors say placing a dog park near so many children is dangerous. 
They say it also will aggravate a parking shortage in the neighborhood 
during school and sports activities. 

On weekends, the dog park is expected to attract as many as 1,000 visitors, 
but rarely more than 50 at a time - a reasonable number, said Dog Park 
Association founder Rick Cryder.

Dargatz said some neighbors were prepared to accept the dog park but 
turned against it when they saw plans didn't include a playground.

"What about the playground structure that's been there?" Dargatz said. 
"What about the neighborhood that has used it as a community park for 
25 years?"

"Nothing is final," Galera said. 

The neighbors want a playground and the parking entrance shifted away 
from Burly Avenue, Galera said.

"We heard the message loud and clear."