The Orange County Register 

Council approves dog park 4 paws to 1

Orange Dog Park Association is jubilant after years working on 
plan at Yorba Park. 

Aug. 28, 2003 

By JIT FONG CHIN 
Orange City News

Orange city council members apologized Tuesday for delaying dog park 
plans, and approved a bark park at Yorba Park as soon as possible. 

The decision had dog park advocates whooping for joy, but 
angered Yorba Park neighbors who oppose a dog park and criticized 
officials for circumventing regular park planning procedure. 

"Awesome, awesome city council," Orange Dog Park Association President 
Jeanine Lawrie said with tears in her eyes and a big smile after the 
meeting. Lawrie and association co-founder Rick Cryder who helped to 
raise more than $20,000 for a dog park. 

"I think the shock was that a decision was made tonight," Lawrie said. 

City staff had proposed a master plan for the 8-acre Yorba Park that 
included a 2-acre dog park, two lighted softball practice fields, a tot 
lot and parking lot. 

Instead of approving the entire plan, council members voted 4-1, 
with Carolyn Cavecche dissenting, to approve the 2-acres pertaining to 
the dog park and related environmental documents. 

City staff estimated that an off-leash dog park with fencing, a gate and 
limited amenities would cost between $65,000 to $1.9 million. Details such
as whether the dog park association can help with additional fund-raising
and help with park maintenance will be worked out brought back to the
council for approval within 60 days. 

Once a landfill, Yorba Park was closed in 1998 when the city was told by 
the county to control underground methane gas. In August 2000, the City 
Council approved the concept of a dog park at Yorba Park after the Orange 
Dog Park Association approached the city asking for help to find a location.

Nearby residents who opposed the dog park began complaining that their 
input was not sought early in the process. Some voiced concerns that the 
park would worsen traffic and be dirty, ugly, and a danger to children 
playing in the park or nearby schools. In December, the Park Planning and 
Development Commission recommended the City Council reject the proposed 
conceptual plan for Yorba Park. 

Yorba Park has stayed closed, though the methane levels are now under 
control. City officials were initially unfamiliar with methane gas control, 
and "did not want the opportunity to create a liability for something we 
didn't have a very critical need for," said City Manager Dave Rudat. "And 
frankly, the council hasn't given us any clear direction on this because 
we've all been cautious." 

Association co-founder Rick Cryder repeatedly showed up at City Council 
meetings to complain that his and other members' credibility have been 
ruined because they raised more than $20,000 in the name of building a 
dog park. 

"We promised a dog park, there's not question about it," added Councilwoman 
Joanne Coontz.

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Copyright (c)2003 The Orange County Register 
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