P.A.D.Z. wants
leash-free dog park
Jeannie Sprague-Bentley

The Coast News,
November 15, 2001

Locations include part of Indian Canyon Park off Saxony, part of the proposed park off Santa Fe on the Hall property, James McPherson Park off Orpheus, the SDG&E easement off Mountain Vista Drive, and part of the future Quail Gardens Park.

As of now, the city does not have an exclusively leash-free park for dogs to run.

Orpheus Park in Leucadia has leash-free hours, as does Encinitas Park near City Hall, but many residents say the hours are too inconvenient.

Both of the parks allow dogs to be leash-free from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. But dog parks are not only few, they are fleeting as well, Last year, the Cardiff School Board voted to ban dogs at the George Berkich park that doubles as the playground for students of Cardiff Elementary.

Some parents of the students were concerned about their children playing where owners did not clean up after their pets.

Also last year, the Cardiff school board voted to ban dogs in a 3-acre field next to Cardiff Elementary School when people complained about pet droppings.

P.A.D.Z. hopes to educate dog owners about responsible dog ownership, as well as to educate people about the benefits of having dog parks.

Members of the council had stated back in January that opening a dog park was high on the list of priorities for the city over the next two years.

Just to the north, the city of Carlsbad just opened its first dog park.