Off Leash Hours
Recommended For Parks
Jeannie Sprague-Bentley

The Coast News,
April 4, 2002

Encinitas - After listening to numerous speakers both for and against off-leash dog hours, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4 - 2 March 19 to recommend off-leash hours for Glen Park in Cardiff.

The commission's recommendation to City Council will be for a six-month trial period on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6 to 7 a.m., and two hours before sunset.
If approved by City council, the park would be the third in the city to offer off-leash hours.

The city currently allows dogs to run unleashed during the same hours at Orpheus Park and Viewpoint Park.

People and Dogz Zones (PADZ), a non-profit group promoting dog zones and off-leash hours, has been working with the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council for several months.

Over the next few months, members of the commission said they will look into off-leash hours for; Cardiff Sports Park, Hawk View Park, Leucadia Oaks Park, Scott Valley Park, and Sun Vista Park.

Many of those oppsed to the leash-free area in public city parks raised concerns over children being in contact with unleashed dogs.

At a recent Town Hall Meeting in Cardiff, Mayor Chirsty Guerin and Councilwoman Maggie Houlihan spoke about the leash-free proposal and answered questions and concerns from those in attendance.

Both Houlihan and Guerin said they opposed the idea and recommendation of another city park adding leash-free times for dogs. Guerin said the commission does a wonderful job but said the recommendation would need to go before council for apporoval.

The council, she said, for the most park supports the idea of a dog "zone," but not necessarily leash-free times in a city park where children play.

"In our goals for the year we agreed on a leash-free fenced dog park - an area just for dogs." Guerin said.
At Glen Park, last week, news of the leash-free proposal got mixed reviews.

Some residents who live near the park and bring their chidren down to play said they felt. "dogs and playgrounds are not a good mix."

Others said, "it depends on the dog and where you are."
John Knowles, who was in the park with his son Tory, said he felt that for the most park, leash laws are a good idea.

"But, puppies and small friendly dogs are OK," Knowles said, as he watch his son play with a small dog.