If cost is the issue, the City of Santa Ana could turn the little-used Lawn Bowling Center into a dog park for less than $10K
I was invited to attend tonight’s Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, by the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Agency’s director, Gerardo Mouet. His staff unveiled their dog park feasibility study tonight, to the Commissioners. The results were a mixed bag.
Mind you that the proposal tonight was merely to study the idea of a dog park – not to actually commit to building one. Nevertheless, at least two of the Commissioners already had their minds made up to oppose the feasibility study.
Commissioner Julie Stroud was the first one to attack the idea. She said it was too expensive – even though my own research found that the City of Costa Mesa dog park is in the black, to the tune of $24,000, and it is run by a non-profit board. Stroud cited the $258,000 spent by the City of Mission Viejo on their dog park. That information was sent to the Commissioners by part-time Santa Ana resident and government worker Thomas Gordon, who announced this week that he is running for Ward 6 on the Santa Ana City Council.
Gordon and Stroud failed to note that the City of Mission Viejo is known for wasting tax money in ridiculous fashion. They also spent $300,000 on a Rose Parade float! Their last Mayor, Lance MacLean, was in fact recalled this year, in part because of his wastesful ways. Red County, the blog Gordon writes for, supported MacLean.
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Funny every time the issue of affordable housing comes up these very same folks scream that the land should be used for open space or a park for our residents. However when providing more open space for Santa Ana residents is discussed in this instance they steadfastly oppose it. They would rather see the park space used by outsiders as is the case with the lawn bowling center.
I wonder why that might be? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?
When is Julie “My Daughter Got Knocked-Up By A Mexican” Stroud’s commissioner status expire? That old hag needs to go. Her well-known hatred for Art Pedroza prevents her from any objectivity on the dog park feasibiity study. And what’s up with Tommy Boy aka El Gordo Loco using Gestapo Scare Tactics?
Santa Ana has the Lofts across from the Main Place Mall & the Train Station, two towers near McArthur & Main and other similar housing planned for the future. What do they all have in common? THEY DON’T HAVE ANY YARDS! It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure out that a dog park is needed now and definitely for future residents who will live in this housing.
Don’t give up Art. There just has to be other locations if Santigo Park does not work. What about Logan Park? The other night I was eating at La Chiquita and afterwards took my family for a nice walk in Logan neighborhood. There were only a couple adult men in the park hanging out. Why not make it a dog park? It’s not huge but it’s a start. I also think Cesar Chavez park would work. It’s near the river so those on bikes with dogs could access it easily. Also, Riverview Park would be a good place. Do we really need so many baseball fields? My kids play soccer and almost every kid I know in Santa Ana plays soccer. Why baseball fields? You could also remove all those picnic tables and use that area for dogs. On behalf of my Rhodesian Ridgeback Rex I want to thank you for all you are doing to help Santa Ana dogs get more open space.
hey dog,
Julie Stroud noted last night that she would be ok with putting the dog park in delhi, but not in any other parks. I wonder why?
There is no reason why the dog park cannot be located at the little-used Lawn Bowling Center. It is the cheapest and best option.
We will soon be disributing twenty thousand fliers all over town advocating for this and asking residents to contact the City Council.
Game on!
Game on indeed Art! The only way to make this a campaign issue is to get the word out. Why don’t you invite O.J. readers to join you when you meet with COuncilmembers? If I know in advance my boss would give me time off and others as well I imagine. Our dogs have no voice. Check out Riverview Park too. (Used to be Alona Park) There is LOTS of space there and it’s near the major bus routes.
I heard Tiger Woods offered to build his Youth center that went to Anaheim at Riverview park. Could that be true?
Well here is my take on the issue..
Let’s make a point very clear here, after the SAUSD passed the FRAUDULENT MEASURE G, resident’s taxes went up. Now, it’s not fair to have residents pay these high taxes, so that a few select people who don’t even reside in the City get to play on the lanes. Also, they fence off the lanes and only open them on Saturdays and some Wednesday’s. Therefore, it is a greater waste of space to just have these areas with no one there, as opposed to having people and dogs relaxing.
The people of the City of Costa Mesa and Irvine are not very fond of our residents going to their dog parks. Also, the city has issues with it as well as they do not know if the dog has been vaccinated and neutered. My neighbor was explaining to me how they go to the dog park three times a week, and it’s a hassle to travel, so they’d really like one here.
Now, we’re thinking, where is the money going to come from…well for one, a dog park requires that the dogs be licensed, and therefore that would create revenue, and the technology is available to where the dog license could serve as a key to let a person into the dog park, removing the need for city personnel.
Now, considering the lewd conduct at Santiago park, the presence of more people, would definitely scare those pervs away. Building a dog park is a great investment for our city, and their are definitely more goods, than bads to it.
Last point, it’s not fair that the 11,000 people who pay for their dog licenses don’t get anything out of it, they’re just simply donating to the general fund!
Lastly, I’d like to make a clarification…our lunches there are not being paid with taxpayer money, we are charged every month to have food provided for us, therefore we pay.
Jonathan,
Great points and thanks for clarifying about the meals.
The big cost with commissions is city staff time, but according to Sean our city charter demands that we have these park and rec commission meetings.
It would be great to put them online in streaming video so folks in town can see what Stroud and Leon are up to…
Prediction: This will be a Dog Park!
My YuDu will produce a few shirts!
Santa Ana Dog Park in Lawn Bowlers Out.
Art, I have seen the Stroud’s at the Floral Park Home tour each year trying to help get Gray Hounds adopted. I would think they would support a dog park where they could let the Gray Hounds run free. It’s sad to save them from the race tracks and then not let them run free in the park or a school yard. Maybe the Stroud’s have never visited a dog park. Why not organize a field trip to a dog park and invite them Art?
Art,
I have studied City Charter and State Constitution extensively, and Article IX, and XI, state that the State must have a commission dealing with public recreational land, Article XI of the California State Constitution Mandates the City Charter to establish a Parks and Recreation Board, every city has one.
I want to correct a factual error with the article. The City of Mission Viejo does not have a dog park. The facts in the article refer to a decision which the City Council of Mission Viejo rescinded in 2009. The current proposal sent from the Community Services Commission to the city council of Mission Viejo is $1.7 million for a dog park. That was on a 6 – 1 vote from the Commission. I was the lone dissent on that vote due to the costs of the project. No decision has been made by the Mission Viejo City Council after rescinding their vote on the Oso Viejo Park location. The two options, so long as they stay the same, which will eventually go before the City Council are substantially more than the price in the article.
I do not believe that turning the lawn bowling center into a dog park is a good idea, facilities like that are hard to come by and once gone will never be reinstated. Wouldn’t it be better to have an outreach program, inviting Santa Ana’s retired folks to seminars to learn the game?
A dog park should be placed in a park with minimum existing facilities like Eldridge park or made out of leftover unusable lots like the one off the 5 freeway at Grand (it’s odd shaped and has a for sale sign, stating that it is zoned for green space, I think it’s either owned by the city or county). Why ruin an existing park with a purpose, when all a dog park requires is fencing, benches, a water spigot and a ton of insurance.
Anonster,
The lawn bowlers have had 70 years to reach out to our residents. They have failed in that regard. At most there are perhaps 5 Santa Ana residents who lawn bowl.
And they charge you to play there.
Lawn bowling is a dead sport that is irrelevant to our people.
In contrast, a dog park would serve our whole city.
The lawn bowling center is locked up and unused most of the time. What a waste!
Brian,
The error was made by Thomas Gordon. We just repeated what he told our Parks and Rec Commission.
It should not cost a fortune to launch a dog park.
Jonathan,
I would be more impressed by our Parks and Rec Commission if Tish Leon and Julie Stroud were not on it. The rest of you seem reasonable but they are rude and condescending and clearly not interested in serving the residents of our city.
Lawn bowling maybe passe’, but there has to be other games or other uses that that very nice space could accommodate. Having some park space set aside for retirees is a plus for the community, we just need to adapt it to their interests. Isn’t there a clubhouse associated with the lawns?
The idea of turning the lawn bowling center into a dog park seems not only spiteful, but wasteful and short-sighted.
anonster,
Why is that? Every dog park I have visited was chock full of people having a good time. Isn’t that the point of public parks?
Art,
Because building a nice infrastructure in a park takes money, the lawn bowling center is too sophisticated for a dog park.
We should use our resources wisely, the lawn bowling center has a much greater potential than just being a dog park.
anonster,
Too sophisticated? Have you been to the Irvine Dog Park? It is quite nice. Our dog park would be better than theirs if we use the lawn bowling center.
You sound like an elitist. I thought you were a liberal. I stand for the working families of my city and I think it sucks that outsiders are using our resources to entertain themselves.
I’m not saying that the lawn bowling center has to be used for lawn bowling, but for Santa Ana it’s a pretty nice facility and a dog park doesn’t have to be any thing special. The lawn bowling center could accommodate any number of uses for Santa Ana residents, even a Boys and Girls club, or a place for community outreach classes. Why take a space that could be used by ALL residents and give it to just dog owners. Dogs can get plenty of exercise just by being walked, which every dog owner is welcome to do in every park in Santa Ana.
Furthermore, Santa Ana shouldn’t be trying to compete with Irvine, if Irvine has the means to squander their resources on a dog park, let them, we need to focus on doing the most good with what we have. I’m not against a dog park, but in a city short of park space, I do think we should put people before dogs, if that makes me an elitist, so be it.
anonster,
Aha! You don’t like the concept of dog parks. That is your problem. We have over 11,000 licensed dogs in town and over 20,000 unlicensed dogs. Every major city in the county has dog parks except Santa Ana.
Do you even live here in town? I doubt it.
There is a BIG PROBLEM with using the little used “Lawn Bowling” area in Park Santiago NA for a dog park instead of using the police dog training facility. (Located across the creek)
The Police Dog Training facility is off of a main arterial road.
The Lawn Bowling facility is inside the Park Santiago neighborhood.
That would mean a huge increase in “cut though” traffic in the Park Santiago neighborhood.
The Park Santiago neighborhood, in an effort to stop “cut though” traffic has:
Blocked access at most street leading into and out of the community.
Had a bridge overpass blocked off from auto use, and a creek bed roadway blocked off from auto use at the bowling lawn location.
Had a freeway pedestrian bridge torn down during the 5 freeway expansion (new construction half way built)
Had a freeway off ramp moved to keep traffic out of their neighborhood, and speed bumps and extra stop signs, etc.
I get the idea that your neighbors would not agree to your proposed change considering all that has been done to stop cut though traffic.
For those who do not know the area, pull up your internet (yahoo or other) map program and look from above at the 2 locations. 330774434 – 117.860026
Don’t forget Lisa Mill’s speed humps on Santiago street.
Art,
I live in Floral Park (21 years), have three big pound puppies and one little pampered pooch, I am an unabashed animal lover, I am not against a dog park, just not at the lawn bowling center. Now I have to be honest and admit that none of my dogs could play at a dog park as they are all watch dogs and don’t play well with others, but I would bet that a lot of other SA resident’s dogs are the same way. I would also bet (judging by the occupants at the City pound) that the two most popular SA dog breeds are the aggressive pit-bull and the hyper-aggressive chihuahua, a SA dog park could end up in a blood-bath.
Perhaps YOU are the “elitist” with your fantasies of well mannered golden retrievers frolicking together in the grass, the reality might be quite different.
I also must tell you that my friend and I, while walking our little dogs (something we have done twice a week for 10 years) were attacked by two loose pit-bulls this week, these animals did not have collars, had a history of running loose, were not fixed and had recently attacked another dog in the neighborhood. While I was fine, my friend was not so lucky, the female pit-bull grabbed her dog, pulled them both to the ground and would not let go. My friend spent several hours in the emergency room because of multiple bites and her dog had to have reconstructive surgery (punctured colon). It was a horrific experience, although I don’t blame the dog breed and I know that there are irresponsible dog owners everywhere, I do suspect that we have a higher than average amount of unfixed dogs and unfixed dogs tend to be more aggressive.
Maybe a dog park could be used as an educational tool.
Featuring big signs;
Spay and neuter your dogs and cats!
Anonster,
I did my homework. I visited other dog parks. Have you?
What I found is that they always separate the dogs into large and small breeds. This takes care of much of the risk.
To be honest most folks told me that the problem isn’t the dogs but rather the dog owners.
Little dogs would never be in the same part of the dog park as pit bulls, to be clear.
And yes we would definitely use the park to promote vaccinations and spaying and neutering.
I actually have not visited any dog parks, but have seen Costa Mesa’s dog park from the freeway. It looks spartan; fencing/benches/water and it also looks like it was wedged into an unused portion of an existing park, NOT prime park space.
Again, I support your idea of a dog park, but the lawn bowling center site has too much potential to squander on dogs.
I am glad to know that they seperate the dogs by size, I don’t think the pit-bulls would stand a chance against the chihuahuas.
Living in Santa Ana all my life and growing up (30 yrs old now) in this area, I don’t see a majority of people visiting this place to “play” with their dogs. I see dogs biting other owners or other dogs biting other dogs. I see piles of poop being collected in these areas because people are to lazy to pick up after their dogs. I see time wasted monitoring these places.
I also think that lawn bowling center is a waste of time and space…if you were born in the 1930’s it may have some significance but by today’s standards the majority do not “lawn bowl” so we need to just tear it down.
I go there and I never seen you there Trex, unless you are one of those man to man love clubers
Hello, Its funny that I ran into this article since my friends and I were talking about how Santa Ana really needs a dog park! I am 20 years old and I live in SA and its such a hassle to go all the way to Costa Mesa or Anaheim to take my dog to the park, I STRONGLY agree our city needs a dog park. If you need any help or support with writting letters I can gather more than 20 letters from friends and family (who are actual residents!!) to send to the Recreation Agency stating there needs to be something done about this issue.