Last week I announced the opening of the new dog park tomorrow. That’s the good news. The bad news is that on Nov 3 I asked my colleagues to support establishing a Dog Park Committee so that residents could help provide input into policies and amenities, and so that we would have a way in which people could make improvements to the park through contributions. This committee would also be tasked with working with businesses to establish joint ventures that would promote the local business and support the operation and upgrade of the park. We have many people and businesses in Lake Forest whose focus is on dogs (groomers, walkers, pet food suppliers, trainers, etc.) Unfortunately, three of my colleagues (Voigts, Robinson, and Hamilton) refused to support this committee.
Do not despair.
These same colleagues who refused to establish a Dog Park Committee also refused to start a Traffic Commission, but in the end, they eventually decided to start a “Traffic Advisory Group” which began functioning a few months ago.
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These same colleagues who refused to establish a Dog Park Committee also refused to discuss changes to Saddleback Ranch Rd., but eventually changed their minds and, if we can believe them, made changes on Saddleback Ranch Rd a priority, so much so that they showed up on Monday night to attend a meeting with residents, something they never do.
So it’s only a matter of time before Council members Voigts, Robinson, and Hamilton change their minds again.
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In the absence of the committee, people interested in being involved should contact me directly, either by e-mail or through Lake Forest Town Square. I will work with the Parks Director, Scott Wasserman, to make this the best little dog park in Orange County. Here are some of my initial ideas –
1. A way in which adoption groups can spend some time at the Park hoping to find new homes for their animals. PetSmart has a way of doing this which looks pretty successful.
2. A way in which local businesses can advertise their wares. I’d like to see a quarterly or semi-annual “Dog Day Afternoon” on a weekend.
3. A bulletin board where local businesses can advertise and where lost and found notices can be placed.
FUTURE PARKS
The Council has already approved a 1 acre dog park to be built in the new Portola Park that will go up at the intersection of Glenn Ranch Road and Saddleback Ranch Rd. With any luck, this park will appear in 2016 but the chances are better for 2017.
I’m looking for at least one more site for a dog park, ideally in the “old” part of Lake Forest. On a population basis, Lake Forest could use one more acre set aside for dog parks. We are moving forward with the Dana Point model (multiple smaller dog parks located around the City) rather than the traditional model of a single dog park for an entire City.
FWIW – dog parks are not for dogs, but rather they are for the families who own dogs. Dog parks provide a place where dogs can exercise and socialize, and this makes them happier and healthier, which in turn makes the owners happier. Dog parks also provide a place where dog owners can meet and exchange tips, compare vets, and socialize with each other. It can also be a nexus for people who supply services to dog owners.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.
Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a Town Hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be on Dec 12 at 2 pm at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.
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