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SALT LAKE CITY — Dog owners are excited about Salt Lake County's proposal to expand off-leash dog areas, but some residents are pushing back, concerned about safety and potential environmental impacts.
Martin Jensen, the county's recreation director, said parks and recreation officials have studied six county parks for the one-year pilot program and have found potential in each for off-leash dog parks.
The parks include Scott Avenue Park, 3475 S. 800 East; Canyon Rim Park, 3100 S. 3100 East; Valley Center Park, 4013 S. 700 West; Flight Park, near Point of the Mountain in Draper; Big Cottonwood Regional Park, 4300 S. 1300 East; and Mountain Man Park, 500 S. 5200 West.
"These are everyone's parks," Jensen said while presenting the proposal to the County Council last week. "We have to meet the needs of all residents."
But during a public meeting after Jensen's presentation, several residents living near Scott Avenue Park protested the idea of their neighborhood park turning into an off-leash dog area.
Robert Breeze, who lives on Scott Avenue, said the park is regularly used by young children walking to and from school. And even though many dog owners are responsible, he said, not all take the time to train their dogs to be well-behaved.
"My first thoughts when I heard of this plan was, 'How horrible would it be to be a little junior high school child and have to run through a gauntlet of pit bulls and Dobermans to get to the school bus?" Breeze said. "We're not against the principle of having off-leash dog parks … but Scott Avenue Park is a heavily populated area with children who use that park all of the time."
Polly Hart, a Salt Lake City resident and director of Millcreek F.I.D.O.S., an off-leash dog advocacy group, said limiting dog parks is not the way to deal with conflict. Collaboration and education make for a better approach, she said.
These are everyone's parks. We have to meet the needs of all residents.
–Martin Jensen
"When there's a bully at your kid's school, you don't shut down the school," Hart said. "You pull aside the bully and the bully's parents, and you have a talk with them and try to straighten them out. Maybe that's how we should be looking at this."
Megan Newhouse, who also lives near Scott Avenue Park, called the park a "mini nature preserve," with its stream, vegetation and migratory birds.
Newhouse said she worries that allowing dogs to run leash-free in the park will cause environmental damage and scare away the park's unique bird population.
"This is a treasure in the middle of our city, and I don't know how much I can strongly urge you to preserve it," she told the County Council.
But Linda Gregersen, a Murray resident and dog-walking business owner, brought the County Council a 1,300-signature petition of Salt Lake Valley residents supporting more leash-free dog parks in their area.
She acknowledged concerns about Scott Avenue Park but said there are many other parks throughout the county that could be used for free-running dogs.
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6 hikes, off-leash parks for playing with your dog in S.L. County
With the weather warming up, many dogs and humans alike are itching for new outdoor adventures. Throughout Utah there are parks created specially for dogs, plus other scenic locations that allow the pooches to explore and enjoy more freedom. The hikes and parks in this list came recommended by KSL.com readers."A well-exercised dog is definitely a better-behaved dog," Gregersen said.
Lynne Gilbert-Norton, with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, said she spends a lot of time dealing with dogs with behavioral issues that develop because there are not enough facilities providing off-leash access for dogs.
"However, I would love to see some better design in these parks to stop them being sort of like an open bear pit," Gilbert-Norton said. "I would be happy to give my opinion on how to best design these parks. Cities like Las Vegas have done a lot to stop the fights and a lot of negative behaviors associated with dog parks."
Jensen said Salt Lake County Animal Services has been advised of the plan, there will be no impacts to the county budget, and pet waste stations and garbage cans will be placed at all locations.
During the pilot program's duration, county officials will also monitor patron compliance, water quality, park conditions and neighborhood impact.
The Salt Lake County Council plans to revisit the proposal after visiting the parks and continuing to talk with residents about the issue.
