SACRAMENTO — In a unanimous vote Tuesday evening, Sacramento’s City Council accepted a hotly contested plan trying to fund a new dog park in William Land Park.
The resolution comes after leaders determined to shut the short-term Sierra 2 canine park in Curtis Park in favor of discovering a greater, everlasting location.
The metropolis says it allowed the Sierra 2 park to open for a time as a pop-up for canine coaching. However, many Curtis Park neighbors prior to now yr have come to adore it, stopping by with their dogs every day to allow them to play whereas they meet their neighbors.
The metropolis says it acquired greater than 450 complaints in an eleven-month evaluation of the parkprincipally centered round dogs operating off-leash, feces left behind and subsequent park upkeep issues. The metropolis determined the Sierra 2 park was not appropriate to remain open and closed it.
“We ask that the council not take any motion on funding a canine park in Land Park till additional choices will be explored for Curtis Park,” stated a neighbor in public remark at Tuesday’s council assembly who has lived in Curtis Park for practically 4 a long time.
It’s a canine park dilemma that neighbors say has divided their close-knit neighborhood.
“It has created a lot animosity and division, I’m undecided we are going to ever be the identical neighborhood once more,” stated Curtis Park neighbor of 25 years, Melissa McKenzie in public remark.
The metropolis says the world getting used is just too small to satisfy its canine park requirements.
“The design of Sierra 2 park doesn’t meet the necessities of an off-leash canine park, together with its dimension and proximity to different facilities on the park,” stated Jackie Beecham, director of the town’s Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (YPCE).
Several neighbors say they’re unhappy to see it go, not only for their canine’s sake, however their very own.
“Curtis Park wants its personal canine park,” stated one neighbor in public remark.
“I strongly oppose this merchandise, and I need my canine park again,” stated one other on the podium.
However, some Curtis Park neighbors are glad to see it go.
“Thank you for placing youngsters and security first,” stated neighbor Annie Linton to the council in public remark.
She and different neighbors argue that the off-leash use is just too near properties, endangers youngsters at play and disrupts different park actions.
“Opposition to a canine park in Land Park is short-sighted, and the insistence to have one at Sierra 2 is unreasonable and amuses solely those that consider they’re entitled to it,” stated one Curtis Park neighbor of 20 years in public remark who helps the transfer to Land Park.
So may the town discover a higher spot for a Curtis Park canine park? Sacramento’s mayor Darrel Steinberg confirmed that’s nonetheless on the desk.
“This is just not the top of the dialogue, it is the start of the dialogue,” stated Steinberg after the ultimate of 19 public feedback at Tuesday evening’s assembly.
The unanimous vote permits the YPCE to start out researching the place an unfenced, off-leash canine park could possibly be constructed at Land Park, now with $200,000 in funding.
“We acknowledge the neighborhood’s want for extra canine parks. We additionally acknowledge the significance of park areas that create a way of neighborhood,” stated Beecham.
