i simply do not understand the concern over watering a small patch of lawn to be used by people playing baseball and pet owners...when the city continues to approve massive apartment buildings and hotels. the water usage in those buildings is far greater than any amount potentially used at nealon park.

Over the past year there have been studies which question the safety of artificial turf use for sports. While real grass presents a water and maintenance issues, the safety and environmental impacts of artificial turf should be considered.

Web Link

Lyle Park has turned into sunset dog park. No big deal except my kid had dog crap all over his cleat after a soccer game. I'm really glad he didn't fall in it. One dog owner can ruin it for all.

This is so disappointing. Is the City going to resort to paying an over priced consultant to tell them what every other Bay Area City has already figured out? You build dog parks - same as playground in the neighborhoods and our taxes fund the parks. Clearly Mayor Cline is not dog friendly with his comments that there needs to be "a willingness to help pay for maintaining a dog park" and that there needs to be an organized dog owners advocacy group. Yes, for the past 12 years this issue is raised at the City, dog owners speak out and then are promptly ignored. It's not rocket science, but our Parks and Recreation Dept can't figure it out and are being given terrible guidance by Mayor Cline. With more and more homeowners (aka Tax Payers) owning dogs in the City of Menlo Park, the City should be working to create additional dog parks, not eliminating the few that are currently open. Most cities around the Bay have already begun allowing mixed use parks - allowing dogs to use the open spaces and also creating more enclosed dog parks for their residents. No more advocacy is necessary- obviously there are dogs living in Menlo Park that require spaces to run and socialize, same as the children. Instead of making excuses, open up the parks to the dogs, and keep Nealon park field open - converting the playing field to artificial is a terrible idea, and worse for the environment and children's health than natural grass and some dogs sharing the field. Doesn't even save much on water. If the City of Menlo Park needs guidance, look to Palo Alto and Mountain View. The reason there are no more dog advocates coming to City Council meetings is that we know that the Mayor and the Community Services Department do not listen nor do they seems to care about what we have to say. The suggestion by the Mayor that dog owners should have to fund the dogs parks is about as absurd as telling parents that they should fund playgrounds for the children in the City. Plenty of money in the budget to make this work - if there's a will. Sadly, I'm not seeing it, and just more feet dragging and excuses coming from the City staff and bureaucrats.

Agree 100% with Dog OWNER and tax payer's comments above.

Pay for it? Are you going to start billing parents that use the playgrounds and also leave trash? Taxes, dude. Serve all your citizens please.

The dogs need to move somewhere else. Its ridiculous to have 50 or so dogs use the entire softball field. They can get by with a smaller facility like in other cities. Nealon softball field is for sports, both youth and adult. It generates revenue for the city and the dog park does not. The field provides exercise for 1,000s of adults and 1000s of kids over the course of a year. Yet these 50 or so dog owners feel entitled to this large field at the inconvenience of the city staff who maintains the field because they cant cut the lawn or work on the field in the mornings. Not to mention the health of it sports league participants that use it in the evenings and weekends. Its a selfish attitude, 50 dogs do not need a softball field that covers over 57,000 sq feet. I have seen these dogs on the field and they need about a 1/4 of the space, and that's generous, to run around on. A hired poop service does not work. It did not work in 2004 because dog owners come out regardless of what times are posted and there is no way to police the field after the poop service leaves. It was a bad idea in 2004 and its still a bad idea. Council needs to say no to the dog park on the softball field and use the field for what it was intended for and that's sports. Follow through with the plan and stop stalling its been going on for 10 years. Enough of this nonsense

The 'dog park' discussion won't be valid until the city enforces the leash laws at other venues. The fields at La Entrada school have become a 'dog park' and dogs run 'off leash' their daily. I don't think these dog owners care too much about having a city designated 'dog park'. They already have one of their own.

Jenson wrote: "The dogs need to move somewhere else."

Where should the dogs move to? I don't use Nealon Park so I have no dog in this fight, so to speak. I am just curious.

I agree entirely that the city should be providing legal space for dogs and that dog owners already pay for it with their taxes. We should not be encouraging dog owners to get in their cars and drive to other cities to exercise their dogs nor should we be cramming dogs into spaces that are not big enough nor open for enough hours to meet their needs.

But.... many dog owners, not all, can't be bothered to clean up after their dogs. Had the same problem on my front lawn until I gave the deposits back to the owners front porch.

To Liberal, the dogs can move to willow park dog area or whatever new space the city decides is appropriate. Nealon softball field is not appropriate. It is also open for only a few hours in the morning and this does not serve all dog owners since many work during the day. Then again the current group dog owners are selfish and only interested in there current location and not a dedicated dog area that would be open all day and serve more of the community.

Such a tired excuse to keep dogs out of the parks because of one or two bad dog owners. When the kids (or parents) misbehave at the playground, do you shut it down? Of course not. The City of Menlo Park needs to do a better job at providing public dog parks - where residents aka taxpayers can take their dogs to build community. The City's Parks and Recreation department should be advocating to create additional dog parks, not working to shut them down.

How about requiring registration of dogs, and matching uncollected waste with owners through something like Web Link This would help ensure clean-up, and fines can go towards paying for dog park maintenance, with minimal $$ impact to responsible pet owners who actually pick up after their dog.

The East Bay doesn't have the same leash laws as we do. Perhaps if we relaxed the leash laws, there wouldn't be the need for off-leash areas.

@ Really?

It doesn't matter what the leash laws are if they aren't enforced.

I'm a little amazed that you offer "revenue" as an argument.

What revenue do the playgrounds and casual parks provide?
None.

About 50% of residents have pets
Less than 30% have kids.

Obviously your logic implies those kids should start earning their keep and giving the city revenue if they want those jungle gyms!

Lastly, the 40-50 regulars at the dog part are joined by the hundreds of occasional users. It doesn't have to be a shared space, but dog parks are now a standard city service in the bay area.

"I'm a little amazed that you offer "revenue" as an argument."

I am talking about the softball field not the playgrounds or open area adjacent to the playground. The SOFTBALL FIELD does generate revenue

However both the playground and open area can be rented for activities such as birthday parties, jump inflatables or sports camps and classes. So they do generate revenue for the city as well.

I am not arguing against the dogs having a place to run. I am all for that. I am saying it should not be on the softball field. The city has offered several alternatives but the Dogma group continues to cry foul. Can you locate another dog park that is sharing a city softball field...probably not. Again very selfish behavior by a small group of people.

Softball teams pay over $600 to $700 dollars for a 10 week softball season that includes paying for upkeep of the field and playing their games. What do the dog park people pay for use of the SOFTBALL FIELD.

The Nealon Playing Field IS the Best Identified Option For A Dog Park. Let's improve this unique source of City vitality NOT destroy it! Read More at Web Link