IN THE NEWS

Here are some articles, editorials and letters my human clipped from The New Tribune. We don't have reprint rights, but here is where you can subscribe and keep up to date on whether I've been a good boy or a bad boy. www.tribnet.com/aboutus/circulation/

Petie

MEDIA INDEX

FULL TEXT

A chance to shape Metro Parks priorities
The News Tribune

In a survey that appears in today's Soundlife, the administration of Metro Parks asks a simple question:

If you had $100 to invest in Tacoma's park system, how would you divide it among park improvements, security, trails, infrastructure and restoration projects?

Now imagine 10,000, 20,000 or even 30,000 Tacomans filling out that survey on page E6 and sending it to the park district. The results would give Metro Parks a strong sense of citizen priorities as the agency develops a strategy for operating its properties and programs over the next 20 years.

Today's survey is one of several efforts by Metro Parks to involve the public in this long-range planning process. Its first approach - abandoned in the face of protests - was to pay consultants $875,000 to help develop the district's new strategy. Nearly all Tacomans, we'd guess, would applaud the far less expensive and far more partici-patory process the district is now pursuing.

So . . . fill out that survey. To influence policy, citizens normally have to show up at meetings and hearings, join committees or even run for the park commission. This is a rare opportunity to help shape Tacoma's park system from the comfort of your living room.

(Published 12:01AM, October 25th, 2003)

Park's big enough for an off-leash area
The News Tribune

Most people know that religion and politics are two topics to avoid at get-togethers in order to keep conversation civil. Now add a third: unleashed dogs. That issue divides users of Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood.

People tend to divide into two passionate camps on the subject of whether dogs should run loose in public parks. In one camp are dog owners who want their pets - invariably large ones - to run free, get exercise and be able to socialize with other dogs. In the other camp is, well, everybody else. They want to see dogs, particularly large ones, leashed and under control so they won't threaten walkers, runners, small children, frail older folks, smaller dogs and other animals. And they'd very much like it if dog owners would clean up after their animals.

One compromise that has worked in many communities is to set aside areas where dogs are allowed to run off-leash. These can range from informal, unfenced areas to special dog parks complete with posted rules, fences and litter bags for waste cleanup.

Dog owners are proposing creation of an off-leash area at Fort Steilacoom Park, a Pierce County park in Lakewood. For years the 343-acre park has been a popular place for dog owners from all over the county to let their animals run loose.

But there have been problems. The county receives several complaints a month about bad behavior by off-leash dogs, and many park visitors have stories about large dogs attacking them or their leashed animals. And anyone who walks there can attest that not all dog owners clean up after their animals, as required by park rules.

While it's understandable that people want places where their dogs can run, public safety must always take priority. And laws must be obeyed, including Lakewood's leash law. Dog owners cannot pick and choose which laws to obey and then complain when they are ticketed.

Lakewood and Pierce County should be open to the idea of setting aside some of the large Fort Steilacoom Park for an off-leash area. As for the environmental study the county wants, was one performed to assess the impact of substantial noise pollution caused by the radio-controlled boats that regularly race on Lake Waughop? Or how about the trail degradation caused by moto-cross bike races? Surely a dog park, where owners would be encouraged to clean up after their pets, would not be as intrusive. The size of the park, whether it should be fenced and other details can be negotiated. If officials decide that a fenced area is appropriate, dog owners could participate in raising part or all of the cost of fencing - perhaps through a small increase in the dog licensing fee.

If dog owners have a sanctioned place to let their dogs run, there will be less reason for them to flout leash laws. That's a public safety benefit everyone should support.

(Published 12:01AM, September 5th, 2003)

County wants dog park fenced
ROB TUCKER; The News Tribune

Pierce County wants an overall park plan and a study of environmental issues before it considers supporting an off-leash dog area in Fort Steilacoom Park. And county parks officials want fencing around any off-leash dog area, said Jan Wolcott, county director of parks and recreation.

The county controls the 343-acre park, which is in Lakewood. Wolcott's recommendation to fence the off-leash area runs contrary to a recent proposal by dog owners. They want an unfenced, 60- to 80-acre off-leash dog area at the park.

Wolcott said he believes dog owners in an off-leash area would work hard to police themselves and their pets, but "we don't favor an off-leash area without a fence," he said. "Despite everybody's best intentions," he said, "Dogs get away" from owners. Dogs running off-leash have attacked people in the park. But more often, he said, the off-leash dogs attack other dogs that are leashed and with their owners.

If the county requires fences, dog owners will help build them, said Miki Mesiab, a member of the Good Dog organization. Good Dog representatives proposed the unfenced off-leash area to the Lakewood City Council on Aug. 25.

"We'll work with whatever we have to because we don't have any place now," she said. She added, however, that the cost of the fence might stall their efforts. Fencing around 60 to 80 acres could cost more than $100,000, some officials and local fence builders said.

Good Dog last week proposed that the off-leash area include the grassy fields and part of a forested ridge in the northeast part of the park, where many dog owners already take their dogs for off-leash exercise.

Good Dog wants a large area so the dogs won't be too hard on vegetation. Good Dog members also have offered to pay for boundary signs on the perimeter of the area and to help control dogs so that the area is safe for everyone, including horses and riders and other people.

All owners in the off-leash area would be required to pick up their dog's waste, and all free-running dogs would have to be under voice control of owners, they said. However, until the county conditions can be met, all dogs must remain on leashes at all times at Fort Steilacoom Park, Wolcott said.

After conferring with county park officials recently, Lakewood Police Chief Larry Saunders said that the county receives up to a dozen complaints per month about bad behavior from off-leash dogs at the park.

Lakewood's animal control officer also has received complaints from park users about attacks and frightening, aggressive behavior by off-leash dogs. Lakewood police wants all dogs on leashes in the park unless officials authorize an off-leash area, Saunders said.

Brian Nelson, president of Good Dog, said he still plans to propose to county parks officials an unfenced, off-leash area. "I'm asking for a year-long trial," Nelson said. "It's a de facto off-leash park now. I understand their fears, but I think we can find remedies. And it's low-cost without the fence."

When Nelson and Mesiab outlined the proposal to the Lakewood City Council, elected officials didn't rule out the idea. Some council members said the proposed area might be too large. They also wanted to coordinate with the county.

The Good Dog group developed the formal off-leash dog area proposal now because Lakewood officials are preparing to enforce the citywide leash law. Good Dog members gathered about 250 signatures on petitions requesting that the county and Lakewood allow the off-leash dog area at the park. Lakewood's leash law hasn't been enforced much since the city formed in 1996, city officials said. Currently, the leash law requires the city animal control officer to issue $250 tickets to first-time violators. The City Council has delayed leash law enforcement until it reviews the law. The council may reduce the ticket amount for first-time offenders.

The county controls the park land, but the park is within Lakewood, so the city enforces the law there. The county leases the park land from the state. Lakewood's parks and recreation director, Mary Dodsworth, said the city and county master planning process for Fort Steilacoom Park began three years ago but isn't finished. A draft of the master plan, which no one has approved, proposed to "create an off-leash dog area" in the park.

Lakewood and county parks officials must approve a completed park plan. And an environmental study must address dog waste and other problems. Wolcott wasn't sure how long all that would take.

With all the required planning and studies, it's likely that the Lakewood City Council will complete its review, firm up its leash law and begin enforcing it before a decision is made about an off-leash dog area.

Nelson said he may ask the city for a "grace period," a delay of leash-law enforcement in the northeast section of the park, until officials decide whether an off-leash area can be established.

"We've got a solution in the works," he said.

Rob Tucker: 253-597-8374
rob.tucker@mail.tribnet.com

(Published 12:01AM, September 2nd, 2003)

LAKEWOOD: Pet owners ask council for off-leash dog park
Rob Tucker; The News Tribune

A group of dog owners has proposed a 60- to 80-acre, off-leash dog park in part of Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood. The Lakewood City Council listened Monday night to Brian Nelson and Miki Mesiab, two leaders of the off-leash dog park group, who proposed using the grassy areas in the northeast section of the park.

The off-leash area wouldn't be fenced. Dogs would be under voice command of their owners, and owners would pick up their dog's waste. The area would be large enough to avoid permanent damage to vegetation and would be posted on its boundaries with rules that the city could enforce, Nelson said.

Pierce County owns the 340-acre park, which is within the city. Lakewood currently enforces a leash law for dogs in the park. Nelson said the group will make the same proposal to county officials. Lakewood council members didn't rule out the idea, but noted that 60 to 80 acres may be too large for an off-leash area.

The dog owners' proposal came after the city's animal control officer warned pet owners who run their dogs without a leash in Fort Steilacoom Park that they could receive a $250 citation. The City Council has decided to review the law before allowing any citations and may reduce the citation amount for first offenders.

Rob Tucker, The News Tribune

(Published 12:01AM, August 26th, 2003)

Dog park could alleviate 'suburban dog syndrome'
KATHY SDAO; Tacoma;

For years, I've tried to understand why Metro Parks and the City of Tacoma are so resistant to the idea of establishing an off-leash dog park here.

The concept is not new; dog parks have functioned successfully for the past decade in dozens of U.S. cities. Design and implementation costs for such a facility are minimal, and demand from dog owners is high.

Catherine Forte's "Your Voice" article (TNT, 8-10) gave me an insight into this puzzle. I realized that for many people, this breaks down into a "kids vs. dogs" issue. I believe this is a serious misinterpretation. The reality is that sanctioned off-leash areas would benefit children, and everyone else in our community, too.

In my work as an applied animal behaviorist, I see what happens when dogs get too little exercise and exposure to other dogs and people. The resulting behavior problems include nuisance barking, destruction, escaping and, in many cases, aggression. For a significant proportion of normal healthy dogs, confinement at home, with no opportunity for running and socializing, increases the probability that these dogs will bite.

Dog trainers call this "suburban dog syndrome." Dogs that spend their lives in their own fenced back yards often have a tendency to snap at visitors or strangers they pass on the street.

Dog owners can help make off-leash area happen
KEN WHITNEY; Tacoma;

I'd like to thank Michael Grochowicz for his letter (TNT, 8-15) and let him know there is a way he can volunteer to help make off-leash areas a reality for Tacomans.

For three years TacomaDogPark.com has worked with the City, Metro Parks Tacoma and the Off Leash Dog Park Citizens Advisory Panel to lay the foundation. We work from the belief that off-leash areas offer safe, fun recreation for dog owners and their families, help create friendships and a healthy community, and will make Tacoma a better place to live.

People can help in several ways. First, be responsible owners and always license and scoop. Second, let Metro Parks know of your support (info@tacomaparks.com) and your willingness to be part of the solution. Third, keep up to date on off-leash areas and communicate with a volunteer network at www.TacomaDogPark.com. Fourth, tell a friend.

Finally, participate in an upcoming survey of Metro Parks' constituents. As part of its strategic planning process, Metro Parks will randomly select up to 5,500 Tacomans for a detailed look at the future of Tacoma's parks. Among many other things, off-leash areas will be addressed. If you are selected, please participate.

Something wonderful was started three years ago, and a pilot program was approved in 2001. With your help, it won't fade away.

(Published 12:01AM, August 25th, 2003)

McKinley Park would be good site for dog park
MICHAEL GROCHOWICZ; Tacoma;

The Steilacoom unleashed-dog issue has brought up many good points about dog parks in Pierce County. The first point is that there are none. There is a new park in Kitsap County off Highway 16 near Burley-Olalla Road, and there are several in King County.

My wife and I travel to Seattle nearly every weekend to walk our dogs and give them the freedom and socialization that makes for a healthy, happy dog. We usually stay in Seattle for the evening and have dinner or see a movie. If there were a dog park in Tacoma, we and our money would stick around town.

We have often talked about putting the wheels into motion to start a Tacoma dog park. One of the best locations for a large dog area would be McKinley Park. It is directly across from the Tacoma Dome on the other side of the freeway. It is currently used very little, already has a fence bordering the freeway, and would bring people and their money closer to the Freighthouse Square and downtown area.

If anyone out there has the time and passion to lead the group, count me in as a helper and weekend volunteer. It only takes a small group and a little sweat to get it going.

There are a few great Web sites offering support and a checklist on how to make a dog park a reality. Check them out at www.coladog.org/index.php and www.soda.org/index.html.

For the love of dogs, we need a dog park.

MICHAEL GROCHOWICZ
Tacoma

(Published 12:01AM, August 15th, 2003)

Trail may be named for bicycle advocate
SKIP CARD; The News Tribune

Urban planner Scott Pierson died two years ago from a heart attack while pedaling his beloved bicycle through the streets of Tacoma.

Today, leaders of Tacoma and Pierce County will consider resolutions aimed at recognizing Pierson's enthusiastic commitment to bicycling by naming a new trail in his honor.

What supporters hope to see named "The Scott Pierson Gentle Ways Bike Trail," or simply "The Scott Pierson Trail," is now being designed by the state Department of Transportation. The multiuse trail will run near Highway 16 from Sprague Avenue in Tacoma to Stone Drive in Gig Harbor.

Part of the 5-mile trail will be included in the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge, while most of the rest will be built as crews widen and add carpool lanes to Highway 16.

Project planners expect the trail to open when both projects are complete in 2007 or 2008.

Before his death at age 58, Pierson worked with state officials to ensure that the Highway 16 project included consideration for something other than cars.

"He was just utterly committed to bicycles as an alternative form of transportation," said his widow, Bev Pierson, "particularly in the urban area, where we have congestion and crowding. His view was that it was environmentally a really sensible thing for anyone who could do it."

A bicycle and pedestrian trail had been mentioned in environmental reports, but Pierson ensured that state officials made the nonmotorized dream a reality, said Donna Stenger, an urban planner with Tacoma's Economic Development Department.

"He just constantly worked with their staff to make sure that this never fell off their radar screen," Stenger said. "If it hadn't been for his efforts, I don't think that the state would have fulfilled their commitment to complete this trail."

Leaders of both the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club and Metro Parks Tacoma support naming the trail in Pierson's memory. The Washington State Transportation Commission will make the final decision on the trail's name.

Pierson doggedly practiced what he preached about nonmotorized travel. He rode his bicycle to and from work virtually every day during his 23-year career with the city.

Pierson was instrumental in developing Tacoma's first Non-motorized Transportation Plan. He also helped create the Recreation and Open Space Facilities Plan, the Pierce County Bicycle Guide Map, the Helmets on Wheels program and the Walk Your Children to School program.

After his death, Pierson was given the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Washington State Department of Transportation's Footprints & Bike Tracks Conference.

He collapsed and died while riding home from the grocery store on June 17, 2001, one day before he and Bev were to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Doctors later found Pierson's excellent health had masked severe blockage in his coronary arteries.

Co-workers still fondly remember Pierson's enthusiasm and untraditional methods. Stenger said Pierson constantly challenged his fellow city planners to look at the negative effects of the automobile on cities.

"Most people have inhibitions about being out of the mainstream of thought, but Scott never did," Stenger said.

Pierson considered riding a bicycle not merely a form of recreation but a worthy alternative to driving cars.

"He told me it was like taking a vacation," Stenger said. "It didn't matter what the weather was. You were out, and it was an opportunity to free your mind."

Skip Card: 253-597-8655
skip.card@mail.tribnet.com

Your Voice: Park is big enough for all to enjoy without leashes
Bloom McNair

I'm a very good boy. My mom and dad tell me every day, "Bloom, you're such a good boy!" But I'm very confused. They've told me that we may have to stop going to my favorite place, the "dog park" at Fort Steilacoom Park. They say that some man wants to make them pay money for me to run with my friends.

I've been going to the park since I was 10 weeks old. At first it was a scary place. There were lots of other dogs and strange people, and I spent most of my time hiding under a table. While I was hiding, I saw my big brother Bialystock getting petted and playing with the other dogs. I got braver and began to meet all of the people and dogs and found out everyone wanted to just have a good time.

We started to go on walks in the park to see all the new things I had never seen and smell all the wonderful smells I had never smelled. At first, my mom and dad put a leash on me. It was pretty frustrating to wear a leash because I could never go where I wanted. It was also frightening because when new dogs and people came up, I felt like I was trapped and couldn't hide for safety if I needed to.

My big brother Bialy didn't have to wear a leash. It made me very jealous of his freedom. It was then I learned my first lesson at the dog park. Whenever Bialy was out exploring a few feet away when Mom or Dad called his name he came running to see what they wanted. A couple of times he saw a person on a bike. Dad said, "Sit," and even though Bialy wanted to say "Hi" to the person on the bike he just sat right down and the biker rode right by.

Sometimes when we were walking by the lake and other people would come by going the other way, Mom would say "Over here," and just keep walking. Bialy would come right over and walk by Mom and Dad until they said, "OK." One day they took my leash off and I ran off a few feet. They called "Bloom, come."

After a little practice, I'm as good as Bialy. I come right away when they call me, I sit right away when they tell me, and no matter how interesting another dog or person is when we're walking when I hear "over here" I know I've got to get my head pretty close to their knees and ignore whatever is coming.

I made a mistake one time and didn't sit down right away, and that darn leash came back for the rest of the day. I won't make that mistake again.

I've learned that when I have to go to the bathroom I should stay very close to where I went so my dad can find it. He has these little blue bags he uses to pick it up and throw it away.

I've learned that we have to share the park. There are people on bikes and people who are just walking and people who are jogging and there are people on horses. I always sit down and wait when they come past.

My dad got really angry with another person with a dog one time. The other dog actually chased a person on a bike. I didn't understand all of what dad said, but it was something about "spoiling the park for all of us." He told the person that he should either keep his dog under control or he should never come back. I haven't seen him since.

One time we went to a special park just for dogs in Seattle. It was pretty ugly. There was a big fence around it. There was no grass at all; just dirt. The only smells were dog smells. It just wasn't that much fun. I guess that's why we keep meeting in new spots in the park, so the grass doesn't get worn down and all the good smells go away.

I guess you can see that the park is just about the best thing in my life. I don't have a watch, and I can't really tell time but when mom says the word "park" I know exactly what time it is. It's time to go meet my dog and human friends to play and explore.

The park is a very big place, and I think we can all share it if we are just considerate of one another. I'll do my part. After all, I'm a very good boy.

Bloom McNair was assisted in writing this piece by his owner, Tim McNair of Lakewood.

July 23rd, 2003

'Bark park' for dogs would address complaints
Jennifer Preston, Tacoma

Re "Dogs off-leash could draw $250 fine" (TNT, 7-14).

I don't currently own a dog, but I can sympathize with dog owners who want to see their pooches run freely. A "bark park" would solve many of the problems that I am hearing from both sides.

A "bark park" is a completely fenced-in open space dedicated to dogs and their owners. At the entry is posted a sign with various rules such as "No aggressive dogs" and "Please pick up after your dog." The plastic bags are even provided.

There is a simple gate entrance that must be passed through before opening the next gate, which helps to keep the dogs in the park. Once inside, owners are invited to let their dogs off the leash. There are usually simple benches to use while you watch your dog play and interact with its newfound friends. There is also plenty of space for throwing balls and frisbees. The only problem with that is other dogs like to join in on the fun.

Huntington Beach, Calif., has a popular bark park that works well. It's off to the side of a larger park and is simply a space enclosed by a chain link fence.

I know at one time the Peninsula Park and Recreation District in Gig Harbor was considering the possibility of a bark park, but I have not heard if it will be a planned part of their new Peninsula Park. A bark park on either side of the Narrows Bridge, maybe one on both sides, would be a welcome addition to our park system.

July 22nd, 2003

Why no off-lead park for dogs in Pierce County?
Barlow Buescher, Tacoma

Re "Dogs off-leash could draw $250 fine" (TNT, 7-14).

Why is there no off-lead dog park in Pierce County? I pay taxes. Last year I happily paid roughly $4,000 in property taxes and another $2,000 in sales tax, most of which went to sending other people's kids to school (I have no children) and otherwise supporting the common good.

So, why do I still not have a place in Pierce County to walk my dog off-lead without the risk of getting a fine?

If Fort Steilacoom Park was not so dangerous due to the broken glass, plastic, cigarette butts, and fast food wrappers left by users, I would love to take my dog there to let her run.

On my way to or from the park, I would intentionally stop to spend money in Lakewood as a way to say "thank you" for allowing me a place to let my "best friend" celebrate life.

It is true that dogs can tear up small, confined spaces, but if the park department were to fence off 25 acres or more, the dogs would not be a problem to the landscape.

July 17th, 2003

More discrimination against dog owners
Kerry Guite, Tacoma

I am extremely angry over the threat of ticketing people who run their dogs off leash at Fort Steilacoom Park. (TNT, 7-14). I am a taxpayer who has no children of my own, yet I am paying for schools, playfields and parks. But I cannot exercise my dog once a week in a 340-acre park.

When are city and county governments going to recognize that dog owners deserve to have a place to run their dogs? Dogs need exercise and it is very important to socialize your dog with other dogs.

I have gone to Fort Steilacoom Park on Saturday mornings along with many people and their pets. The dogs run and play, and the majority do not bother people or fight. I have never seen any dog become aggressive with a person or dog. You stated in your article there have not been any complaints of anyone being injured by a dog.

If Lakewood and Pierce County are going to fine people for having their dogs run off-leash, then they need to be fair and find an area where our dogs can run free. Dog owners are being discriminated against once again.

July 16th, 2003

Lakewood council may rein in leash law's first-offense fine
Rob Tucker, The News Tribune

Lakewood City Council members want to think it over before they allow the city animal control officer to issue $250 tickets to people who let their dogs run without a leash in Fort Steilacoom Park.

City officials already have prepared an amendment to the leash law for the council to chew on. It would lower the $250 fine for first- and second-time offenders. And the council wants to hear from the public.

The city's leash law calls for a $250 fine for a first offense. But enforcement has been minimal since the law took effect in 1996.

"We don't want $250 tickets until we go through this," Mayor Bill Harrison said at the council's Monday night study session.

City Attorney Heidi Wachter assured the mayor and the council that city staff members "are on the same page."

She also wrote up an amendment that staggers the fines, similar to Tacoma's leash law. First-time Lakewood offenders would be fined up to $75; in Tacoma, it's $50.

A second offense would draw up to $125, as in Tacoma, and a third offense would get the $250 citation, the same as Tacoma.

The leash law issue has simmered since city animal control officer Randy Richards received a commission May 13 from the Pierce County sheriff to write citations in Fort Steilacoom Park, a popular place for people to allow dogs to run without leashes.

Pierce County owns the 340-acre park, but the county and Lakewood maintain it. It's a favorite for walkers, joggers, ballplayers, picnickers and others.

Richards spent more than a year warning people that leash law enforcement loomed. This month, he planned to issue $250 citations if a dog owner failed to heed a warning.

But the mayor and the council put that on hold Monday night.

"If we are going to enforce it," Councilwoman Andie Gernon said, "we need to look at it."

Meanwhile, public debate continues.

"There must be a space for dogs to run free and socialize," said Jutta King of Fort Lewis, a dog trainer who owns two German shepherds. "Constant leashing increases aggression. It's like putting an athlete in a cage. I understand there are irresponsible people. This small percentage ruins it for all of us."

She and others favor a fenced, large off-leash area at the park. City officials are discussing the proposal.

Others say dogs aggressively approach them and their leashed dogs, and in some cases have attacked. A 71-year-old Lakewood woman who walks in the park said two months ago an unleashed dog chased her and she fell down.

"I love dogs, but nowadays, there are too many without a leash," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "They say they won't hurt anybody, but who knows?"

Richards, the animal control officer, said no one has been hurt by a dog in the park. He said he has received a half-dozen serious complaints about aggressive free-running dogs in the park in the past year.

Rob Tucker: 253-597-8374
rob.tucker@mail.tribnet.com

July 16th, 2003

Dog's 'letter' may set his brethren free:
Off-leash parks gain favor since pup's newspaper plea
Jason Hagey, The News Tribune

A coalition of South King County cities is considering letting dogs run free at one or more of the area's parks, and the region's canines have Harley the dog to thank for it.

That's because five years ago, Harley "wrote" a letter to the editor of a Federal Way newspaper, asking the city's parks director to consider just such a dog park.

"I would like somewhere to play!" the 145-pound English mastiff mix begged. "Once in a while, when my human has time, I get to go to (Marymoor Park) in Redmond. It is an off-leash dog park but it is quite a ways from Federal Way and I don't get to go very often."

Federal Way's parks director, Jennifer Schroder, responded to Harley's letter with a memo inviting him and "his human" to attend an upcoming parks meeting to discuss the idea. They did. Now, at least one new dog park could be open in South King County as early as next year.

The doggy discourse might be unusual, but the discussion itself is by no means unique to South King County. Dog parks, where owners can legally let their animals run free, exploded in popularity during the 1990s, when they were referred to as the singles bars of the era. As green space in urban areas declined and populations grew, neighborhood school yards and other parks became less socially acceptable for dogs to run off-leash.

Formal off-leash parks help fill that void, said Jim Trockel, president of the nonprofit group, Serve Our Dog Areas (SODA), that maintains the dog area at Marymoor Park in Redmond.

"This is a legitimate form of recreation," Trockel said. "Times have changed. The role of dogs and animals in society have changed."

An online dog-park newsletter counts more than 700 off-leash parks in the U.S. and Canada, with dozens of new dog parks in the works throughout the country, including the South Sound.

In Tacoma, the Metropolitan Park District is working on plans for a dog park at the old landfill near Home Depot on Center Street. The landfill, capped since the early 1980s, is adjacent to the current landfill. About $9,200 has been set aside for design work, and the park could be open in six months to a year, said Kristi Evans, planning and development manager for Metro Parks.

Lakewood was considering setting aside part of Fort Steilacoom Park for dogs until budget concerns postponed all parks planning.

Marymoor Park in Redmond, the place where Harley occasionally romped, is considered a model dog park. Serve Our Dog Areas works with about a dozen dog-park organizers around the country at any given time, offering advice on how to work with local governments and how to form a nonprofit organization. Recently, the group counseled dog owners in South Africa about a dog park there, Trockel said.

Dog parks occasionally ignite controversy in some communities from neighbors who complain about the traffic that often accompanies them, or from people who don't want public money spent on dogs. But Trockel says the money is really being spent on the taxpayers who own dogs, not on the dogs themselves.

"This is probably the first time in 40 or 50 years that parks departments have had to deal with a new form of recreation," Trockel said.

Local task force formed

In South King County, local parks departments are working together. Federal Way, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Kent, Renton, Tukwila and SeaTac formed a task force last year, along with King County Parks staff and King County Animal Control, to consider how and where they could build a dog park.

After looking at the numbers, which show South King County is home to about half of the county's 151,000 licensed pets, the group determined a need for two dog parks. One would serve the entire South King County population, and another would serve the urban population along the Interstate 5 corridor.

Funding for the new parks could come from a $1 or $2 surcharge on pet licenses, task force members said. Licenses currently cost $15 for spayed or neutered animals and $55 for others.

Task force members identified Grandview Park, near the SeaTac-Kent border, as one potential off-leash area.

Feite Posthumus, a 72-year-old retiree from SeaTac, already uses the park to walk Mozart, his Bernese mountain dog. Since the park is usually empty during the week, Posthumus often lets Mozart run without a leash. But Posthumus wouldn't mind seeing a part of the park turned into a designated off-leash area where he could let Mozart roam free - legally.

"We have a yard, but he is in the house all the time," Posthumus said. "He's gotta have some exercise."

An off-leash park at Grandview Park or somewhere else could be open sometime next year with minimal facilities, and a more permanent park constructed in 2004.

Ken Whitney, a member of the citizens committee that helped choose the Tacoma location, keeps dogs and their owners informed of progress at his Web site (www.geocities.com/tacomaola).

He used to meet with a group of friends and relatives about every two weeks at Marymoor Park. Their dogs could run around and play, and the people could socialize.

"And letting the dogs run makes life at home much more pleasant, too," he said.

The Marymoor dog park creates a family feeling, added Federal Way resident Jill Alverson, owner of Harley and the true author of the 1997 dog park letter.

Alverson remembers well her "goofy" letter, which she wrote on a whim and "signed" with a muddy swipe from Harley's paw.

"I'm amazed," she said. "I just didn't see it going anywhere."

Staff writer Jason Hagey covers Federal Way. Reach him at 253-941-9634 or jason.hagey@mail.tribnet.com.

Dog Park Etiquette

May 11, 2002

Editorial: Off-leash park areas are worth a trial run

Dog owners know how few places there are within Tacoma city limits where dogs can legally run off leash. In surveys, creating off-leash areas rates high on park users' wish lists.

Now Metro Parks officials are planning to do something about it. They asked the Tacoma City Council to amend the municipal code to allow off-leash areas at city parks. City leash laws currently require that dogs be leashed at all times on park property. On Tuesday, the City Council agreed to the change.

Off-leash areas are being explored at four locations - Heidelberg Park, the South End Recreational Area (SERA), Wapato Park and at the city landfill. While dogs would be able to run free, their owners still would be responsible for cleaning up after them.

Before getting too far along in establishing the off-leash areas, officials should study Seattle's experience with the issue. In 1996, the city's parks department designated off-leash areas in seven Seattle-area parks; it has since learned some valuable lessons about what works and what doesn't.

For instance, Seattle parks officials learned that there should be plenty of on-site parking, otherwise dog owners park in front of nearby residents' homes and their dogs do their business on the lawns. Also, the areas should be fenced and gated and not sited near children's play areas or environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands. Plastic bags and trash cans should be provided for easy waste disposal.

Most importantly, the off-leash area should only be used for that purpose. And it's important that the site isn't already being used - even unofficially - for something else. If the park's current visitors are already using the site for, say, touch football games or neighborhood picnics, there will be resentment of the new off-leash use.

A misconception about off-leash areas is that if they're available, dog owners will be more likely to abide by leash laws in other park areas. Not so, parks officials found. If anything, providing off-leash areas gives many dog owners a sense of entitlement to let their dogs off leash wherever they want.

If that holds true here, parks officials should step up enforcement of park leash laws. There are already too many dogs running off leash in Tacoma's parks, posing a danger to children, wildlife and smaller, restrained dogs.

Metro Parks is right to give off-leash areas a chance. If they don't work out and have to be discontinued, dog owners will only have themselves to blame.

May 18, 2001

Council amends code to permit dog parks but hasn't picked a site yet
Martha Modeen, The News Tribune

Tacoma officials Tuesday night amended the city's municipal code to allow for off-leash dog parks within the city.

Led by council member Doug Miller, the City Council voted unanimously to relax the city's leash laws, which required dogs to be leashed at all times within the city. Miller, who also is a former parks commissioner, said he wanted to provide residents with more recreation options.

City officials have not yet identified a park or a specific site for off-leash areas. Dog owners still would be required to clean up after their dogs.

May 16, 2001

Council to discuss revamping leash law to let dogs run in some areas
Martha Modeen, The News Tribune

The Tacoma City Council may rewrite an existing city law to allow dogs to run in special off-leash areas.

The change to the city's leash law would give Tacoma's nearly 15,000 registered dog owners legal options for allowing their dogs to run in wide-open spaces. Council members will take public comment today and will vote on the measure May 15.

A Metropolitan Park District citizens task force, in cooperation with the city, may consider a pilot park where dogs could run. Dog owners, officials note, would still be obligated to clean up after their dogs in the designated off-leash areas.

Today's council meeting begins at 5 p.m. in council chambers, 747 Market St.

May 08, 2001