The Examiner reports today that dog owners who frequent the fenced off dog run in Golden Gate Park are frustrated by the lack of access during large events.
The popular 1.5 acre dog run is located just inside Golden Gate Park near Fulton and 38th Avenue.
A petition is circulating that asks for consideration for owners who are often the last to know about planned closures of the dog park. When large festivals like Outside Lands and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival roll into town, they often close off auto access at 39th Avenue, preventing owners from easily reaching the dog park. Other times, the entire dog park may be closed off with cyclone fencing.
The Examiner says about 75 people have signed the petition which calls for daily access to the dog park and advance notice to residents and dog owners if the area needs to be closed. “We request a copy of the San Francisco Master Calendar of Events resulting in all closures, north-south and east-west, specifying dates and times.”
Many professional dog walkers also use the space. One reviewer on dogster.com warns, “Caution – Can become dangerously crowded during the week, when all the pro dog walkers bring their dogs here.”
Do you take your dog to this park? If so, have you been frustrated by the closures? Let us know in the comments.
Sarah B.
I own two dogs, have lived in apartments very close to the park, and think that this is another example of the examiner over inflating non-issues. The park is a huge place with lots of open space for dogs to run around. I would rather that the city spend money on a plethora of more pressing things than organizing an effort to notify dog owners every time one of the parks is being used for a non-Canine activity.
Also- We should treasure our parks as a small sanctuary away from automobiles. If it is too inconvenient to walk a few blocks with your dog, luckily the beach is just right down the street as is the Persidio etc. I have friends who do this, and no offense to them, but it is amazing that professional dog walkers carry so much clout, yet do not pay any taxes at all and use our public space to do business. It doesn’t really bother me until people start demanding stuff like this.
“they often close off auto access at 39th Avenue, preventing owners from easily reaching the dog park.”
There should definitely be notices posted when they close it down, but if the lot were open, it’d no doubt be filled with people parking for the main event. Also, I disagree that it prevents people from reaching it, as there are access points from Fulton and 43rd.
I’m a runner, and I’m upset by it, too. The Park belongs to the entire city — and many weekends in the summer now, it is fenced off because of events — from Thursday through the weekend. SO we put up with the litter, the illegal parking, the noise, the trash, the peeing in our doorways — AND we have our beautiful Park made off-limits to us, too. I have news for the City — we’re not their whore.
As for dog owners — I’d feel a LOT more sympathetic if they’d follow the law: keep their dogs on the leash except at designated dog runs. Lots of the people who are complaining are probably “dog walkers” — who let 4, 5, 6 dogs at a time run off-leash and don’t give a damn about the rights or comfort of anyone else who lives int he ‘hood and wants to use the Park.
I have to agree with SFBorn. Understanding that this is definitely a dog-friendly city, dog owners must take more responsibility for following leash laws. Those of us who live in close proximity to amazing places such as GG Park, the beach, Land’s End, and Sutro Park shouldn’t have to suffer with wandering leashless dogs. I know many people who no longer go to Land’s End to hike because there are simply too many dogs off of leashes. I once saw a large dog nearly knock down a child. The leash laws are there for a reason. If you can’t follow them, take your animals somewhere else.
That dog run is dirty and the dog walkers that arrive with multiple dogs (10-12 dogs) are horrible.
This one lady is very nasty and she seems to hate what she’s doing.
The dogs are wandering around aimlessly. She has too many to watch over them. I feel sorry for those people that are paying this lady for dog walks. She’s horrible.
One visit to this place was enough.