Katy’s Civic Action Project

An attempt to get the San Marino city council to support the call for an off-leash dog area within the city limits

Katy B is a senior in my 2022 AP US Government class. For her required Civic Action Project, she tried to get the San Marino city council to support the call for an off-leash dog area within the city limits.

Below is a description of Katy’s civic actions.

First I researched the topic

To start things off, I went online to see if I could find a few off-leash dog areas within a half-hour drive of the city in which I live. The best one I could find was located in South Pasadena, five miles from my school.

It looks like this:

I then went to Yelp.com to learn what others had to say about this “dog park”.

• “Great little dog park with one side for big dogs and one side for little dogs.”
• “Very safe, well maintained/clean, has benches, canopy, water fountains, poop bags, leash holder, friendly people and open long hours.”
• “While there, my dog made new friends. I was so happy to see that the other owners were accepting. Such a great dog park!”

Next, I went in search of how much it would cost to create an off-the-leash dog park in San Marino. In this regard, I learned from a Wiki How To Do Anything article entitled Proposing a Community Dog Park to a City that:

“A 1 acre (4,000 m2) dog park can cost around $30,000 for fences, construction work, and amenities.”

I then found this very good 2:48 video entitled Dog Park Planning.

This video was produced by KorKat: A commercial playground equipment company based in Georgia.

I then found a very good 18:37 video entitled How to Write a Dog Park Business Plan.

This video was produced by Paul Borosky. Mr. Borosky is a professional writer with a Master’s in Business Administration, and in this video he takes you through the business plan writing process step by step, beginning with developing the executive summary to constructing a professional and polished Dog Park funding request.

I then searched for a video showing what the five best dog parks in America look like:

Then I took a second step

After thoroughly searching the internet for articles and videos on the topic of “dog parks” and “off-leash dog areas,” I produced a list of arguments that best support the call for the creation of an off-leash dog area.

• It would bring the community closer. The dogs there would assist their owners with everyday talks, outdoor group activities, and meeting new people.
• It would allow dogs to have some independence. Due to the possibility of property damage and attacks, city leash rules are becoming increasingly tight, thus dog parks allow puppies to run and roll around without being tethered. Puppy parks also keep four-legged pals safe from automobiles and busy sidewalks while providing ample off-leash exercise and social interaction.
• It would help to reduce dog misbehavior. Dogs can acquire nuisance behaviors such as excessive barking, continual rough play, restlessness, anxiety, leash tugging, and destructive tendencies if they are not given enough physical and mental activity ( pulling the couch apart, eating shoes or knocking food off counters and the table).
• It would leave homeowners happier and healthier. Adding a dog park to the city’s list of attractions would sure put a smile on the face of most of our town’s homeowners.
• It would be great for families. Having dog owners bring their puppies to the dog park is not only great for the dogs, but also for the whole family.

I then produced a list of the arguments in opposition to the call for an off-leash dog area.

• If the park isn’t fenced-off, there’s a chance your dog could run off and become lost or get hurt. These parks aren’t recommended.
• It can be a dangerous environment at times, as you may witness dog fights or have your dog preyed upon by more violent dogs
• Fear, hostility, and rough play might develop in your dog, and he may learn to ignore your directions.
• Diseases can be spread from one dog to the next.
• It’s also easy for the park’s soil to become poisoned if it’s a congested place or if it’s not well kept.

Then I took a third step

At this point in my Civic Action Project, I decided to answer the question of “where in San Marino do you think this off-leash dog area should be located?” After having given it much thought, I decided it should be located at Lacy Park.

Lacy Park “is a beautiful 30-acre park located in the center of San Marino between Virginia Road and St. Albans Road, and North of Monterey Road.

That’s as far as I got with my project.

Then I decided on what action I would take if given more time to work on this CAP

If given more time to work on my CAP, I would create a petition that would be given out to residents of San Marino asking if they believed that having an off-the-leash dog park at Lacy Park would be a great idea.

The petition would ask them to circle “yes,” “maybe,” or “no.” Then I would formally “pitch” my idea to the San Marino City Council.

I believe that I could really take this project to the next level if I had more time. The work that I have done is the foundational base and getting my idea out to the community and getting some feedback. Depending on how my idea receives good feedback or not then that’s where my next step can take place. I do believe that I have a good idea and was happy getting the chance to try to make a difference in my community

For those wanting to “take this to the next level,” first look over the City’s website.

Then “pitch” your idea to the mayor and city council members in what’s called “an open session.” For information on how to do that, contact Christina Baker.

Christina Baker
City Clerk
2200 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
cbaker@cityofsanmarino.org
P: (626) 300–0705
CityofSanMarino.org