LAKEPORT — Man”s best friend is finding more places around Lake County to roam at public parks. For the continued privilege, authorities ask only that owners clean up after their dogs, and in most cases, keep them on leashes.
The two-acre dog park at Lakeside Community Park on Westside Park Road in Lakeport is the latest example. The park sports a lush, green lawn enclosed in a 5-foot chain link fence. At one end is a baggie dispenser and trash receptacle to make it easy for owners to clean up after their dogs. No leashes are required once the dogs are inside the fence unless a dog becomes antagonistic.
“Dogs should get along with dogs. If only people could do the same thing,” said Ron Raetz, chairman of the park”s committee. “All we need to do now is rototill it again, put the sprinkler systems in, and then we have a big picnic bench that”s been donated by John Marino that we will put in here.”
The dog park is the latest addition to the community park, which is now in its second of five phases after 12 years of development. The dog park has been open for six months, but Raetz said the final touches are expected by the time summer arrives.
A new playground structure was installed at Library Park during the winter, and pieces of the old playground equipment including a small bridge and tubing the dogs can use will be installed for play. Three small oak trees and a plum tree grow on the property, which is owned by the city and on loan to the park committee.
“There aren”t many dog parks in Northern California,” Raetz said.
Raetz has been involved with the Westside Community Park committee since 2000. He said the city of Lakeport has supported the park”s overall development, and pressure to open a dog park in the city came from the community through Public Works Department Director Doug Grider.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance that will make six dog parks available throughout the unincorporated areas of the county on March 5, according to Lake County Public Services Director Kim Clymire.
Designated dog areas are already available at Middletown County Park and at Lakeside County Park. Additional dog parks will open at Lucerne Harbor Park, Keeling Park, Clearlake Oaks Park and Nice”s Hammond Park, which is currently being developed.
“This is a trial ordinance. If it works we will continue to support it. If they”re off of leashes — the dogs have to be licensed dogs and they have to be on leashes ? and if people are not cleaning up after them and are disturbing the enjoyment of the other patrons, we will have to go back to the board and prohibit it. We hope that won”t happen,” Clymire said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
