He is right! It is like Groundhog Day over and over again

I thought I would share this letter that was printied in the "Walnut Creek Journal." This gentleman also sent the letter directly to WCDOG. He has really captured the issue in a nutshell.


Posted on Thu, Jun. 02, 2005

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Where is city's dog park?

To the City Council members:

I've been a homeowner in Walnut Creek for over 18 years and have enjoyed our city immensely. I've never contacted the City Council before but felt very much compelled to write to you after reading the May 19 Walnut Creek Journal article about the dog park (or lack of). Walnut Creek has done an extremely good job of infrastructure planning and implementation: renovated downtown area, equestrian park, free downtown shuttles, skate park, new memorial outside City Hall, renovated City Hall complex, etc. But where is our Walnut Creek city dog park? The citizens have been trying to get a dedicated dog park for years and years now -- only to get delay after delay and run-around after run-around. This whole dog park fiasco reminds me of my recent remodel, which spanned two years. The contractor would promise to show up and do some work only to not show up. After contacting them, they said they would send someone over to perform a job and "not to worry, we'll get it done very soon." Round and round after promise, hope and disappointment we've finally completed our remodel. I wish the same could be said of the completion of Walnut Creek's dedicated dog park. This whole process seems like Groundhog Day all over again.

The only current place in Walnut Creek where dogs can be off leash is at San Miguel Park -- and then only if they are gone before 9 a.m. Wow, that's really great. Weekdays before 9 a.m. are nearly impossible for most of us. The last thing many of us want to do on Saturday and Sunday mornings is to get up at 6 or 7 a.m. in order to get out of San Miguel Park by the 9 a.m. closing time. This is not a solution.

After reading the article in the Journal, I agree with the WC DOG organization that the PROS commission recommendations are woefully inadequate. We need at least one large-sized, full-time dog park with grass and trees. How about the ball field in Civic Park? I am sorely disappointed in the total lack of progress in getting a full-time dedicated dog park in Walnut Creek. I don't know where to turn or who to ask for help in turning our dog park into a reality sometime within my dogs' (and my) lifetimes. It seems that with all the accomplishments that you, the City Council, have achieved over the years with considerable energy, effort, persuasion, expenditures and influence, that building a dedicated dog park would have been a cinch.
I guess not. I guess I'll still be traveling to take my dogs to the dog parks of our neighbor cities. Thanks to their efforts, at least I can take my four-legged friends somewhere to play.

Don Dudan
Walnut Creek