From: Caroline Buck
To: City Council
Subject: Public Comment - Linda Dog Park Closure
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 12:45:30 PM
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Dear Piedmont City Council Members,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent decision to close our local dog park. This space has been a vital community resource, and I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision for the following reasons:
Community Impact and Well-being The dog park serves as more than just a recreational space for pets. It functions as a crucial community hub where residents connect, build relationships, and foster a sense of neighborhood belonging. In a time when community connections are increasingly valuable, removing this gathering space diminishes our collective quality of life.
Canine Health and Safety Concerns Dog socialization is not merely a luxury but a necessity for raising well-adjusted, friendly pets. Regular socialization in a controlled environment:
Reduces aggression and problem behaviors
Improves dogs' ability to interact safely with strangers Provides essential physical and mental stimulation for pet health Inadequate Alternatives The other off-leash areas in Piedmont, particularly the one off Moraga, are fundamentally inadequate replacements. This area functions merely as a dog run and poses significant safety concerns due to its proximity to traffic. It lacks the social infrastructure that makes our current dog park so valuable.
Unintended Consequences Closing the official dog park will not eliminate the need for off-leash exercise. Instead, it will likely result in:
Increased off-leash activity in undesignated areas
Dogs being let loose in private yards and public spaces not designed for this purpose
Greater potential for conflicts between dogs, pedestrians, and other park users Risk Management Perspective If soil erosion is the primary concern, this presents different levels of risk to humans versus dogs. Rather than closing the park entirely, why not clearly post information about these conditions and allow pet owners to make informed decisions? This approach respects community members' ability to assess risk appropriately.
Community-Based Solutions If maintenance costs are driving this decision, I strongly encourage the Council to explore community partnerships before closure.
Many dedicated park users would gladly:
Participate in fundraising efforts
Volunteer for park maintenance
Form a "Friends of the Dog Park" group to assist with upkeep Investment in Community Infrastructure Maintaining the dog park represents an investment in our community's quality of life. The relatively modest cost of maintaining this space yields significant returns in community well-being, public safety, and neighborhood cohesion.
I respectfully request that the Council reconsider this decision and engage with community members to explore sustainable solutions for preserving this valuable community resource.
Sincerely,
Caroline
--
Caroline A. Buck
From: cassie love
To: City Council
Subject: UPSET about dog park possible closure
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 2:06:37 PM
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Hello Community members,
I was greatly dismayed as I walked by the
Linda Dog Park to hear it might be
closing!!
This is a vital park for the neighborhood
and for dogs who are restricted to having a
leash in life except brief moments of
pleasure with some freedom and essential
socialization.
It is also where people meet each other
with common love of their fur babies and
some rare social time in a stressful busy
world.
Especially now , with so many things
Americans care about , a city like
Piedmont can totally put this as a top
priority and do what it takes to keep this
park open.
My kids went to school at Beach School
and we didn't even own dogs but we went
often to visit friends with their dogs or
when walking with neighbors with their
dogs I found myself there quite a lot. After
all the company of dogs is one of the
purest forms of love you can receive.
I find it cruel and unbelievable that the city
would not understand the great
importance for the mental health of the
dogs as well as the dog owners to have a
place like this , and a safe spot.
With the current stress in the world and
uncertainty , we really must keep a
civilized society ,including our beloved
dogs get the opportunity to have a quality
of life that is really not too much to ask for.
I am sure there are some very wealth
Piedmont folks that want to show their
generosity and make sure we can keep
this park open.
Thanks so much, this is my first time ever
writing to a City Council , but I am
speaking up because I think this is super
important , and my dog Raisin was the
love I received as a child and I say hi to
every dog I see. I love animals so much ,
and would hope the people in charge of
important decisions like this , also are
caring loving people that do the right thing
in life.
Thanks so much.
Cassia Leet
(and my adult sons who grew up in
Piedmont : Tiger and Reilly Leet ) and
everyone I know also loves this park and
wants it to stay available .
From: Cynthia Romer
To: City Council
Subject: Linda Off-leash Dog Park
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025 4:51:24 PM
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I understand the reason for wanting to close the park, but I would like to propose a compromise. This park is unique due to the cross section of people who use the park and intermingle there with their dogs.
It is a wonderful mixture of older and younger people that are not found at the other parks.
Would it be possible to close off part of the park so the slope could be dealt with but keep the upper area of the park open? People would still be able to visit. The dogs could intermingle and the slope could still be rehabilitated. See sketch attached.
Thank you for your time.
Cynthia Romer
Sent from my iPhone
From: Didi Maibach
To: City Council
Subject: Public comment
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 9:55:02 AM
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Please don't close the Linda Ave off leash dog park! This is one of the few dog parks where we can take our dog to safely socialize and get his energy out. The other parks are either too bare or empty. There's also no other good use of this space, so why take it away? From: Evangeline Lowrey
To: City Council
Subject: Public comment
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 8:32:52 AM
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Please don't close the Linda street dog park. It is a space used by many in the community to build community. Many citizens of Piedmont have dogs, including some elderly and disabled people, and we need a neighborhood spot to exercise and socialize our dogs. I cannot get rid of my dog if the dog park close to where I live closes. We understand and have accepted the winter closures. Please continue to keep it open in the dry months Thank you,
Evangeline
From: Joanne Heath
To: City Council
Subject: Linda off-leash dog area
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 8:05:15 AM
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Dear City Council,
The other day I walked by the dog area on Linda and noticed the significant erosion that has taken place because of dog use. Having a BS in Forestry from Berkeley, I know what this erosion and environmental deterioration can do to the trees and vegetation. I was happy to see that the area had been closed. I am in favor of a permanent closure of the Linda off-leash dog area so it can be revitalized and saved.
I hope the other off-leash dog areas will be carefully monitored so the same significant damage will not occur there as well.
Thank you,
Joanne Heath
From: Juanita Gerber
To: City Council
Subject: Linda Dog Park
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 2:14:57 PM
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Please don’t close the Linda Dog Park, we use it regularly along with many of our neighbors to give our dogs access to local off leash areas.
It would be a huge loss to our community for this park to go away.
Thank you,
Lauren Gerber, Juanita
Gerber
From: julie caskey
To: City Council
Cc: gsb,g2,gwork,Banana,g
Subject: Linda Dog Park
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 6:48:40 AM
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Hello from dog loving lower Piedmont family -
We just received your letter about the potential closure of the very popular Linda Off-leash Dog Area at tonight’s meeting. We will be away and cannot attend - also, this is not much community notice.
We use this dog area daily - when open - and our active terrier, Latke, never fails to ask to attend when we walk by even when we do not have time. It is a very well-used and important communal area for those of us who live in lower Piedmont and always has friendly dogs and owners in it. Also, we would like to point out that none of the other dog parks in Piedmont are walking distance from this part of town, which has limited access to any of Piedmont’s lovely parks.
Please consider using fencing to prohibit access to the parts of the park where soil erosion and safety is a concern, rather than eliminating a resource that is well-used and good for our end of town.
In the alternative, please consider fencing in and using the space across the walkway and closer to Olive for an offleash parks for dogs. This resource is ALWAYS in use - which a simple community survey would show.
The closest dog park on your list is a long enough walk that it would limit most owners’ ability to spend any time *in* the park with their after walking there - since the walk alone takes approximately the amount of time most owners have to walk their dog.
Thanks for your consideration.
The Kra-Caskey family
Julie Caskey
Sent from my iPad
From: Lauren Gerber
To: City Council
Subject: Public Comment
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 12:22:44 PM
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Please don’t close the Linda Dog Park, we use it regularly along with many of our neighbors to give our dogs access to local off leash areas.
It would be a huge loss to our community for this park to go away.
Thank you,
Lauren Gerber, Kingston Avenue
From: Leila Hebshi
To: City Council
Subject: Thank you for planning to close the Linda dog park Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025 6:43:57 PM
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Dear City Councilmembers,
I wholeheartedly applaud your decision to close the Linda dog park. It is both an environmental mess and a tricky place to enjoy the dogs (the design seems to amp up the dogs' level of aggression, in our family's experience). I hope you are able to repatriate/reforest the land to provide a more robust environmental buffer and a peaceful space that everyone can enjoy.
Thank you!
Leila Hebshi (Greenbank Ave)
From: Lily Hak
To: City Council
Subject: Public Comment - LINDA AVE DOG PARK
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 10:20:43 AM
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Hello,
I am a resident of Linda Ave and a fellow dog parent. I am AGAINST the closure of Linda Ave Dog Park. Linda Ave Dog Park is a small and intimate dog park unlike the others.
It is also in close proximity to the senior center homes. Majority of the attendees of Linda Dog PArk are Senior citizens with their dogs.
This promotes health and routine for our senior citizens.
Another point is that dog parks are a community building factor. We meet with our fellow neighbors while tiring out our energetic dogs. It is a win-win situation.
Piedmont ave does NOT have an alternative location. This will lead to more off leashed dogs in UNPERMITTED areas. Which poses a danger to both dogs and other residents.
An area experiencing soil erosion doesn't post the same hazards to dogs, Why not state the risk and let others decide for themselves. If this is more about the upkeep and cost, why not let the community get involved and fundraise/volunteer to upkeep?
I take pride as a community member of Piedmont ave. I love the neighborhood and all their furry pals. Do not shut down Linda Ave Dog Park.
From: Laura Curtis
To: City Council
Subject: Linda
Date: Monday, April 07, 2025 4:14:50 PM
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As someone who has spent many happy hours at the off-leash park, not just playing with my dog, but also meeting neighbors and friends, I hope a solution can be found. Perhaps fencing off the lowest part, which seems like the steepest, would work as a compromise?
Linda Park is one of the spaces that allows people to gather and chat and get to know each other, in addition to giving dogs a little space to roam off-leash and fenced off from anyone who would rather not be around off-leash dogs.
Laura Curtis
From: Margaret Ovenden
To: City Council
Subject: Linda Dog Park
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025 1:36:52 PM
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April 6, 2025
Dear Council,
Regarding Agenda Item 6, permanent closure of the Linda Dog Park, I am writing to encourage you to instruct staff to begin a process of seeking another site for a fenced-in dog park in Piedmont. This could either be in one of the current off-leash areas or some yet-to-be identified location.
As a senior who recently adopted a puppy to help me keep up my health through regular exercise, I have been eagerly awaiting the re-opening of the Linda Dog Park, since our puppy doesn’t yet have reliable recall and isn’t safe in the non-fenced off-leash areas.
Instead of being able to let him play off-leash with other dogs at a park close to our home, I’m having to drive him daily to fenced dog parks in Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley.
Reading the staff report, I agree that the best option for this particular piece of land is Option 1 – not because it’s likely that dog feces is entering our stormwater runoff, since the majority of dog owners responsibly pick up after their dogs, but because of the soil that is being washed into the storm drains. Because of the slope and its proximity to the stormwater system, this is simply not a good area for heavy dog traffic.
But Piedmont should have a fenced off-leash dog park somewhere. I know that Blair Park is still a sensitive topic, plus that it is being considered for housing to meet our housing requirements, but it shouldn’t be too hard to fence off a portion of it. As it’s currently configured, only the best-trained dogs can safely use it without the risk of straying into the fast and constant traffic on Moraga. Or might there be a way to install fencing at the bottom of the Bushy Dell Creek, before the softball field?
Thanks for your consideration of this request,
Margaret Ovenden
From: Marie-Noelle Bliss
To: City Council
Subject: Linda off-leash dog area.
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025 12:37:59 PM
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I recommend to end permanently the use of the space for off-leash dogs.
The degradation of the hillside is worsening year after year.
I live on Kingston and like going to the Rose Garden with friends, using the dog path. Sometimes, when it is hot in the summer, the smell of dogs droppings is very unpleasant….
A new landscaping will beautify this part of “lower” Piedmont and make it attractive for new residents! Sent from my iPhone
From: Nick Goyhenetche
To: City Council
Subject: Save Linda Park!!!
Date: Monday, April 07, 2025 4:25:24 PM
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To Piedmont city council,
Please do not take Linda park away from us. The thought of losing such a valuable community resource is very stressful. We're all stressed, we need ways to lower stress and this one is important.
I'm confused as to why some are so hell bent to shutdown this valuable resource. We need more community connection, more dog walking, more small talk with neighbors.
So it's a little steep, so it gets muddy SO WHAT??? Bubble wrap everything? Come on, let us have our dog park. Please don't remove a park that serves us because it's far from you. That's rude.
Please stop shutting down the park every time there is a small drizzle. Sign: USE AT OWN RISK. We can handle this people!!!
I love this park! Don't take it away from me and my neighbors! How dare you even suggest it!!!
Thank you for not making life harder than it has to be.
Best,
Nick Goyhenetche and Bernie Sanders the dog (Dog mom Zelda) From: rokoka
To: City Council
Subject: Save Linda Dog Park!
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 1:17:30 PM
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Linda Dog Park is a valued community asset, a place for dogs to become well socialized and for neighbors to be in conversation with one another. The other off leash areas in Piedmont do not have areas for people and dogs to socialize. The one on Moraga is essentially a dog running actually quite unsafe. If they close this Dog Park people will allow their dogs off leash and unenclosed areas nearby, including yards and other areas not designated for dogs therefore, finally an area experiencing soil erosion doesn’t pose the same hazards to dogs why not just state those risks and let people decide for themselves? An investment in the Dog Park is an investment in the whole community!
Roko Kawai
Do all you can, with what you have, in the time you have, in the place where you are. --- Nkosi Johnson
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--- says my cat boo