From:
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: "Blue Sky: Dog Park"
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 10:29:30 PM
Dear City Council,
I hope this message finds you well.
My name is Aya Otsuka and I live near Central Park in San Mateo. I am reaching out to you as a member of our local community to propose the addition of a permanent dog park in San Mateo Central Park.
As you may know, San Mateo Central Park is a cherished space for residents to engage in outdoor activities, seasonal events and enjoy nature. However, many dog owners in our community, my family included, have expressed a strong desire for a safe and designated area where our furry friends can play, socialize, and exercise freely.
Here are some key benefits of having a dog park:
1. Promotes Community Engagement: A dog park would serve as a become a great meeting spot for dog owners and their furry friends, helping to build a stronger sense of community and encouraging social interaction among residents.
2. Enhances Dog Well-being: Dogs need regular exercise and socialization to stay happy and healthy. A dedicated dog park would offer a safe space for them to run, play, and make new doggy friends.
3. Supports Responsible Pet Ownership: A dog park would promote responsible pet ownership by highlighting the importance of regular exercise, socialization, and good behavior for dogs.
I believe that having a permanent dog park in San Mateo Central Park would be a huge benefit for our community. It would improve the quality of life for both residents and their pets. I'm kindly asking the city to consider this request in the upcoming Blue Sky meeting and make it a priority for all the dog owners who live near Central Park. My dog, Mochi, is looking forward to playing with her besties in the near future.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
WINTER FIELD
STATUS
THIS FIELD MAY BE CLOSED
DULTO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
SCLE THE OR CODE OR VASTY
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Otsuka Family
From:
To: Nicole Fernandez; City Council (San Mateo); PR Commission Mailbox Subject: Blue Sky: Dog Park
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 5:52:36 PM
Dear City Council,
My name is Melissa Gustavson and I live near Central Park in San Mateo. Please add making a permanent dog park to the main plans of Central Park to your agenda for this next year. It is necessary that Central Park has a permanent place for dogs and a well kept dog park. My dogs, Finn and Oreo, need the space as do many others. I also ask that in the interim you extend the baseball field hours to make it more usable and beneficial. I suggest 7:00 am- 11:00 am in the morning and 4:00 pm-6:00 pm in the evening, when baseball isn't in session, to accommodate the most people.
Please add the dog park to the Blue Sky meeting and make this a priority for the majority of the residents who live near Central Park. Just as the children of the Central Park area need and want a playground, there are just as many dog owners who wish the same for their dogs. Dogs need a place to run free and socialize as much, if not more so, than children. The current dog off-leash hours make it difficult for those who have to commute in the mornings and virtually impossible to exercise their dogs off leash after work hours due to no legal off leash hours currently.
The small DOLA temporary project at the kids train has been a great success and highly used. However, it has not been maintained and is much too small for large dogs. With that said, we have been very grateful and appreciative of the space and will continue to use it.
Having a permanent off leash dog area in Central Park will only make the park a more desirable destination and will bring more families and young people to the downtown area. This can only be a win-win situation for everyone.
I would highly recommend that the City Council and Parks and Recreation Department seriously consider adding a permanent dog off leash area to the Master Plan of the Central Park remodel. Dog owners make up a large contingent of those living around the Central Park area and should have as much input as the seniors and young families that live here.
Thank you,
Melissa Gustavson
Mom to Finn (5) and Oreo (10)
Sent from my iPhone
From:
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Cc: PR Commission Mailbox
Subject: Blue Sky: Dog Park Needed in Central Park
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 7:04:52 PM
To all members of our San Mateo City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission:
My family and I have lived in San Mateo since 1989. During this time we have enjoyed 3 labradors. The first and second were able to enjoy the school athletic fields which at that time were open to the community. It was a wonderful coming together of neighbors, children on bikes, dogs playing freely. All was great until one lawsuit due to a mishap with one dog caused the school district to close all campuses to dogs. So the city built the Ryder Park dog park. Unfortunately, with it's granite paths and no grass, it is very difficult for many dogs to enjoy it. My current dog for one cannot walk or play there without injuring his paws.
We have enjoyed the field at Central Park for some time, and the dog owners we have encountered have been friendly and very respectful of the park rules. Unfortunately, the time allowed on the field has been very restricted, and often we find the entry gates locked.
While the small area provided for dogs was well intended, it is too small for larger dogs to get in a good run and play time.
We are all hoping the committee planning the changes at Central Park will provide a good size dog park so neighbors and friends of San Mateo can continue to meet and socialize with one another. It would be a wonderful asset to the park and, of course, would encourage a much needed sense of community.
In the interim, we hope too that you will consider expanding the hours at the baseball field from 9 am to 1pm and possibly 4:30 p.m 7:00 pm. We realize baseball games and other events may require no dog access, which everyone understands and respects.
It does seem to work out ok at the baseball field located at Washington Park, and they actually do have an off leash unfenced area dedicated for dog owners to exercise their dogs within the park.
Thank you for your consideration. It is very appreciated Carol
Sent from my iPhone
From: Martin McTaggart
To: Christina Horrisberger; Joanne Magrini
Subject: FW: Dog play area in central park
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 20258:10:52 AM
Hi Christina,
The below email from Mark should be considered Public Comment for the Blue Sky meeting, please add as an attachment to the agenda item.
Best wishes,
Martin
From:
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 10:44 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo) <[email protected]> Cc: PR Commission Mailbox <[email protected]>; Parks and Recreation <[email protected]>
Subject: Dog play area in central park
Dear City Council,
My name is Mark Keller and I live downtown San Mateo with my dog, Sophie. Please add making a permanent dog park to the main plans of Central Park to your agenda for this next year. It is necessary that Central Park has a ermanent and a well maintained dog area in it. I attached a picture of her to the email! I can't tell you how important the dog owner group members have been for my Sophie to develop healthy habits, she was simply afraid of most other dogs so she lashed out as a defense mechanism. If it was not for the other dogs of our city she would still be barking at every single one of them as they walk, Regular socialization and exercise is critical for them, but we cannot do this without a permanent dog park.
Please add the dog park to the Blue Sky meeting and make this a priority for the majority of the residents who live near Central Park.
We hope to see you around,
Sophia and Mark Keller
From:
To: City Council (San Mateo); PR Commission Mailbox; Parks and Recreation Subject: Urgent Need for Dog Park in Central Park
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 3:58:16 PM
Dear City Council,
My name is Frank G. Garritano, MD, and I am a resident of San Mateo, living directly across the street from Central Park. I am writing to you today to express my strong support for the creation of a permanent, designated dog park within the Central Park walking area.
As a practicing surgeon, as an active member of our community serving on several non- profit boards, and as a dog owner myself, I understand firsthand the vital role that parks play in the well-being of our residents and their pets. My dog, Cooper, like many others in the neighborhood, would greatly benefit from a safe and dedicated space to exercise and socialize.
The need for a dog park in this area is particularly pressing given the city's forward-looking housing plans. The anticipated increase in density within this urban corridor will only amplify the demand for accessible green spaces, especially for dog owners. Providing a dedicated dog park now will proactively address the future needs of our growing community.
I am aware of the current discussions surrounding the use of the DOLA field and the challenges related to its upkeep and accessibility. I share the concerns of my neighbors regarding the lack of communication and clarity on this issue. I urge the City Council to prioritize resolving these issues and to work towards a solution that benefits all park users.
Specifically, I request that the City Council:
* Place the establishment of a permanent dog park in Central Park on the "Blue Sky" priority agenda for the upcoming meeting. This project is essential for the long-term health and vibrancy of our community.
* In the interim, while the permanent dog park is being developed, consider extending the baseball field hours.
This would provide some additional space for residents and their dogs to utilize the park. I am open to discussing specific timeframes and usage guidelines that would accommodate the needs of all community members.
I believe that a well-maintained dog park in Central Park is not just a desirable amenity, but a necessity for our community. It will enhance the quality of life for residents, promote responsible pet ownership, and contribute to the overall livability of our neighborhood.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
Frank G. Garritano, MD
From: Martin McTaggart
To: Christina Horrisberger
Cc: Joanne Magrini
Subject: FW: Blue Sky: Dog Park
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025 9:22:26 AM
From:
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 9:21 AM
To: City Council (San Mateo) <[email protected]>; PR Commission Mailbox <[email protected]>; Parks and Recreation <[email protected]>
Subject: Blue Sky: Dog Park
Dear City Council,
My name is Alanna and I live near Central Park in San Mateo. Please add making a permanent dog park to the main plans of Central Park to your agenda for this next year. It is necessary that Central Park has a permanent place for dogs and a well kept dog park. My dog, Roxie, needs the space as do many others. I also ask that in the interim you extend the baseball field hours to make it more usable and beneficial.
Please add the dog park to the Blue Sky meeting and make this a priority for the majority of the residents who live near Central Park.
Thank you,
Alanna Dubrovsky