Title
Receive Report on Harbor Bay Parkway Dog Park and Consider Recommendation for East End / Bay Farm Island Dog Park Location
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Receive Report on Harbor Bay Parkway Dog Park and Consider Recommendation for East End / Bay Farm Island Dog Park Location
BACKGROUND
The City Council approved $75,000 in the FY 2021-2022 budget to construct at least one dog park located in East End Alameda or Bay Farm Island. Existing dog park facilities in Alameda include one large dog park with separate small and large dog areas, located at Lower Washington Park off 8th Street and a dog park on Main Street near the ferry terminal. The Main Street Dog Park is temporary and will be closed once Phase 2 of Estuary Park is completed, which will include a new and better equipped dog park.
City staff reviewed multiple city-owned locations throughout East End and Bay Farm Island and considered criteria for feasibility including whether they were city-owned sites, existing park uses, available amenities and potential impacts on neighbors. The three potential locations presented in a community survey were the result of this research and included locations at Krusi Park, Towata Park and Leydecker Park (Exhibit 2). A city-wide community survey on this topic was completed by 1,637 people and taff also met directly with the Towata family and the Harbor Bay Isle Homeowners Association Executive Director. This survey is one data point of the total information available for the project location recommendation.
On December 9, 2021, the Recreation and Parks Commission reviewed the survey results, heard public comment and directed staff to bring back additional information on a fourth potential location on Harbor Bay Parkway that was originally suggested by a community member in the survey.
DISCUSSION
Exhibit 3 details a comparison of all four locations that have been proposed - Krusi Park, Towata Park, Leydecker Park and Harbor Bay Parkway.
Harbor Bay Parkway Site Details
The Harbor Bay Parkway site (Exhibit 1) is located in a business district unlike the three other proposed locations. Several nearby businesses were sent notices of this discussion. This location is beneficial in regards to less sound impacts on neighbors from barking dogs but is challenging because the distance to homes means that nearly all users will be required to drive to the dog park. The site is 17,500 square feet (similar size to Towata and Leydecker sites). There are existing restrooms and street parking is available on both sides of Harbor Bay Parkway and is there is generally available space. There is an adjacent bicycle/pedestrian trail that connects to residential via Maitland Road, Bay Edge Road, Mecartney Road or through the trails along the lagoons. There is ADA access from this trail. There are no existing mature trees for shade so funding for shade structures and/or planting trees would need to be included. The site currently is all open grass with some topography.
Challenges of this location
• This site is located within 100 feet of the shoreline and therefore will require a BCDC permit (SF Bay Conservation and Development Commission). This is a regional permit and city staff is awaiting a response from BCDC staff to determine if they would allow a dog park use within their jurisdiction. This permit process is manageable but will add time (approximately six months) and cost (several thousand dollars) to the project.
• It is likely that the large majority of people, it not all, will drive to this location since the closest homes are a half mile away and most homes on Bay Farm Island are approximately 1.5 - 2 miles from the site. Homes on the East End of Alameda are 4 - 5 miles from this site.
Positive aspects to this location
• There is an existing restroom.
• Given that there are not homes nearby and the nearest business is 175 feet away, noise from barking dogs is not anticipated to be an issue at this site.
• Plenty of available street parking
• Adds use to an area that is currently underutilized by the public other than people passing by on the adjacent trail. There are other open grass areas along this trail that are extensively used by the community.
Options and next steps
The Commission can recommend this location, one of the previous three locations or direct staff to review additional sites. All other potential sites have been reviewed and were included in the 12/09/21 Commission agenda. They were considered less ideal to factors such as no existing restroom or not being city-owned. However, it is feasible to consider a non-City owned site. It is unknown how much an annual lease would cost or whether that site would be developed or sold by the owner in the future. Further investigation would be required with the owners of any non-City owned sites.
The Commission’s recommendation will be brought to the City Council for final review and approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In the FY 2021-22 budget, there is $75,000 allocated toward design and construction of a dog park. Depending upon the size and scope of the facility, this will be enough for one dog park but will not be enough to construct two dog parks. If a second dog park is desired by the community, then additional fundraising will be required.
RECOMMENDATION
To receive a report on the Harbor Bay Parkway Dog Park and consider making a recommendation for an East End / Bay Farm Island Dog Park location.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Harbor Bay Parkway Dog Park Location and Information
2. Krusi, Towata, Leydecker Dog Park Locations
3. Potential Dog Park Location Comparisons
4. Public Written Comment