Dogs just want to have fun – and there’s not much more fun than being off leash in a big park. Well, at least for dogs, as this trio makes clear. The city is testing the idea at Orinda Oaks to see if doggie pleasure is worth the investment of time and money the project would require.
As spring rolls into summer, local dog owners are bringing their furry friends to Orinda Oaks Park, where the Orinda Parks and Recreation Department is testing a new addition to the park: an off-leash dog area.
It’s an option that the community has been interested in for a while, one that’s appeared on multiple city Capital Improvement Program unfunded lists.
A pilot program finally launched in April in the unfenced Orinda Oaks Park – which is the sticking point for its eventual development. Neighbors and dog owners agree a fence is a necessity, but reports on the estimated cost came in at around $400,000.
“Those reports were a little bit of a sticker shock,” said Orinda Mayor Latika Malkani, “but not surprising. It does take a lot of funding to build these amenities in a community.”
On the other hand, Orinda Oaks – at 485 Moraga Way between Valley View and Hall Drives – already features amenities and facilities, such as a parking lot, restrooms, water fountains, a dog waste bag station, and more.
The council plans to monitor use, issues and trends associated with the pilot program, and decide whether to continue or stop the program accordingly.
“The intent was to keep it up and running at least through the summer,” said Director of Orinda Parks & Recreation Dept., Todd Trimble, based on a recommendation by the City Council.
Residents also have the chance to tell the city exactly how they feel about the new recreation option. Following the program’s launch, a short survey was posted online and throughout the park on flyers with a scannable QR code.
So far, survey responses have shown a generally positive reception from the community, with the lack of a fence around the area being the main concern.
Malkani said that residents’ desire for a designated off-leash dog area has been a frequent topic over the years, “which is why it’s been placed on the list of things that we would like to provide for our residents, to the extent we can.”
Orinda resident and Parks & Recreation Commission Chair Laura Riley echoed Malkani, saying residents have shown interest in an off-leash dog area for years.
“It’s a lovely place to be. It’s clean,” said Riley, of the new addition.
And surprisingly, insurance is not a concern. Since the pilot off-leash location is considered open space, the city’s insurance provider has advised that, from a risk management perspective, allowing unleashed dogs in the unfenced area should be appropriate.
A location farther up the trail head, initially considered by city staff, presented accessibility issues, carrying a projected cost of $775,000.
There have been previous issues with dogs in other areas across the city where they aren’t allowed, such as synthetic turf fields and playgrounds, Trimble said.
He said although there will still be people bringing their dogs wherever they like, with the pilot program, “We have a place where you can actually go do it in an appropriate venue, where it’s allowed.”
Malkani said although a lack of funding means no fenced-in dog park just yet, the city has done what it can with the resources it currently has.
“[The city] can do nothing until the funding is raised,” said Malkani. “Or we could look at, at least, an alternative way of having some off-leash hours.”
City staff plans to bring an update on how the pilot program fared to the Parks & Recreation Commission next summer. The survey is still accepting responses (surveymonkey.com/r/Off-leash_PilotProgram).
