Millbrae Dog Park

This petition, supported by the undersigned constituents, is directed to Mayor Daniel F.Quigg, Millbrae City Council, the community of Green Hills, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Its goal is to support the designation and construction of an enclosed dog park with transition areas between Green Hills Park and the Church of Jesus Christ LDS at 245 Ludeman Lane.

We, the undersigned constituents of Millbrae, San Bruno, and San Mateo respectfully urge you to authorize the funding required to establish an off-leash dog park to be created at the location described above.

In creating a dog park, we hope to accomplish multiple goals:

1. To establish a fenced in, off-leash dog park where well-behaved canine can exercise in a clean, safe environment without endangering or annoying people, property, or wildlife.

2. To develop a beautiful, well-maintained space, open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park's rules and restrictions.

3. To view this park as a community project, in partnership with the City of Millbrae, designed to satisfy the needs of dog-owners and non-dog owners alike.

The proposed dog park will include a double gated entry to prevent dogs from bolting, maintenance entry, lighting, decomposed granite pathways, plant material, garbage cans, bag stations, benches, human & dog water fountain(s), and signage so that this park can be constructed as quickly as possible. The design of the park will house two separate fenced in sections within one large cordon off location. One section would be utilized for large/medium dogs and the other for small and shy dogs.

Unfortunately, no off-leash dog parks currently exist in the vicinity of the aforementioned community. Just as other taxpayers enjoy convenient public skate park, jogging trails, exercise equipment and playgrounds, dog owners need a place to exercise and enjoy their pets in an off-leash environment. Further, such a park will benefit the greater community in the following ways.

1) Most dogs require exercise that leashes restrictions do not permit. The cardiovascular benefit provided by healthy play with other dogs is great for dogs longevity and weight control. Dogs are social animals whose mental health is improved by interaction with other canines. Happy, healthy dogs are calmer and better behaved, reducing nuisance barking and other annoying behaviors exhibited by unexercised canines.

2) Such a facility would increase general park utilization and build bonds within the human community.

3) A dog park would provide a logical location for the City of Millbrae to provide low cost and/or free mobile spay/neuter vans and vaccinations. The park could also act as a venue for the County of San Mateo Department of Animal Care and Control to stage pet adoptions and educational programs promoting an improved quality of life for all of our community dogs. The park will provide license revenue for the county, which will also assist with the overall master plan of assuring that community dogs are vaccinated and altered.

4) Dog park patrons tend to be people who appreciate the park and take an "ownership interest" in it. As a result, they keep the area free of criminal activities and other bad elements.

5) Park patrons want to ensure a clean park for all the dogs attending. Feces pick-up and disposal is an integral part of retaining a clean park. A visit to any dog park will verify this observation. Owners watch for and pick up their animals feces, and when a dog defecates, other patrons assume that the dog owner simply did not notice and gently remind the owner to pick up the feces and throw it away.

6) Those who care enough to attend dog parks are usually registered voters, educated, somewhat affluent people, very attractive to local businesses. Such citizens attract others like themselves to live in the area, continuing the trend to increase revenues to local business and to the tax base.

7) Once the off-leash park is constructed, a core group of community activists which will be responsible for the parks continued maintenance (e.g. organized, periodic, cleanup efforts).

Again, we would appreciate your consideration in constructing an enclosed off-leash dog park at the far north end of Green Hills Park.