2015 | Dog Park Proposal
With several improvements to park amenities the last five years, and the resulting increased usage of the park, the issue of off-leash dogs and conflicts with leashed dogs and park visitors became more common. In January 2015, a group of Brentwood and Crestview neighbors formed a FOBP sub-committee called Friends of Brentwood Dogs. Their goal was to evaluate the possibility of creating an official off-leash dog area at Brentwood Park.
The subcommittee drafted a neighborhood survey to gather information and evaluate the neighborhood sentiment and support for such an initiative. The survey was open to neighbors for two months and a presentation and proposal was drafted to summarize the results. Raw survey data was shared as well though personal identifying information was removed.
There was an overwhelming reaction to the dog park survey, and over 750 people responded and hundreds of comments were included. Generally, the survey results were supportive of a fenced off-leash dog park at Brentwood Park. The sub-committee had more work ahead of them as they continued to evaluate the feasibility. To aid their efforts, the subcommittee used the city’s Off Leash Advisory Committee Guidelines for Off Leash Parks documentation of Off Leash Area Policy. The survey results presentation was shared with Brentwood Elementary school and the neighborhood associations to provide opportunity for additional stakeholder input.
The Friends of Brentwood Dogs sub-committee had a meeting with the Parks and Recreation Department in spring of 2015. Afterwards, the sub-committee decided to step back from the off-leash dog park initiative because PARD said they were not interested in supporting an off-leash area at this particular park. Without PARD's support, and given the concerns expressed by many neighbors, the sub-committee did not think it would be productive to continue pursuing the project.
Today, Brentwood Park rules remain the same and state that all dogs must be on-leash.
