New dog parks: The dogs are lovin' it New dog parks: The dogs are lovin' it (August 24, 2005)

** Some neighbors, though, complain of noise, off-hours use.

By Molly Tanenbaum

Special to the Almanac

Since their March opening, the fenced-in dog-run areas at Nealon and Willow Oaks parks have been putting a new wag in many tails.

But while canines and their owners have enjoyed the summer months outdoors, some Nealon and Willow Oaks neighbors are troubled by noise and off-hours violations.

During the hours when dogs can run off-leash in the fenced-in areas, some 20 dogs, including a growing core of regulars, romp, wrestle, and chase balls while their owners socialize.

The off-leash dog-run areas were created by the city after months of debate, when some residents of the affected neighborhoods voiced concerns about noise and possible dangers to children.
Park buddies

Bill Eisensee and his dog, Buddy, come to Nealon Park for exercise every morning without fail. "This is the best park around!" Mr. Eisensee said.

Users of both parks would like to see expanded hours. Dogs can run free at Nealon Monday through Friday, from 8 to 10 a.m., and at Willow Oaks every day, from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. until dusk.

But mainly, dog owners are happy to have off-leash parks in Menlo Park.

"I think everyone who uses it enjoys it tremendously," said Prue Cleary, visitor to Nealon with her German shepherd, Fallon.

However, some park neighbors have spotted dogs and owners using the park off-hours. Willow Oaks neighbors posted a sign on July 28 asking dog owners to keep noise levels down. The sign, which didn't include the names of its creator, disappeared the next day.

A Nealon neighbor e-mailed City Council with concerns about off-leash dogs near the playground.

"Dog owners have been using the unfenced grass area outside the baby/toddler play area," the e-mail read. "We need your help before one of our children get[s] hurt."

Several pet owners admitted that they have visited both parks during off-hours.

Park neighbors Bill and Chris Ziegler have also noticed these violations at Willow Oaks and have been alerting the police. At a police officer's recommendation, they began writing a log of violations, and observed 16 within a five-day period.
Noisy gate

The noise from the Willow Oaks dog park gate, which sits several feet from the Zieglers' back yard, often wakes up the couple early in the morning. "This morning, there was a guy throwing a ball to his dog at 6:23 a.m. Yesterday, it was 6:03," Mr. Ziegler said.

The police department, however, reports relatively few calls since the parks opened: According to police department communications dispatch supervisor Jan Lanier, there have been 11 from Nealon and six from Willow Oaks.

Code enforcement officers and Bob Roessler, community services manager, also have been checking up on both parks daily to make sure that residents abide by the posted rules.

"I haven't received [a complaint] probably since the inception in mid-March so it's been quite some time," Mr. Roessler said. "So far, so good."

Park users say they're doing their part to keep the park quiet and dog-pile free. "We're good at picking up after our dogs and even after other dogs. We're self-policing," said Dan Fowler, who often comes to Willow Oaks with his sheltie, Buddy.

"I think the experiment has worked," said Richard Van Horn, who brings his dog, Hobbes, to Willow Oaks.

But the Zieglers see room for improvement at the Willow Oaks dog park. The couple hopes the gate could be moved to the other side of the park, where its noise would not carry into their yard.

Moving the gate closer to the children's playground could also benefit parents who bring their children and their dog to the park, said Mr. Van Horn.

"The entrance is far away from where kids are," he said. "I can't hop a 4-foot fence if I needed to get to my kids."

But, having an entrance close to the playground might present a safety problem, said Mr. Roessler. "The location of it now is deemed not the perfect location, but the most safe in terms of keeping it away from passersby who aren't with dogs," he said.

"If we move [the gate] because one person wants to have it moved, we have to factor everything in before we make that decision."

The City Council has not yet decided when to review the dog park issue, Mr. Roessler said.
INFORMATION

The off-leash hours are 8 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday at Nealon Park, 800 Middle Ave. near University Drive; and from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to dusk at Willow Oaks Park on Willow Road at Coleman Avenue.

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