Anonymous
(stock photo)
Source: City of Santa Barbara
The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department opened a new off-leash dog area at MacKenzie Park today, Monday, June 24, 2019.
MacKenzie Park, at State and De La Vina Streets, was selected as the optimal Santa Barbara park location for an enclosed off-leash dog area through an extensive study and community engagement process. The park provides an area large enough for both large and small dog enclosures, is centrally located, and currently hosts canine training classes nearby.
“This is a new type of park space for Santa Barbara,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jill Zachary. “We are thrilled to be able to offer the off-leash dog area, and we have been very encouraged by the community’s enthusiasm for this project. We look forward to seeing many happy dogs taking advantage of their new favorite place for exercise and socialization.”
The half-acre area features two fully-fenced enclosures—one for small dogs under 20 pounds, and one for larger dogs. The off-leash dog area is located at the eastern end of the park, in an area that was previously underutilized. The addition of new benches, a drinking fountain, enhanced landscaping, and a new park plaza near the Calle Palo Colorado crosswalk are among the elements that comprise this first phase of improvements to be seen at MacKenzie Park. Further improvements to the park, including renovated restrooms and accessibility updates, will follow beginning later this year.
Funding for the off-leash dog area comes from the City’s General Fund.
The off-leash dog area is open 7:00 a.m. to sunset. Rules are posted on the enclosure fences, and the public is encouraged to take responsibility for their dogs and to take an active part in keeping this new community asset beautiful by cleaning up after pets and adhering to the posted regulations.
MacKenzie Park Off-Leash Dog Area Rules:
- Dogs must be leashed when outside the fenced off-leash area.
- Small dog area is intended for dogs under 20 pounds. Large dog area is for dogs over 20 pounds.
- Immediately pick up dog waste and deposit in trash.
- Fill or repair any holes dug.
- Keep dogs in sight and under voice control at all times.
- Current vaccinations, valid license, and official tag required.
- Maximum two dogs per person.
- Children under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
- Alcohol, food, and glass bottles not allowed.
Community members (and their dogs!) are invited to visit the newly-opened off-leash dog area beginning today, and all are invited to attend a grand opening ribbon-cutting event scheduled for July 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Questions about this project may be directed to City of Santa Barbara Capital Projects Supervisor George Thomson at (805) 560-5756 orGThomson@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
Animal Control will be going by checking to make sure you “paid the man” for having a dog… (license).
Definitely a stock photo, not the actual place. The actual place is pretty small. Like if I built a dog park in my yard, almost.
I hope the homeless don’t ruin it for everyone. That was their territory for a long time. During construction, they hung out around there, near the wall of the motel and then in the median where they panhandle.
In an area of this size, it’s more about the humans and dogs socializing than getting any exercise. It’s great for both species to get out and enjoy life. I’m glad there is a new option for legal off-leash. Thanks to those who worked hard to put this together.
It wasn’t a volunteer job. $700,000 of taxpayer money went towards this little park. Enjoy that
Let’s see if the dogs keep them away. That is what the city parks team thinks as I spoke to them about this. There is one vagrant in particular that contributes most of the litter in that area. He even tore down two metal signs that the hotel put on the wall so the vagrants wouldn’t sit there and litter amongst other things. He was gone for about a month and there wasn’t any trash. He came back and litter everywhere and sign destroyed.
My little dog loved it this afternoon! Because there was a tiny dachshund there and also because my 24-lb dog likes big dogs, we started with the big dogs. No one paid any attention to him, so we moved to the next door little dog enclosure where there were two others who loved to run —- and run, run, run they did! Hard to understand why it cost so much, but it is very, very nice to have! Thanks, Parks/Rec!!
ADAMVANT. Some day you’ll go far . . . And I hope you stay there.
Congratulations, Santa Barbara, on the opening of your 1/2 acre dog toilet.
I have never seen this happen, or heard of anyone who had to show their dog’s license while just out in public. AC Officers check licenses and rabies certificate if there is an incident. There are only a couple of animal control officers for the city; they work for the police department and are sworn officers who can do regular cop work if they are not called to an animal emergency; I’m pretty sure they don’t spend their time going around looking at dog licenses!
The only thing sneaky is requiring a new tax – Measure C – to provide city infrastructure improvements, instead of allocating this money up front and long term out of the regular operating revenues. The rest of the city revenues now go to back fill city employee pensions so all future infrastructure maintenance, repair and improvements will need to come from additional new taxes on city residents and property owners. This does pit tax paying residents against the many free loaders who come here to take from but not give anything back to the city revenue needs; and even worse structurally diminish city revenues such as the tourism taxes and downtown retail sales taxes. This is why it does matter who you vote for for city councils. Past city councils have set up this present system – so that it fall now on the residents to fund anything for themselves while the special interest groups backed by city employee unions take the lion’s share for themselves..
These type dog parks are great for the animals to get exercise; running with other dogs, chasing balls, the kind of freedom they don’t get when leash walked.
Let’s hope not! Sheesh!
More wags, less bark.
To get a city dog license, you pay a company in Texas.
Not sure why the city is supporting an out of area, let alone an out of state company. It seems like 1 or 2 city employees with a computer would be cheaper than the fees being paid to the Texas company.
So much for our city trying to help the economy and provide jobs here at home.
The City did it because it appeared they would save money that way. Who knows if that is still the case. If you ever have to deal with those Texans over a licensing problem, you will regret it. Let’s just say they are not very responsive.
what is your deal?