Barks and Recreation : Dog Playground Project Extended; 2 New Exercise Areas OKd

The dogs won the latest battle Monday in a territorial war over a grassy, four-acre retreat that has become the first canine park in Los Angeles.

Despite complaints of unsanitary conditions--and a 35-pound bag of dog droppings that one protester presented to bolster her argument--the city Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners unanimously voted to extend an experimental project at Laurel Canyon Park that allows dogs to run free.

Exercise Areas

The commission also approved dog exercise areas in two other city parks.

City Councilman Mike Woo, whose district includes Laurel Canyon Park, urged commissioners to approve the new sites on 1.5-acre parcels of Woodley Park in Encino and in Griffith Park.

In a letter presented at Monday’s meeting, Woo said dog owners might be lured to the new areas, reducing the pet population at Laurel Canyon Park, located off Mulholland Drive south of Studio City, where the city established its popular pilot program one year ago.

The new dog parks, and the $50,000 needed to create them, must still win City Council approval. But James Hadaway, general manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks, predicted that the new areas will be open within 90 days.

Residents in the hills surrounding Laurel Canyon Park say they are not opposed to having a place for dogs to romp without a leash. But they argue that their park is too small for both dogs and humans. They want the dogs to go somewhere else.

But dog lovers believe that area residents should share the facility, and the commissioners agreed.

About 180 people packed Monday’s board meeting, staking out positions on opposite sides of the room for the hourlong debate.

Even young children were pressed into action, wielding signs that read, “Give a dog a bone, not a park,” and “Shame on you Mr. Woo for making us play in doggy doo.”

But Janja Vujovich, dressed in white overalls with the words “Morning Doo Patrol” scrawled across her back, commanded the most attention when she placed a plastic trash bag filled with dog excrement, which she said had been “notarized and witnessed,” on the carpet in front of the board.

‘Not Impressed’

“I’m not impressed by that,” commission Chairman William Robertson said, scowling. “ . . . Please get it out of here.”

Vujovich, who said it took her 15 minutes to fill the bag with droppings from the park, left the podium without speaking and took the bag with her.

But some of her allies, who contend that the park is unsafe for children, produced the written results of a July 14 inspection by the county Department of Health Services. The spot check, initiated after Vujovich called to complain, cited numerous piles of dog droppings and flies.

David Allen, a member of the Laurel Hills Homeowners Assn., estimates that between 100 and 200 dogs use the park each day.

“It’s basically like a dog kennel, even when the dogs have left, because obviously they’ve left something behind,” he said.

Take Credit

But that characterization was disputed by members of the opposing group, called ParkWatch, who take credit for reclaiming the park from gang members and drug dealers.

Veterinarian Paula Kislak told the board that “animals eliminate whether they are on their leash or not.”

Stephen Richter, describing Laurel Canyon Park as “the cleanest park in the city, by far,” insisted that dog owners routinely clean up after their pets.

Board members, three of whom visited the park recently, also said they found no evidence of violations and agreed to allow dogs to run free there for another six months. They said new parking controls will ease congestion at the 20-space lot, and they hope the new dog parks will arrest other problems.

Remain in Effect

A requirement that dogs be kept leashed between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when children are more likely to be present, will remain in effect. Protesters contend that the restriction has always been ignored.

In response to complaints of excessive barking, the board prohibited unleashed dogs before 7 a.m., instead of at dawn.