LAGUNA NIGUEL : 2 Plots Studied for Possible ‘Dog Park’

Prompted by Mayor Janet Godfrey, the city is looking at two small pieces of land as possible sites for a “dog park,” where dogs can run without being on a leash.

“I think there’s a real need for it,” said Godfrey, who currently drives her 180-pound mastiff to the dog park on Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. “We have tons of homeowners associations that are concerned about dogs running loose and the waste left from dogs.”

One site being considered is a patch of land in the Sulphur Creek area of Crown Valley Community Park just north of the YMCA building, City Manager Tim Casey said. He estimated that it would cost $10,000 to $20,000 to convert the 14,000-square-foot piece of land into a dog park.

The second possible site is two-thirds of an acre next to Fire Station 49 on the Street of the Golden Lantern, Casey said. He said preparing that land for a dog park, including building a parking lot, would cost the city roughly $80,000.

Godfrey believes building a dog park would also be good for dog owners, who would get an opportunity to share advice with other owners. She said she expects that animal aid organizations, pet stores and animal lovers will want to donate money for the development and upkeep of the park.