City Approves Sponsor for New Dog Park

In a move that had some city lawmakers howling mad, the Los Angeles City Council approved an agreement Tuesday to have a dog food manufacturer sponsor the construction of the city’s largest dog park in the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area.

When the matter came up, the council lost its usual decorum starting when Councilman Hal Bernson rose from his seat to “speak on behalf of the dogs.”

“‘Woof, woof,” he barked into his microphone, drawing laughs from throughout the council chambers.

Meanwhile, Councilwoman Rita Walters, who opposed the agreement, also drew smirks when she repeatedly referred to the proposed park as the “doggy poop park.”

Councilman Joel Wachs, who supported the deal, tried to put an end to the dog jokes, saying off-leash areas are in high demand in the city.

“I don’t want to relegate this down to a joke because for the 300,000 dog owners in this city it is not a joke,” he said.

After an hourlong debate, the council voted 9 to 4 to accept the $50,000 donation from Friskies PetCare Co. to build the 10-acre park. It will be the largest of three dog parks in the city.

In exchange, the company will have the authority to use the park for promotional events and a six-year exclusive right to film dog food commercials there.

Half of the park, which is being built on a barren patch of land on the corner of White Oak Avenue and Victory Boulevard, will be set aside for an off-leash area, surrounded by a six-foot chain-link fence. The other half would be open for regular park use.

The $250,000 cost will be paid for mostly with voter-approved park improvement funds.

But Walters and other council members argued that the city should negotiate with Friskies and other dog food firms to try to get more than $50,000.

“This is chump change,” Walters said.

She also berated parks and recreation officials for not trying to get corporate sponsors to open more parks for children in the inner city.

Councilman Nate Holden agreed, saying the city should seek bids from other firms interested in sponsoring a city dog park. Holden, Walters and council members Mark Ridley-Thomas and Jackie Goldberg voted against the deal.

But city officials involved in negotiating the deal said the city has talked with several pet supplies companies and has found no other firms interested in sponsoring a park.

Some council members worried that if the city asks for more money, it may lose the $50,000 donation it already has.

“‘I don’t see where we are giving so much to this company” in exchange for the $50,000, said Councilwoman Laura Chick, who has spearheaded the effort to build the park.

The park is expected to open in early December.