Neighbors’ Howls May Lead to Move for Bark Park

When Huntington Beach opened its fancy dog park--complete with doggie drinking fountains and a striking tile entryway--it was an instant hit with dog lovers.

But neighbors say they are being driven to distraction by the canine invasion--especially the loud barking of dozens of dogs who play there during peak hours.

The city tried to ease tensions by limiting hours at the site in Huntington Central Park and the number of dogs an owner could bring to three. It even attempted to analyze the barking by conducting a noise study.

The complaints continued, so now officials are considering moving the hound haven to the eastern edge of the park.

But the idea of moving doesn’t sit well with some of the hundreds of dog owners who use the facility daily. Yet some city officials believe it is the only way to satisfy nearby homeowners.

“It never should have been placed so close to houses,” said Mayor Debbie Cook.

Bart Hollander, who lives several hundred feet from the park, agreed. “Against our wishes, the council decided to put it there and it’s been a problem since Day One,” Hollander said.

The 2-acre park, adjacent to an equestrian trail, was built in 1995 after the Best Friends Dog Park Foundation came up with the plan and money to maintain the park.

The gently sloping park is covered with wood chips, plastic-bag dispensers for dog waste and trash containers. For the humans, there are shade trees and benches where they gather to share stories about their best friends, and a parking lot a few steps away.

Throughout the day, dogs romp with each other, free from leashes. And, dogs being dogs, they bark. And bark, and bark, and bark, said Hollander.

“We were waken up virtually every weekend morning and many weekday mornings by the dogs barking,” Hollander said.

The early-morning barking prompted the city to change the hours, originally from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hollander said there is less noise. But when the dogs start woofing, he said, “It’s an irritant that grates on you constantly, and you never know when it’s going to happen.”

The city requires that there be no more than 35 to 40 dogs in the park at one time during peak hours in the morning and afternoon. The average stay is about 30 minutes, officials said.

“We’ve had people come with 10 to 12 dogs at one time, controlled by one person,’ said Ron Hagan, community services director.

One person cannot keep track of so many dogs at once, officials said, so now the limit is three dogs per person.

However, those changes didn’t stop the complaints, so the city conducted noise studies which found that passing cars were louder than the barking.

Still, the complaints continued, so Cook asked city staff to look into moving the park. Officials are considering a site at Central Park, along Gothard Street between Talbert and Slater avenues. Hagan said staff will investigate soil conditions, cost, irrigation and parking, among other things, at the proposed relocation site.

“This is not a slam-dunk site yet,” he said.

If the staff determines the site is feasible, there will be a public hearing and then the council will vote. If the move is approved, the new park could open by March or April, Hagan said.

“If we can find a site that gives us ample room and that is complaint-proof, I don’t see any reason to fight the move,” said Dick Whissen, president of the dog foundation, adding he doesn’t think the move is necessary.

Moving to the Gothard Street location isn’t without problems, Hagan said.

Events take place about 13 weekends a year near the site which could have an impact on the dog park, Hagan said. Those events include a Civil War reenactment, Boy and Girl Scout activities and a cross-country track meet.

The city will also study whether the “Doggy Walk of Fame,” a pathway of clay squares with dog names and paw prints commemorating faithful and beloved pets can be moved.

“Once we start cutting the mortar out, we’re afraid that [it] might crumble,” Hagan said. “We’re having somebody look at it to see if we can successfully move it.”

Shane Sherman, 30, of Huntington Beach said, “A few neighbors have too much power over hundreds of people who use the park,” as he prepared to unleash his dog, Barkley.