by Mark McDermott
Five years ago, the City of Manhattan Beach’s master plan for its parks identified a glaring need — more places for dogs to play. The City Council added the priority to its own work plan: “Expand areas for four-legged friends,” the plan said, identifying a few possible areas, including 6th and Aviation and Rowell Avenue at Voorhees.
When none of those locations proved workable, the idea of expanding an existing dog park in Polliwog Park to include a “dog run” — a long, fenced enclosure in which dogs could run and play to their hearts content, off-leash — was taken into consideration. A design was commissioned, complete with dog bone-shaped benches and shade structures. The price tag, however, was prohibitive, at $324,000.
Then Public Works staff dug into the issue, and value-engineered its own pared down design, one that would include a 10 ft. wide, 130 ft. long dog run, the dog bone-benches, and even a double-use water fountain with a spout for humans and a bowl for dogs.
Parks and Recreation director Mark Leyman unveiled the design at Tuesday’s Council meeting. Its price tag was $274,000 less than the original design.
“We are very fortunate to have an incredible Public Works Department led by Director [Erick] Lee, and they are going to be able to do a lot of the recommended enhancements — actually, all of them — not to exceed $50,000…without really reimagining this,” Leyman said.
The expansion of the existing dog park to include the dog run will simply require the removal of a few storage sheds from the Begg Pool parking lot.
Council unanimously approved the new proposal, with at least one member even casting his vote with an emphatic woof.
“Well done,” said Councilman Joe Franklin, specifically praising the cost savings. “I love those numbers.”
“What a great plan,” said Mayor Amy Howorth. “I have to commend everybody for working on it in-house. That’s just tremendous.”
The dog run will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. Howorth, noting that Central Park in New York includes off leash hours for dogs from 6 a.m. til 7 a.m. daily, asked staff to investigate possibly doing so at Polliwog from 6 to 7 a.m. Leyman said this was something previously talked about that the staff would follow up on.
“My husband made me say that,” Howorth said.
“I think we’ve ended up at a far better solution than what was originally proposed, at a far lower cost,” said Mayor Pro Tem David Lesser. “And I think it’s basically what other dog owners, like my family, welcome in a dog park, something not too fancy, something simple, and an opportunity for our dogs to run around.”
Lee said that construction would only take a week.
In the roll call vote, some dogs weighed in.
“My dog, Juno, says yes,” said Howorth.
“My dog, Oreo, says yes,” said Councilperson Steve Charelian.
“My cat says, what’s all the fuss?” said Franklin. ER
