It looks like the battle over Mayor Becker’s plan to reduce off-leash areas within Tanner Park is over.
Dear FIDOS -
Thanks to everyone for all of their help with writing letters, attending meetings and letting Salt Lake City officials know that there is a huge need for areas where their citizens can go to get exercise with their dogs “off leash”. Unfortunately, last Tuesday’s decision by the Salt Lake City Council to adopt Mayor Becker’s management plan places severe restrictions on available off leash space in Parleys Park (Tanner) without providing additional space to replace what has been taken away.
We are very disappointed in the outcome of this long and exhausting process. We thank Councilmembers Soren Simonsen and Luke Garrott for their unwavering support and understanding. Councilmembers Jill Remington-Love and Stan Penfold were willing to spend time with us and listen to our concerns.
Now that we have experienced this major set-back we need to set our sights to the future and how we as a group can best advocate for our needs. Unfortunately, our collective voices have been dismissed as just so much “public clamor” and has been turned against us. The few who spoke out too loudly or rudely have become the hallmark of the entire group. FIDOS has become a group to be dismissed as a bunch of activists, we must return to being the advocacy group for our cause.
We are a group of people who deeply care for the environment, we ask for the ability to recreate with our family members in open areas. We have shown that we are willing to work to improve an off leash space and to partner with government if given the chance. We need to continue to work toward that goal.
In the meantime, we now have specific sections of Parleys that are designated “off leash” with the possibility of additional “on leash” trails in the future. We understand that these restrictions will cause increased congestion in the allowed area and will magnify the impact. We ask that everyone please abide by the new rules and encourage others to do so as well. Please continue to pick up any dog waste you encounter and carry it out to the garbage cans in the parking lot. This is huge, one of the main reasons that Councilmembers Van Turner and Carlton Christensen voted against us is because water sampling showed problems with water quality on one day during the last year. Even though it was a single day and counts throughout the remainder of the year stayed well before allowable levels, we as a group care deeply about water quality. Our main message has been consistent, clean up after your dog.
Implementation of the new plan will be gradual as funding becomes available but you should see signs very soon.
The County Sheriff will be continuing his “Care and Share” program and will be enforcing posted rules. The data thus far has been good, people are obeying the rules. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks again to eveyone who helped out and watch for future messages. We will keep you informed.
Your Friends at Millcreek FIDOS (Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Spaces)
To me, it was clear early on that the Mayor was bent on this change no matter what anyone else said. I can understand that the Mayor must try and balance the interests of different groups. But the off-leash community has seen the losing end of that balance.
There are so few areas where dogs can go off leash in our valley. Out of all the canyons, Mill Creek is really the only one that allows dogs off leash, and that’s only on odd-numbered days, and it seems like every couple of years, dog owners’ rights in this canyon are challenged as well. Each passing year seems to bring fewer and fewer places where dogs can run free.
On the other hand, cyclists can go pretty much any place in the valley they want.
So when we do have an off-leash area such as Tanner Park, it makes no sense to come in and try and impose”balance” here by restricting the off-leash areas and allowing other groups such as cyclists equal access. This is equal to going to “bike parks” and restricting where bikes can go to allow for an off-leash area.
Some dog owners understand that dogs need to socialize freely and many need more exercise than that provided by walking on leash or within a small fenced area. Unfortunately, it appears most people don’t understand that, or just don’t care.
