How will the dog walking public feel about special regulations for them at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California? The next two months will provide some insights as the park takes public comment on its preferred alternative for managing dogs in the NRA.
The proposed rule would amend the park's special regulations designating 22 locations for dog walking in the NRA.
"The proposed rule would designate where and how people would be able to enjoy the park with their dogs - both on- and off-leash - as well as places that would be dog-free," said Golden Gate Superintendent Christine Lehnertz. "It would define terms like 'voice and sight control' that are essential to dog management. If ultimately implemented, the rule would ensure the protection of the park's natural and cultural resources and continue to provide recreational opportunities for a wide variety of park users.
"GGNRA recognizes well-managed dog walking as a healthy and popular way to enjoy park lands. Under the proposed rule, the GGNRA would remain the most dog-friendly national park and the only national park in the United States to allow off-leash voice and sight control dog walking," she added in a release.
Under the proposed rule, off-leash dog walking would be allowed in seven areas in five different park locations including Fort Funston, the most popular dog walking area in the park. Dog walking would be allowed on almost one-third of the park's beach mileage, mostly off-leash, and one-third of the park's trail mileage would be available for visitors to walk their dogs on-leash. There would also be dog-free beach and picnic area options. Specific areas would be identified for commercial dog walking.
Details of the proposed rule are to be published Wednesday on the Federal Register. Once on that site, search for "Golden Gate Dog Management." You can find maps that outline the designated dog areas at this page.
At the National Parks Conservation Association, Neal Desai, the group's director of Pacific Region Field Operations, applauded the Park Service for the "common-sense zoning approach taken for developing a Golden Gate National Recreation Area dog management rule.”
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Comments
As usual, NPT is acting as the mouthpiece for NPS rather than reporting. You do not need to wait two months to know how people engaged in the EIS process feel about the rule. They are against it. 22 of 22 elected officials in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo are opposed to it. Despite the fact thousands of people have participated in the public process, NPS refuses to use the overwhelming input from those who want dog walking to continue. Here is another press release for balance: http://bit.ly/20RHRkz
Ted, with one person at the keyboard, and 410 units of the park system, we don't pretend to report on every issue out there.
Kurt, since you pulled quotes from the Park Service press release and the NCPA press release, I wanted to provide you with our press release that, along with the first two, was used in every other single news and blog report for balance about the announcement of the proposed rule. http://bit.ly/20RHRkz Cheers.
Ted, your link doesn't appear to work. Beyond that, perhaps you should have sent your release to the Traveler, eh?
Today, I am not aware of even one beach in the bay area (save Stintson and only during the summer) where dogs are not allowed. Most small children are afraid of dogs, and while I would like to teach my kids to love dogs and not fear them, it is not possible for us to go to beaches because they are overrun by large, charging off-leash dogs. It is nice to know that kids will be able enjoy the beach soon too.
Several of the beaches out at Pt. Reyes NS are dog-free, though it's a longer drive from anywhere in the Bay Area.
There are two types of people in this world. Those who want to be left alone and those who will not leave them alone. The Federal Gov't is full of the 2nd type.
The space in question is less than .001% of the total recreational area. Do you think that could be spare it for us poor dog owners? Do you think the creatures in the park could spare the space?
Does the fact that all the city governments involved are diametrically opposed matter to you really without all the platitudes? You sit their in your offices wondering how a Donald Trump could have the rise that he has while it is staring you in the face.
I really don't expect you to change your minds. You are required to submit the plans to the public for comments like this, but how many have ever been drastically altered or cancelled. Those of you on Mt. Olympus do not care.
For some reason, if the dog walkers were in Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard, I don't think you would be taking away this type of recreation from them. Now would you?
Steven, just fyi, and perhaps you know, but the Traveler is not connected with the Park Service. As for Cape Cod National Seashore, they do have some restrictions as to where pets can go, and when they are on the national seashore, they are required to be leashed.
https://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/upload/2007dograckcard.pdf