Comments on: Owners howl at Timberlake Park dog ban

By: Gayna Williams

Gayna Williams — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:47:33 +0000

I’m not a dog owner but am disappointed at the change of policy at the park. I knew that anexing had bad parts to it. We have gone to the park for years and live in the area and never had problems. This morning i walked through the park from the top of the road (usually i cut through the side from our area) and a woman was concerned there are bears and cougars in the park due to your signage, and with the No Dogs sign it is now a fearful place to go.
I didn’t see a single person in the park, so sad not to see the happy dogs bounding around. My kids loved seeing the dogs and throwing balls for them.
I agree with Lisa above a compromise must be met if not this park will not get used. Kids on the beach get knocked over – okay between 10am and 4pm no dogs on the beach during the summer months – but apart from that please let the dogs enter the park.
Sad sad sad sad Issaquah – a no fun place to live that doesn’t embrace nature and people.

By: Robert Hook

Robert Hook — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:47:04 +0000

Every other city we visit have permitted leashed dogs in their parks. The city of Issaquah’s policy in this park as well as it’s other parks are inconsistent with park rules elsewhere. You promote unbridled growth, tearing up hillsides and cutting down trees, but are limiting local areas for the citizens to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There needs to be a balance in green areas for people to relax with their four legged friends and families after they toil to pay taxes that support the officials that run this city and make these ridiculous rules. Remember, please elected officials are just that, elected and these unpopular and unresearched decisions will provide you with opportunities for new employment!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:53:25 +0000

I was dumbfounded to see this new ordiance! I’ve been taking my dog to this park almost daily for 10 years. It is one of the few places that is close by that a dog can get his paws under something that isn’t cement and is an easy and flat walk, especailly for older dogs and people. From Sept to May, it is 99% dog owners and I’ve never seen or meet an unfriendly dog there or had any problems. During the rest of the months, there are considerable other non-dog people using the beach, obviously, but I’ve never witnessed any problems or heard concerns from any parents there. If there are too many dogs or kids, we leave! The biggest issue I have with the park are the beer cans and condoms that are left behind. Gross! How about a compromise of letting the dogs back from Sept to May?

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:02:06 +0000

Ive lived in the Lake Sammamish area most of my life, I have been taking my dogs to this park for years, almost every other day………..rarely do I see people come here without dogs. Its truly a place for pets and pet owners. I have never seen a dog fight……….never seen an aggressive dog out of control. There are several very large people parks close by for families with kids that are far more appropriate for children. I would have never taken my children to Timberlake park……….its not a safe park for families or kids, and NOT because dogs go there. To the contrary, the dogs have been keeping it safe for those of us who walk our dogs there. The biggest problem this Timberlake park has had, is theft and vandalism of the cars that try and park in the parking lot. I have seen over a dozen cars broken into and their windows smashed in. Ive called the police to report these……….and this certainly hasnt taken priority over the years that Ive been going, no new ordinances have been posted to prevent thefts and vandalism. Had my dogs been in the parking lot at the time these vandals wanted to smash in a window, I can assure it would not have happened. Timberlake park is on a bus line with a stop right out front and I have seen people of questionable character roaming through the park, to which I am most grateful to have large dogs to walk with while there. Older kids from the surrounding neighborhood use the forest trails there as target practice with guns, and I have worried about my dogs getting shot on more than one occasion. I can guaranty that the number of people related crimes in this park far outnumber the dog complaints.
Not only has the Parks department overstepped their boundaries with Timberlake in enforcing this new ordinance……….try going out further to the Tolt river or Carnation hiking trail parks………..all closed now with what they are calling renovations that will take up to two years to fix!!! Keep in mind that we as tax payers pay the salaries of these officials in the parks department………and we are paying for the upkeep and any renovations that go on as well. Even so……….we are treated as if these parks are not ours to make any decisions about or with. We are casually told on the spur of the moment……….we arent allowed in……..or our pets are no longer allowed.
I will continue to go to these parks………..as I pay for them and there upkeep, I also pay for the salaries of the Parks department officials that are enforcing laws, without asking the taxpayers for their approval.

By: Connie Ramsey

Connie Ramsey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:54:20 +0000

Here is an email that I sent to the Mayor on 7/28/09:

Mayor Frisinger:

THIS IS A BIG, BIG FAT COMPLAINT TO YOU AND THE CITY OF ISSAQUAH GOVERNMENT: “NO DOGS AT TIMBERLAKE PARK”?!?!? OH MY GOD! ISSAQUAH SUCKS!!!
THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST UNFRIENDLY DOG TOWN IN THE STATE, AS FAR AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOES!!! EVERYWHERE I LOOK: “NO DOGS”, “NO DOGS”, “NO DOGS” — I think you should look out your office window once in awhile to actually see how many dogs people own dogs in this town to know that you are completely off kilter with what’s around this town: DOGS. Oh sure, let the geese run free and poop all over Lake Sammamish State Park and not clean it up, but God forbid if we should bring our loving, faithful companion dogs to any parks in this town! GET REAL!!! I’m getting sooooo sick of this. Well, I for one am going to start ignoring those “NO DOG” signs and take my dog where I want to. AND I’m going to send a copy of this message to the Issaquah Press. Shame on you and the City Council for cow-towing to one or two people who hate dogs, instead of seeing the THOUSANDS of people WITH dogs that need places (that’s PLURAL – PLACES) to run their dogs FREE!!!!!!! I think I’ll also organize a big DOG demonstration in front of YOUR office door showing all our disappointment in you and the City Council for making Issaquah the “MOST UNFRIENDLY DOG TOWN IN THE STATE.”

-Connie Ramsey

. . . And here is her reply from 7/29/09:

Dear Ms. Ramsey:

Thank you for your e-mail and for taking the time to write and share your views about Timberlake Park. The Parks and Recreation Department has received upwards of 20 complaints about off-leash dogs jumping on children and adults, fighting one another, eating picnic lunches, and generally making people feel unsafe and uncomfortable in a park that was designed for use by everyone.

Timberlake Park is not an off-leash dog park. And, even in off-leash parks, dogs are expected to be under voice command.

The City’s concern is for the safety and well-being of those who wish to use the park without being charged by off-leash dogs.

We will, in September, host a neighborhood meeting to come up with some real solutions to those who continue to allow their dogs to roam off leash.

Thank you again for sharing your views.

Sincerely,

Ava Frisinger, Mayor

cc: City Council
Parks Department

By: James O

James O — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:56:12 +0000

This is ridiculous. This is the type of regulation that makes the majority of people furious. I’ve been to this park at least 75 times in the last year and NEVER have I seen a fight our unruly behavior. In fact the people WITH dogs far out number the ones without when using the park. I imagine a few people griped (this minority IS VERY VOCAL) and city government responded by saying “we must act.” The dog owners in the park are friendlier and less vocal than those without. Just yesterday a man nearly assaulted my wife because she was there with our dog. In an informal poll “at the park” it’s running about 10 to 1 in favor of allowing dogs.

By: Tracy Franks

Tracy Franks — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:07:37 +0000

This is absolutely OUTRAGEOUS. I have lived in Issaquah for years and loved everything the community and the city has had to offer. I can’t believe the city has come along like a thief in the night to take this away from us. I found there is an online petition started to assist us in our effort to free our park from this bureaucratic tyranny!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/timberlakedogpark/index.html

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:27:59 +0000

What a shame!!! I have been taking my dogs and kids to this park for years. I have never seen dogs misbehaving, just having fun. The people I meet with and without dogs are polite and respectful. It seems like people without dogs have more say than people with. I saw a young mother pull up to the park yesterday, when it was 100 degrees, unload her kids and then her dog for a nice day at the lake. Then she noticed the “no dogs allowed sign”. I felt so bad for her. We are becoming more like a big city everyday, where dogs are not allowed anywhere.

By: Gary Berg

Gary Berg — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:15:20 +0000

Do we have to regulate everything?? This is a wonderful quiet, secluded spot to bring your dog and It would be a travesty to make this beach park to off limits to dogs. Dogs need a place to play in the water too. I have been going to this park with my dog for years and have never seen any negative incidents involving dogs. My experience with dogs owners using this park has been that they are a respectful conscientious group just looking for a good place take their dogs.

KEEP THE PARK OPEN TO DOGS!!!!!
GB

By: Concern Dog Owner

Concern Dog Owner — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:30:56 +0000

Having a multi use park (with dogs) in the area is an incentive for potential homebuyers, and will help increase the property values for the City of Issaquah. Raising the property value (and property tax) would seem to be something the city would be interested in, which was the main reason for our purchasing a home recently in the area.

I have never seen any dogfights in the last 3 months that we have gone to this park on a daily basis. It appears to me that people should worry more about the teenagers, sneaking away from their homes to hang out in the park, at the picnic tables smoking dope. I have seen this on several occasions, so why aren’t people worried about that, rather than being worried about the people who are trying to let their dogs get some exercise from being cooped up all day while their owners work.

The worst thing about this is the dog sign posted says no dogs’ period; you cannot even walk your dog on a leash at the park. I do not see how this is educating me; I wanted to move into an area where my dog could play in the shade and go for a swim. Now the only other alternative is to take my dog to the Highlands dog park, which is a very unkempt park, and so small, that when throwing the ball it always goes over the fence or rolls down the hill, not a park for Labradors, to get a decent exercise and swim. It is blazing hot up on that hill with no shade, and during the wintertime it is muddy, dirty, and waterlogged.

Then of course, there is Marymoor Park, again no shade and the last time I was there, the grass was knee high with gopher holes everywhere, it made it impossible to play fetch with my dog.

The greater Seattle area prides itself on its liberalism, but every time I turn around there is a new rule being put in place to affect my rights, now there is a rule in place affecting my dog’s. More and more, our lives are being defined by what we can not do, rather than what we can do. Does anyone care about the dog’s demeanor, why should the only way a dog, can get exercise is to be on a leash walking on a sidewalk, or trail that has bikers? Why should I have to get in my car everyday after work and drive to Cougar Mountain, or Squawk and Tiger Mountain, to walk my dog in the shade? If I am going to drive that far I might as well drive to the Magnuson Dog Park in Seattle. Again, I do not understand how this ban is educating me.

If the city, was truly interested in making this park safe, they would ensure that the dope smoking teenagers are removed and the dogs are properly escorted in and out of the park on leases as not to disturb the private residences. Once in the park, the dogs should be allowed to be released.