To The Editor
July 6, 2010
By Contributor
Dog ordinance
Draconian blanket ban on walking dogs punishes responsible owners
I was at the new Cybil Madeline Park recently at the end of an Issaquah Environmental Council Work party. Next to one of the large piles of freshly removed invasive vegetation and garbage, I noticed the temporary sign for the park and another that bans dogs.
It quotes Municipal Code 6.08.021, Ord. 1567, which states: “It is unlawful for the owner or custodian of any domestic animal to cause, permit or allow such animal to enter any city park where posted.” Being a dog owner, walker, taxpayer and previous supporter of this park, I was taken aback by this.
To me, it seems ridiculous to totally ban dogs from our parks. I think that dogs should be licensed, leashed, stay out of the tot lots, off the sports fields, and the owners need to be responsible and pick up after their pets. However, it is crazy to me to totally ban people from responsibly walking their leashed dogs through a public park. I thought Issaquah was supposed to be a Trail City and Cybil Madeline Park was going to be our Central Park?
After a bit of thought, I realized that this draconian policy probably got slipped in on us last year when there were problems at Timberlake Park. That park is rather small and isolated, so maybe banning dogs there made sense to someone. However, it makes no sense to me to make the ultimate solution to an isolated problem at one small neighborhood park to totally ban dogs from every city park in Issaquah.
This blanket ban of dog walking in all of our parks is a ridiculous policy, and one I am going to remember the next time I am asked to open my wallet for the next park bond.
C.A. Christensen
Issaquah
Trail system
No fix is needed; bikers already have paved streets for their paths
Mark Lyon’s letter last week rightly celebrated the beauty of our Issaquah trail system. However, his suggestion that we should pave paradise — or at least the part of it that runs behind the high school — would move the trail system in exactly the wrong direction.
As a biker, Mark has miles of trails on which to ride: They’re called streets. As one of many local dog walkers and hikers, we cherish those few paths that get joyously muddy, offer sloppy puddles and otherwise merge into the surrounding charms of Tiger Mountain. The trail ain’t broke and there’s no need to fix it.
Wes Howard-Brook
Issaquah
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