Who is “ F.E.T.C.H. – Newcastle “ ?

" Friends Embracing The Canine Heart "

AN OFF-LEASH DOG PARK PROVIDES A SOLUTION FOR DOG OWNERS TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR PETS

A DOG PARK IS A PUBLIC PARK, WHERE PEOPLE AND THEIR DOGS CAN PLAY TOGETHER

IT’S MORE THAN JUST "ROOM TO ROAM"

ALLOWS DOGS TO EXERCISE AND SOCIALIZE SAFELY

PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP

PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR DOG OWNERS TO SOCIALIZE

MAKE FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY BY PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

Purpose

OFF-LEASH DOG PARK DISCUSSION ITEMS Available funds for an off-leash dog park Cost to install an off-leash dog park – Under $25,000. Location - City Centered, Accessible, Available Parking,

Distance from City’s Core, etc. Makes the most amount of people happy with higher usage

than other City of Newcastle Amenities Pet waste disposal / sanitation Benefits of an off-leash dog park Common sound decibel study results Lake Boren Park Survey Results

Saturday & Sunday, August 7th & 8th, 2010. Location Maps (3) Distance Map Sampling of signage Study Session Request

LAKE BOREN PARKAVAILABLE FUNDS FOR AN OFF-LEASH DOG PARK

In the July 15th Parks Commission meeting, a Council Member, speaking as a citizen of Newcastle, commented that “the dog park proposal is not in the CIP”.

The reality is that “The dog park proposal is not excluded in the CIP” and Capital Improvement Funds are in the bank and potentially available for an off-leash dog park.

In the July 20, 2010 City Council Meeting, the Newcastle Director of Finance presented the City’s mid year financial status.

“Capital Investment Program (CIP)– Project Detail” - on page 47 & 57 it shows $75,000 budgeted for Lake Boren NE Improvements. As of the end of June, only $602 (less than 1% of the budget) has

been spent or allotted. The original purpose of the $75,000 was primarily to make repairs to

the existing play area. The City of Newcastle sought and received State funding of $325,000

which is being used to replace the play area and make improvements to the area around the play area

Thus, the $75,000 budget funds (less the $602 spent) are available for other park repairs and/or improvements, such as an off-leash dog park.

LAKE BOREN PARKPROPOSED OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

The basic needs of an off leash area in Newcastle includes: 1.364 acres of area (The park is 20.2 acres) 960 linear feet of fencing Two entrances One equipment entrance for mowing and

maintenance Dog stations at each entrance and one inside

the off-leash area Signage Benches & Picnic Tables Plantings

LAKE BOREN PARKOFF-LEASH DOG AREA ESTIMATE OF COSTS

Proposed Cost of City Amenity

Fencing - 960 - $ 16.47 - $ 15,811

Signage - Large - 2 - $ 155.00 - $ 310

Signage - Small - 4 - $ 65.00 - $ 260

Bench's - 4 - $ 325.00 - $ 1,300

Picnic Tables - 1 - $ 1,350.00 - $ 1,350

Dog Stations - 2 - $ 425.00 - $ 850

Waste Receptacles - 3 - $ 325.00 - $ 975

Plantings - 35 - $ 45.00 - $ 1,575

Sub - Total $ 22,431

Contingency - 10% $ 2,243

Proposed Total Cost $ 24,674

NEWCASTLE PARKS & LAND THAT DO NOT FIT SIZE, OPEN AREA, PARKING AND CURRENT USE

PARAMETERS. Ballybunion (mini park) 8200 150th Ave. Acres = 0.81 Too Small Gleneagles (mini park) 8230 154th Ave. SE. Acres = 1.1 Too Small Heritage Morgan (mini park) Located at 8740 139th Ave. SE. Acres = 0.16 (mini park) Too Small Highlands Park (neighborhood park) 9100 140th Ave. SE. Acres = 1.58 Too Small Highlands Forest View Park (mini park) 143rd Ave SE & SE 92nd Pl, Highlands, Acres = .53 Too

Small Historic Coal Miner’s Cemetery (Historical Monument) 129th Ave SE & Newcastle Way Too Small Madison Lane Located at 6900 115th Court SE. Acres = 0.27 Too Small Redman (mini park) 136th Ave & SE 75th (corner). Acres = 1.2 Too Small Thomas Rouse Road Historical Park 136th Ave SE & SE 75th St Too Small Tralee (mini park) 7825 155th Ave. SE. Acres = 0.53 Too Small Windtree (mini park) 9129 121st Ave. SE. Acres = 0.34 Too Small China Creek (neighborhood park) 7951 144th Ave. SE. Acres = 5.5 Sloped/Trees/Primarily a children’s

play area/ no parking except for in residential neighborhood Donegal Park (neighborhood park) 7319 125th  Ave. SE. Acres = 2.1 Open area directly adjacent to

Children’s Play area, no parking except for in residential neighborhood Hazelwood (resource park) 121st Place SE St. & SE 73rd Pl.(Parking for three cars.) Acres = 7.3

Sloped/Trees/No Open Area, currently used as a connective park between street and neighborhoods. May Creek SE 95th Way & Coal Creek Parkway. No parking, No ADA access, Significant slope/grade

to level area, at the far reaches of the City, “Drive to” location only, Not walking distance for all Newcastle residents, undeveloped, will be used primarily by Renton residents that live across the street, dump site for coal creek parkway construction.

DOT Site East of Lake Boren along Coal Creek Parkway - Narrow parcel / Steep slope / Would need to clear brush up to the lake / distraction to Coal Creek Parkway drivers/ Potential “attractive nuisance / Entire site is wet and mucky during the winter / 1/3 of area not usable during 8 months of year due to retention pond / Required to walk along Coal Creek Parkway to access / No direct parking / Direct water access to the lake condoned by the City, not requested by F.E.T.C.H..

See Handout Map for Park Locations

LAKE BOREN PARKOFF-LEASH DOG AREA USAGE

An off-leash dog park at Lake Boren would get higher use and accommodate a greater number of Newcastle residents compared to other City of Newcastle amenities.

More people would use the off-leash dog park compared to people that currently use the tennis courts, volleyball area and fishing dock.

The cost to build an off-leash dog area is less than the expense that the City has already incurred in installing/building other amenities that accommodate fewer people and experience less use.

LAKE BOREN PARKOFF-LEASH DOG PARK SANITATION

Recently a comment was made that it is illegal to dispose of pet waste into a garbage receptacle.

King County and Waste Management both recommend that fecal waste be disposed of in a waste receptacle regardless of being in a private or public place.

Specifically, they recommend “Dispose of pet or human waste in a public or residential garbage can, wrapped in a closed leak-proof bag or container.”

LAKE BOREN PARKPROPOSED OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

It attracts dog owners to congregate / socialize in a specific area of the park which is also central to the city’s core.

It also attracts older residents whose children have moved out, who now walk their dogs for exercise and socializing.

It keeps the off-leash dog area in a central location so that we don’t unnecessarily increase or promote added driving in and around our city by making our residents drive to other municipalities off-leash dog areas in Mercer Island, Bellevue, Redmond or Renton.

The location that is proposed for the off-leash area does not interfere with the City of Newcastle’s “Lake Boren Park Master Plan” created by Worthy & Associates on August 12, 2008 and adopted by the City of Newcastle. As such, there should not be a need to amend the Lake Boren Park Master Plan.

This area allows accessibility to those with limited mobility and allows them to exercise their dogs in an enclosed area.

Benefits of an off-leash dog area

Decibel Levels

Source dB

Breathing 10Leaves rustling in the wind 20

Whisper Quiet Library 30Library 40

Dribbling a Basketball 60Conversation in a house 60

Dog Barking 63Normal conversation (3-5') 65

Normal piano practice 65Vacuum Cleaner 70

Listening to a radio in a house 70Garbage Disposal 80

Business Office 80Telephone dial tone 80

City Traffic (inside car) 85Violin 87

Street Traffic (neighborhood) 88Busy Urban Street 90Walkman on 5/10 94

Subway train at 200' 95Lawn Mower 98Passing truck 100

Snowmobile, Motorcycle 100Power mower at 3' 107

Chainsaw 110Car Horn 110

Power saw at 3' 110Sandblasting 115

People Clapping 120Pneumatic riveter at 4' 125

Average 81

Librar

y

Dribbli

ng a

Baske

tball

Conve

rsatio

n in a

house

Dog Ba

rking

Vacuu

m Cleane

r

Garbag

e Disp

osal

City Tr

affic (

inside

car)

Lawn M

ower

Car Horn

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Decibels by Common Sounds

dB's

Saturday Sunday Combined0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

People w/o DogsPeople w DogsTotal People

Total Park Load w/o Reserved Gazebo Gatherings

Saturday

Sunday

Combine

dPerce

nt

People w/o Dogs 101 346 447 67%People w Dogs 81 138 219 33%

Total People 182 484 666

62 Deg. Rain

71 Deg

. Clou

ds

Saturday Sunday Combined0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

CarFootTotal

Arrived by?

Saturday Sunday Combined Percent

Car 108 143 251 65%

Foot 70 67 137 35%

Total 178 210 388

People w/o Pets

Adults without Children 108 152 260

Adults with Children 38 133 171

# Children w above Adult(s) 35 141 176

Total People w/o Pets 181 426 607

Adult

s with

out Child

ren

Adult

s with

Childre

n

# Children

w abov

e Adul

t(s)

Total

Peopl

e w/o P

ets0

100200300400500600700

Saturday - 08/07/2010Sunday - 08/08/2010Combined Weekend

People with Pets

Adults without Children 66 109 175

Adults with Children 7 16 23

# Children w above Adult(s) 8 13 21

Total People with Pets 81 138 219

Adult

s with

out Child

ren

Adult

s with

Childre

n

# Children

w abov

e Adul

t(s)

Total

Peopl

e with

Pets

0

50

100

150

200

250

Saturday - 08/07/2010Sunday - 08/08/2010Combined Weekend

Dog Activity

Saturday

Sunday

Combined

Percent

Number of Dogs 71 101 172

Approached on-leash 43 62 105 61%Approached off-leash 28 39 67 39%

On -Leash in Park 32 40 72 42%Off-Leash in Park 39 61 100 58%

Off- Leash By Play Area 3 2 5 5%

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Saturday - 08/07/2010

Sunday - 08/08/2010

Combined Weekend

Dog Use by Size

Saturday Sunday Combi

ned Percent

Big 60 + 3 13 16 9%Large 45 - 60 21 24 45 26%

Medium 26 - 45 20 20 40 23%Small 0 - 25 27 44 71 41%

71 101 172

Big 60 + Large 45 - 60 Medium 26 - 45 Small 0 - 25 Total0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Saturday

Sunday

Combined

LAKE BOREN PARKPROPOSED OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

ProposedOff-Leash Area

Newcastle Days 2007

CITY OF NEWCASTLE – OWNED LAND

Lake Boren

CITY OF NEWCASTLE – OWNED LAND

Lake Boren

RADIUS OF NEWCASTLE FROM CBD

LAKE BOREN PARKPROPOSED OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

Sampling of off-leash area signage

LAKE BOREN PARKPROPOSED OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

Sampling of Sally Port’s aka Vestibule’s

Luther Burbank Park – Mercer Island

Cedar River Dog Park - Renton

OFF-LEASH DOG PARKSTUDY SESSION REQUEST

The purpose of a study session with the Parks Commission is to allow both the Commission and F.E.T.C.H. –Newcastle to better understand the concerns and direction that are involved regarding an off-leash dog park in Newcastle.

Today’s challenge is that we are trying to pack over one-hundred (100) hours of research and observations into a ten (10) minute presentation to the Parks Commission. It simply is not enough time for F.E.T.C.H., which is made up of hundreds of residents of Newcastle, to effectively interact with the Parks Commission.

F.E.T.C.H. – Newcastle We are the end users of off-leash dog parks in the area We walk our dogs daily in and around our City’s Parks We understand what works in a dog park We understand what does not work in a dog park We have the resources and compassion to make this work.

Allow us, F.E.T.C.H. – Newcastle, to come along side you to further study and find the solution for an off-leash dog park in Newcastle.