To: Ocean Residents Community Association​ Downtown Long Beach Alliance​ the Office of Mayor Rex Richardson​ Long Beach’s 1st Council District represented by Mary Zendejas​  Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center  c/o ASM Global​, the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine

 

We, the undersigned residents and community members, respectfully request stronger enforcement and clarification of rules at Seaside Dog Park Zone in order to preserve the safety, cleanliness, and peaceful enjoyment of the park and surrounding neighborhood for all residents.

 

While we value the importance of providing a space for dogs to exercise and socialize, ongoing excessive barking and after-hours activity have created significant noise disturbances affecting nearby residents and the overall quality of life1 within the community.

 

We respectfully propose the following measures:

 

Requested Actions 

 

1. Daily Locking of the Dog Park at Sundown

We request that the dog park be officially closed and locked each day at sundown in accordance with standard public park safety practices. As the property owner, we respectfully request that the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, managed by ASM Global, oversee and enforce proper closure and security of the dog park as part of maintaining safe and respectful use of the surrounding area. This would help:

• Reduce nighttime noise disturbances
• Improve safety and visibility concerns after dark
• Encourage compliance with established park hours
• Minimize unauthorized nighttime activity

 

2. Designation of the Dog Park as a Quiet Zone

We request that the dog park be formally designated and enforced as a quiet zone free from excessive barking at all times. Dog owners would be expected to:

• Maintain supervision and control of pets
• Promptly address prolonged or disruptive barking
• Remove dogs exhibiting repeated excessive barking behavior
• Respect nearby residents, families, seniors, remote workers, and others sensitive to ongoing noise disturbances

The goal of this proposal is not to discourage responsible dog ownership, but to promote a balanced and respectful shared environment for both park users and surrounding residents.

 

3. Repair and Maintenance of Unsafe and Neglected Park Conditions

We respectfully request immediate inspection, repair, and ongoing maintenance of the dog park due to multiple longstanding safety and sanitation concerns, including:

• A broken front gate/door that cannot properly close or secure the park
• Bent and damaged fencing that may allow dogs to escape
• Unclean and poorly maintained ground surfaces
• Lack of supplied dog litter bags for approximately four years
• Abandoned litter bag dispensers that have become neglected to the point that bird nests have formed inside them over multiple years

These conditions present avoidable safety risks for pets and park users while also reflecting a lack of consistent upkeep and sanitation standards.

We ask that the City of Long Beach establish a regular maintenance schedule for the park, including:

• Fence and gate repairs
• Routine cleaning and sanitation
• Timely restocking of waste disposal bags
• Inspection of park infrastructure and safety hazards
• Removal and cleaning of neglected or unusable fixtures

Proper maintenance is essential to ensuring the park remains safe, hygienic, functional, and respectful to both visitors and surrounding residents.

 

4. Correction of Conflicting and Misspelled Information on the City Website

We also respectfully request correction of conflicting and inaccurate information published on the City of Long Beach Seaside Dog Zone webpage. The website currently contains inconsistencies regarding park closing hours and includes a typographical error in which the word “Zone” is spelled “one”.

To avoid confusion and encourage public compliance, we request that the webpage clearly and consistently state that the dog park closes at “dusk” and that all spelling and informational errors be corrected promptly. 

Accurate public information is important for ensuring residents and visitors understand and follow park rules and operating hours.

 

https://www.longbeach.gov/Park/Park-and-Facilities/Directory/Seaside-Dog-Zone/

 

Additional Community and Public Safety Concerns

Residents have also been forced to contact the Long Beach Police Department on numerous occasions in response to ongoing noise ordinance violations, after-hours activity, aggressive dogs, dog abandonment, and trespassing associated with use of the dog park outside of permitted hours.

Repeated law enforcement involvement demonstrates that the current lack of enforcement and inadequate park security measures have become an ongoing public nuisance and community disturbance issue. We believe that clearer enforcement of park rules, proper closure at dusk, and improved maintenance and oversight would significantly reduce these recurring incidents and lessen the need for police intervention.

 

Why This Matters

Continuous excessive barking and unrestricted park use negatively impact residents’ quality of life and work, including:

• Sleep disruption
• Elevated stress and anxiety
• Noise pollution affecting homes and public spaces
• Reduced enjoyment of the neighborhood environment
• Disruption for residents working from home, attending virtual meetings, studying, or caring for family members

Many communities successfully maintain dog parks while also enforcing reasonable noise standards and park closure policies that protect the wellbeing of all residents.

We respectfully ask that Ocean Residents Community Association, Downtown Long Beach Associates, the Office of Mayor Rex Richardson, and Long Beach Convention Center, the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine review these concerns and take appropriate action to better balance the needs of dog owners with the rights and wellbeing of the broader community.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to maintaining a safe, peaceful, and respectful neighborhood environment.

 

Sincerely,

Marta Blalock
Resident of Downtown Long Beach, Business Owner, Service Dog Handler