Let’s Pack the Room and Raise Our Voices for Lents Off-Leash Dog Area!
Can we count on you to show up for the Lents Dog Park?
📅 Tuesday, August 12 | 🕡 6:30–7:30pm | 📍 Holgate Library, Room 2A
Your presence at the upcoming Community Listening Session will make a real impact. Let’s fill the room and show Portland Parks & Recreation how much this space means to our community.
✅ Here’s How You Can Help:
- Add the meeting to your calendar
- Fill out our 1-minute Park Usage Survey
- Check out the tips below to prepare
🗣 About the Listening Session
From Anna (they/them), Community Engagement Coordinator at Parks & Rec:
- “We will host a presentation and listening session where the project team will present an updated design, PP&R staff will discuss park safety and equitable access, and there will be time for questions about design and maintenance decisions.”
If you can’t attend in person, the presentation and Q&A will be shared online and by email.
But in-person voices will carry the most weight, so if you're able, please show up!
Can’t make it? Fill out Section 2 of the survey below, and we’ll share your ideas during the meeting.
📝 Fill Out the Survey Now!
Please take 1 minute to share how you use Lents Dog Park.
The more responses we gather, the stronger our case will be at the listening session.
Lents Dog Park Community Input Form
✨ How to Prepare for the Listening Session
First off—just showing up is enough!
But if you’d rather not speak in public, that’s okay, you can share your thoughts on the form below (just mark that you’re not attending, and you’ll get space to share your input). Or use the contact form at www.savelentsdogpark.org.
Here are a few helpful questions to think about:
- What do you like about the park right now?
- How do you currently use the Off-Leash Area?
- What do you need from a dog park?
- If you could imagine a perfectly improved Lents Dog Park, what would it include?
🐾 Recent Updates
I (Laura, unofficial spokesperson for petition signers) met with three Portland Parks & Rec team members this week. They're clearly dedicated to our parks system and open to community feedback, but we need to show up strong to push for what our dogs and neighbors need.
Right now, the boundary for the Off-Leash Area is approx. 1.3 acres. Based on how heavily the space is used by dog folks, we believe it makes sense to push for at least 2 acres, but we need data to support this ask. That’s where your voice (and this survey!) comes in.
Another challenge we’re facing: significant funding cuts to Parks & Recreation. To truly protect and improve spaces like the Lents Dog Park, we need to reach out to our city councilors and let them know that funding for public parks matters. These decisions are shaped by community input and by who shows up at the ballot box. Our voices and our votes can help ensure that Parks & Rec has the resources it needs to maintain safe, accessible, and joyful public spaces for everyone.
Also worth noting: Parks & Rec appears to mostly hear about dogs through their complaints system, which often reflects negative feedback. We want to make sure they also hear from the many responsible, positive, dog-loving community members who use this park every day.
If you're a data nerd and want to help us dig into statistics or safety facts about dogs in Portland parks, use the contact form at www.savelentsdogpark.org, we’d love your support!
This is it, folks- our chance to be heard. Thank you for your dedication to this space we all love.
Can’t wait to see you there,
Laura & the Lents Dog Park Crew