Hello friends,

We’re at an important stage in shaping the future of our dog park. A recent community meeting—attended by many residents and eight PP&R staff members—led to some encouraging updates in the new plan. While many concerns have been addressed, the design could be strengthened by expanding the boundaries further north and west, closer to the area we currently use. This adjustment would ease crowding, provide more space for all, and help sustain the welcoming atmosphere that makes this park unique.

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has just released updated information in response to the concerns we raised about size, surfacing, fencing, and designated dog areas.

This is a key moment to make sure our voices are heard. PP&R is asking for community feedback on the newest design details, but the deadline is Sunday, September 21st.

👉 Action Item: Take a few minutes to email Portland Parks & Recreation with your feedback on the plans. Every message counts—PP&R is listening, and this is our chance to influence the final design. (Scroll to the bottom for a sample email you can customize.)

• Send your feedback to: Aspen.Brown@portlandoregon.gov, Max.Katz@portlandoregon.gov

Below is the full message from PP&R so you can review their breakdown of each design topic. Please read through it and then send your comments before the deadline.

📩 Email from PP&R (Image of updated design is the picture on this update):
Hello again,

We have an exciting update to share! We relayed your comments and concerns about size, small/large dog area, surfacing, and fence material with our internal teams. See below for a breakdown of each design topic and the conversation around it. For transparency, we wanted to share this information before finalizing the updated design. Please let us know by Sunday, September 21st if you have any feedback.

Size
We discussed extending the boundary of the DOLA north of the community garden, similar to the current configuration. One of strategies brought up during the community meeting was using a planted buffer to mitigate run-off into the community garden. This was supported by staff and something we plan to incorporate. This planted buffer along the north side of the community garden would be in addition to the one proposed along the west side. Further development is needed to study the fence location in relation to existing tree areas and light posts.

Distinguished Small/Large Dog Areas
The group discussed maintaining separate areas but without the small/large dog designation. PP&R prefers that the dog area to the south remain as compacted infield mix, as this surfacing material supports an accessible amenity for mobility impaired individuals and will support seasonal maintenance when the grass (turf) area needs to be mowed & seeded.

Surfacing
As mentioned in the previous section, PP&R prefers that the south section remain as compacted infield mix to maintain our commitment to accessibility, and the upper section would preserve the existing grass turf. If the north section is expanded, adding irrigation would not be necessary. The planted buffers would require a small zone of irrigation to be installed.

Fence Material
We want to reiterate that fencing is non-negotiable as this is an operational priority for Portland Parks & Recreation. While we explored the option of having a wood post fence, this material has been an ongoing maintenance burden for field staff. PP&R maintenance staff agreed that metal fencing is a must to support long-term durability.

We hope these updates meet the needs of more community members, and look forward to hearing your feedback by Sunday, September 21st.

In collaboration,
Max and Aspen (Anna)
Portland Parks & Recreation

 
✅ Next step: Email your comments to PP&R by September 21st.
This is our chance to make sure the dog park works for everyone—pups and people alike.

Will you send an email today? Here's a sample that you can customize: 

Addresses: Aspen.Brown@portlandoregon.gov, Max.Katz@portlandoregon.gov

Subject: Feedback on Updated Dog Park Plans

Hi Max and Aspen,

Thanks for sharing the updated dog park plans! I appreciate the progress, and I’d love to see the final design go even further.

Size: Please expand the boundaries north and west to match the area we currently use, which is larger than what’s shown on paper. This footprint already works well for our community and would keep maintenance needs consistent with current practice.

(Other Areas you may wish to Comment on: Surfacing, Accessibility, Etc.)

Thanks for listening to the community!

Best,
[Your Name]