> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # L.A. dogs may get their day - URL: https://www.smdp.com/l-a-dogs-may-get-their-day/ - Published: 2007-06-23T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T00:17:28.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Community, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import *Dog park controversy nears end* VIRGINIA AVENUE PARK Residents charged with protecting and enhancing public recreation in Santa Monica voiced their support Thursday for allowing dog owners in Mar Vista and other surrounding areas to use the new, off-leash dog area at Airport Park. While they are still awaiting an official report from city staff on demand at the park, several members of the Recreation and Parks Commission said usage seems to be lower than originally anticipated, leaving no reason to exclude Los Angeles residents from the park, especially if they are willing to pay a fee to enter and help cover maintenance costs. Roughly $25,000 a year will be needed to clean and maintain the dog area,according to city staff. Residents pay a licensing fee of $15 for spayed or neutered pets, and $50 for unaltered dogs. “I feel that, given the usage, there is no reason that on a trial basis we couldn’t open it up to the entire community,” said Commissioner Ted Winterer. “I’d hate to see all the money we’ve spent wasted.” Commissioners are expected to address the issue again at their next meeting, scheduled in July. On April 29, Controversy clouded what was supposed to be a glorious day in Santa Monica, when Mar Vista residents held a protest at the grand opening of the Airport Park — the city’s first newly-constructed park to open in 24 years. There were hand-made signs blasting city officials for excluding Los Angeles residents from the dog park, a decision made to ensure that Santa Monicans and their 5,500 licensed dogs could use it without having to worry about overcrowding. Local law prohibits dogs who are not licensed in Santa Monica from using the city’s three dog parks and one dog run. The law was enacted in the ’90s when City Hall began building off-leash dog areas at the request of residents. Various media outlets jumped on the story on May 5 during a second protest, this time involving Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl,who joined with residents in calling for Santa Monica officials to lift the ban. The group pointed out that Mar Vista residents not only work and play in Santa Monica, contributing to the city’s tax revenue, but also must deal with the additional traffic and pollution coming from Santa Monica College’s Bundy Campus and the airport. That argument didn’t fly with some commissioners, including Phil Brock, who pointed out that SMC mostly serves students from Los Angeles, and the airport is not under the control of the City Council, but the Federal Aviation Administration. Instead of blasting Santa Monica, Brock said the Mar Vista residents should put pressure on their own city council members to build more dog parks in Los Angeles. “What residents of Mar Vista and neighboring communities should be saying to their city council is, ‘Wow! Santa Monica built a great new park, how do we duplicate that in our own community?” said Brock, who is open to allowing LA residents into the dog area, especially if Rosendahl would agree to secure funding for some of the maintenance. A representative from the councilman’s office said LA residents are open to paying some kind of usage fee for the Airport Dog Park. Meanwhile, two sites have already been identified for a possible dog park in Mar Vista. ROOM TO SPARE Surveys of the Airport Park show that usage is considerably lower than expected. Barbara Stinchfield, director of community and cultural services for City Hall, said that there have been no more than 18 dogs in the park at any given time, a far cry from the maximum capacity of 45. In addition, park rangers are not handing out tickets to LA residents caught in the park, but are merely informing them of the law, Stinchfield said. City Hall is only asking for a little more time to study usage and devise options for LA residents. At first, there was an offer to set aside 15 permits for LA residents, but community groups balked at the idea, saying they didn’t know how to distribute the passes fairly. What makes the park unique is its location. While other dog parks are situated in the middle of town or to the west, the Airport Park sits right on the city’s eastern border, just a few yards away from Mar Vista homes. Residents there said they should be able to use the park because of its close proximity and the fact that Santa Monica is a “green” city that encourages people to get out of their cars and walk. Currently, residents in Mar Vista have to drive to a park in Venice. Lisa Frankel, who has an office in Santa Monica and a daughter attending Santa Monica High School, said she spends most of her time in the city by the sea, attending yoga classes or dining at local restaurants and feels she should be allowed to use the dog park, even if she lives in LA. “It’s silly to be creating a civil war over something like this,” she said. “I think it should be open to everyone.” Commissioner Lori Nafshun said she was “embarrassed”that so much attention has been focused on the dog park policy and hopes that a solution sooner than later. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 23, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)