The Parks Committee voted to recommend that the City Council postpone building a dog park on the 40-by-90-foot parcel near Pickleball Park and continue searching for a larger site.

Committee members voted by voice to approve the recommendation after an extended discussion that included multiple residents urging a pause and more study. Susan moved the recommendation and Kathy seconded; the motion passed on an oral vote with no roll-call tally recorded.

Committee members and residents said the narrow parcel—described to the committee as a 40-by-90-foot area subdivided into a 40-by-55-foot “large dog” section and a 35-by-35-foot “small dog” section—would function more as a dog run than a full off-leash park and raised several concerns about safety and usability. A resident who identified herself as part of a Citizens Advocate group told the committee, “this parcel is far too small for an effective dog park. It could be a dog run.” She and other speakers said that dogs focused on balls or other distractions in such a confined area could trigger aggressive interactions.

Speakers also raised accessibility and amenities questions. The committee heard that there is currently no full restroom facility at the site; instead, a handicap-sized portable toilet was noted to remain in place. Residents said an off-leash facility designed to be ADA-accessible would need an internal pathway suitable for wheelchairs, and that the proposed layout appears not to provide that. The same resident reported that, during observations, pickleball players and visitors already encounter dogs and animal waste near the courts: “pickleball folks were telling us that they’ve run over there already now and stepped in dog poo.”

Committee members discussed disease transmission and vetting. Several speakers referenced veterinarian concerns about illnesses such as parvovirus and distemper and said those risks are one reason for a larger site with moving water and maintenance capacity. One resident, speaking from experience with Texas city parks, said her view was that responsible owners and basic vaccination requirements reduce but do not eliminate such risks.

Members also debated shared use with pickleball players. Multiple speakers said pickleball play regularly sends balls toward the proposed dog area, which could both stress dogs and create hazards for players and animals. Some committee members reported that pickleball players oppose locating a dog park adjacent to courts.

The committee’s formal recommendation to the council asks the council to continue seeking a larger parcel for a full dog park rather than accept the current Pickleball Park location as-is. The committee’s motion, as entered in the meeting, was to recommend that the city “wait on the dog park and continue looking for property.” No specific timeframe or alternate parcels were identified during the meeting, and the committee did not set binding conditions for the council beyond the recommendation.

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration; members asked staff to notify them of any future proposals so the committee can continue to advise the council on site suitability and design.