Growling to Greet Dog Park Proposal

City parks officials will recommend that new dog exercise areas be created in the Sepulveda Basin and in Griffith Park to relieve pressure on a popular “dog park” set up as an experiment a year ago at Laurel Canyon Park south of Studio City.

The Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners will be asked Monday to establish the new leash-free exercise areas and to allow dogs to use Laurel Canyon Park for at least another six months. Opponents of the Laurel Canyon dog park claim animals have overrun its four-acre lawn, covered the grass with droppings and filled the area with constant barking.

Dog park opponent David Allen said residents plan to “present bags of fecal matter” scooped from the park lawn to commissioners at Monday’s meeting to drive home their point.

City Councilman Mike Woo will ask that new parking controls be imposed to prevent congestion at the park. An aide to Woo said he believes the additional 1.5-acre dog parks in Woodley Park in Encino and at Griffith Park near Glendale will reduce the number of dogs using Laurel Canyon Park.

Nearby residents who oppose the continued use of the Laurel Canyon Park by unleashed dogs plan to protest at the commission meeting, which will be held at 2 p.m. in City Hall.