Red Phone: Grass needed at dog park

“Will there be any improvements regarding the doggie park in Gilroy? The last time I was there with my little dog, it was just me the dog and three men sitting on the grass near the entrance to the doggie area, each had their own brown bag they were drinking from. I decided to go the doggie park in Morgan Hill. The people that I did talk to at the Morgan Hill park lived in Gilroy. What does that say for our little town? I can’t walk my dog in my neighborhood, because I live in a mobile home park, that does not allow dogs to be walked, even with a leash in one hand and a pick up poop bag in the other. It sure would be nice to see some grass, trees and water for the little dogs. Benches would be nice so people could sit and just watch the little dogs playing. Thanks for listening.”
& Red Phone: Dear Dogged By Park, There are currently no plans to add grass to the the one-acre facility that opened in January 2009 at Las Animas Park because of the added maintenance and expense, said Donna Pray, executive director of the Gilroy Foundation and champion of the park.
A big reason the park even exists today is because of the generous $50,000 donation by the Merriman family. The small dog park now has water, three benches and five trees planted in 2010, and the large park has eight benches and seven new trees to add to the original two, Pray said.
The park may not be perfect but it is  still better than nothing. And if you don’t want to make the 15-minute drive to the park to the north, there are plenty of local parks that have grass that you can take your dog to.
Do you visit the Gilroy dog park? And if so what do you think about it? Feel free to leave your thoughts on this Red Phone at gilroydispatch.com.