December 6, 2005

A dog’s dream

All dogs go to heaven... if they live in Campbell

By Jennifer Robertson
Staff Writer

If you are one of those people who wonders what dogs dream about, the new Los Gatos Creek Dog Park will probably paint you a picture. Residents now have an off-the-leash park in which their furry friends can roam in an open area designed especially for them.

Like kids who had been pent up for too long, dogs of all sizes and breeds frolicked through the new park and socialized with new friends. Photos by Jennifer Robertson

The park, which officially opened to the public on Sunday, Dec. 4, features doggie fountains and separate playgrounds for large and small dogs that contain natural toys, such as boulders and logs (and lots of places to do your, ahem…business).

Many politicians, government officials and local groups showed their support at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, including Campbell Mayor Jane Kennedy, Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall, Los Gatos Mayor Diane McNutt, Director of the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department Lisa Killough, several city council members, the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter & the Silicon Valley Humane Society.

“We heard loud and clear from the dog community that you want more places to recreate with your dogs in an enjoyable setting and want those places close to home,” said Killough. “From that impassioned plea, a unique partnership was formed among the city of Campbell, the city of Los Gatos and the County to create this wonderful facility.”

The one-acre park, which was part of the Los Gatos Creek Master Plan, cost a total of $325,000, which was mostly spent on construction. According to Mayor Kennedy, the lay of the land was perhaps the biggest challenge, particularly in terms of drainage. “It’s amazing they were able to do it,” she said.

The day was filled with fun activities for canines and their owners, including musical dogs. Several organizations disseminated valuable information for pet owners.

The community’s support of the project was immense. Not only did some of the funding come from residents, but all of the numerous calls received by the Mayor’s office were in support of the project. “We had more phone calls on this project than any other project we’ve done in the city . . .people were excited about having this happen,” said Kennedy.

The park is located in Campbell at 1250 Dell Ave/ within the Los Gatos Creek County Park and is next to San Tomas Expressway. It will be open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset except Wednesdays, during which time it will be closed for maintenance. It is open to the public and there is a $5 vehicle entry fee.

Although some residents were disappointed about the fee, everyone seemed to be pleased with the new park.
“It’s very impressive,” commented Bill Cesano, Campbell resident and proud “father” of two dogs. The park is close to home, which makes it easier for him to let his dogs play freely without the constraints of a leash. “Not a lot of places will let you have your dogs off leash,” he said.

This doggie playground is one of the many features that make the park attractive to man’s best friend.

Cesano, along with several others present on Saturday, belongs to Society Dog, a social group for dogs and their owners that is based in Los Gatos. Group members attend events, exercise their dogs together and plan special outings. The park is another way for dogs and their owners to socialize with each other. “These guys are basically my children . . . they go wherever I go,” he said.

But exercise and a time for pet owners to socialize is only part of what makes a dog park so vital to urban communities. “A dog that is confined to a house, particularly if it’s a really high-energy dog and/or a really intelligent dog, is going to find things to do,” explained Cecilia Saleme, a dog behavioral counselor and coach who works with the Humane Society.

A confined dog is “like a kid that doesn’t have anything to do after school,” and as a result, “is going to get in trouble. A dog that doesn’t get exercise physically or mentally is going to do damage,” she said. “The thing about a dog park is you can go at any hour.”

Perhaps Supervisor Jim Beall summed up the underlying sentiment when he commented, “When you have happy dogs, you have happy people in the community.” Although no translators were present, everyone understood the wags of approval.