Doggone It – Where Will San Francisco's Dogs Go and Play?

We San Franciscan’s love our dogs.  In a 2006 National Geographic article, it’s estimated that SF has 745,000 human residents and 110,000 canine ones!  (And a gratuitous plug here, the pic up top is from the the Animal Care and Control’s website.  His name is Moe and YES, he is available for adoption, as are dozens of other cuddly and loving animals!)
We REALLY do love our dogs.  And we love the various places we can take them.  Fort Funston, Crissy Field and Ocean Beach are just a few favorite places to let our four legged friends frolic.  But a lot of them are a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and to make a really long story short – your dog’s favorite place to burn off some energy may become a “No Dog” zone!
Supervisor Carmen Chu was kind enough to share the below information about the proposed changes as well as ways for you to give YOUR input on what to do with San Francisco’s parks.  They might be Federally owned, but it’s San Francisco’s citizens that use them on a daily basis, and we deserve to make our input heard!
Here’s the scoop from the newsletter:

GGNRA dog management plan

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), a Federal agency, recently released their Dog Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The voluminous document and its recommendations would have significant impact on use of Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Lands End, Sutro Heights, Baker Beach, Fort Point, Fort Mason and Crissy Field. The document is available at all San Francisco Public Libraries and also online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dogplan

The Dog Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement presents several different alternatives for each park in the GGNRA, ranging from “no dogs” to severely restricting off leash areas. Our office wanted to make you aware that public comment on the plan will be accepted through April 14, and that it is important that the GGNRA and National Park Service (NPS) hear the concerns of San Francisco residents.

How to comment:

• Online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dogplan

• By mail: Frank Dean, General Superintendent, GGNRA

Fort Mason, Building 201

San Francisco, CA 94123

Public Meetings:

• March 2, 4 – 8pm , Tamalpais High School, Marin County

• March 5, 11am – 4pm, San Francisco State University, Seven Hills Conference Center

• March 7, 4 – 8pm, Fort Mason Bldg. A, San Francisco

• March 9, 4 – 8pm, Cabrillo School, Pacifica

Comments will be considered during development of the final plan, which is expected to be completed by late Spring/early Summer 2012. When making your comments, please refer to the specific area of the plan you would like to see changed, and your ideas for alternatives.

If you have any further questions about the Dog Management Plan/Draft EIS, please call the GGNRA at 415-561-4728.

The GGNRA is the nation’s largest urban national park, and includes areas of San Francisco, San mateo and Marin Counties.