Barbadanes Dog Park
As the city of Mission Viejo has already wasted over $100,000 designing a dog park, where those drawings were trashed due to a change of venue, I thought it time to expose an existing dog park that I visited today at 9 a.m. (returning at 10 a.m. with my camera.)
Folks. There is no need to spend $1 million dollars for a dog park. Located off Felipe, between Oso Parkway and Marguerite Parkway in the southern area of Mission Viejo, is Barbadanes Park.
At 9 a.m. Joe Holtzman and I visited Barbadanes and observed eight residents walking their (nine) dogs around this lovely well maintained park that is a well kept secret. It is fenced with iron bars on two sides with upper railings at the top of the slopes on the other two sides. I passed another person walking a mid size dog on my return visit.
As you enter on Barbadanes the first thing that catches your eyes is the drinking fountain with a spigot below for dogs near the dog bag dispenser.
Before departing at 10 a.m. I paced off the distance from curb to curb as there exists “no parking” signs on both sides of the street. At roughly 32 feet it is the same width as the street where we live. Therefore the side adjacent to the park entrance can surely be opened up for park users who do not live in the neighborhood and walk to the park.
Before writing this report I did some research and discovered that Lake Forest, with 13 square miles and 78,000 residents, currently has 27 parks.
The 43 square mile City of Irvine, located just north of Lake Forest, is triple the area of Mission Viejo and, with 217,000 residents, is double our population.
The City of Irvine has 36 neighborhood parks while Mission Viejo has 37 total parks unless I missed one or two. We can surely sacrifice the 7 acre Barbadanes Park, especially as it already is being used for that purpose. As we walked the park Joe and I counted seven benches and four picnic tables along with a tot lot.
With thousands of MV residents who have dogs there is no valid reason why Barbadanes Park, located roughly 400 yards from where former Mayor Sharon Cody lives, cannot be dedicated for the desired dog park.
In fact community watchdog Joe Holtzman offered to provide up to $1,500 in matching funds to place a gate at the Barbadanes entrance.
I live near Barbadanes. I believe some junior soccer practices there that might be scheduled elsewere. And there is a tot lot that could be separated from a dog park.
The neighbors will surely object, but Larry’s idea is a starting point.
Larry,
How do dog parks differ from regular parks?
Are dogs allowed to be off-leash?
Are the parks completely fenced all around?
Junior.
A dog park is fully fenced enabling dogs to be off their leash.
Email from long time MV resident:
Here’s to the two of U…..Great job…more money for landscapping.
Phone input from well connected politician. One word. Brillliant!
Folks. To promote the Juice I send out hundreds of emails of my posts around the state. Latest feedback that I will share for your reading enjoyment and comments.
Larry There is another location with parking and bathrooms. The ‘bowl’ area of Flo Jo Park. When that park was conceived, that was thought to be a future area for concerts. Hence the ‘bowl’. It was briefly used as the replacement area for the four corners Holiday Displays. Other than that, it goes unused. I know the neighbors above would protest, but that too is resolvable. If the city were to institute specific hours for dog park usage and post them, then it would not affect homeowners before breakfast or say after 7pm.
There might be a need for some new drainage accomodations due to the water quality runoff situation, but that would be less than what the architects have cost us to date.
Email reply from a friend in Irvine:
Larry-
Go look at the Irvine Bark Park off of Sand Canyon and Valley Oak Dr. It’s close to our Animal Shelter.
To have a successful dog park you need a small dog area and a large dog area…..all fenced (chain link) and gated. Need a gate within a gate so dogs and owners can enter and release the lease then enter the park. Big sign with rules are a must. Benches and shade are a plus. Of course, poop bags and trash cans. Ours has porta potty’s, the one here at Palm Desert has real rest rooms. Parking close to park is important to dogs (they get excited to go in to park).
That looks like a lovely park to have it in.
Excellent dog owner,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I will notify this individual that the design does address having a division to keep the larger and smaller dogs separated.
We can easily fence off part of this seven acre park to accomplish that safety precaution
What amazes me, not really, is that we have spent over $100,000 for a design only to change our mind because the original site was not thoroughly vetted with the neighbors. So we simply flush $100,000 down the sewer.
We can’t afford that kind of leadership in this city.
Larry & Joe,
The two of you need to go out and do your homework! Where were you when they held public hearings? I think one of you was there, but complaining. I remember the vocal group said they did not want it near an area where kids (tot lot) are or next to a main street (Felipe) or close to homes (homes right there) or schools, sporting areas (I noticed a basketball area there), etc. I visited Barbadanes Park (met several nice people there with their leached dogs) and realize the whole park is not secured even if Holtzman installed his gate. Did you notice there were openings on both Barbadanes and off Felipe? There isn’t fencing on the sides along the slopes. OR was Holtzman going to leave the entrance at Felipe open so the dogs can chase after the rabbits across Felipe? I walk my dog at a lot of parks in this city and everyone who has a dog calls their neighborhood park an “unofficial Dog Park”. Why don’t we make every Park open to dogs owners from 7am (when our parks open according to the sign I read at Barbadanes Park) until 8:30am before kids and people get there and let the dogs run free? Wasn’t there a “Blue Ribbon Committee” that looked at all the available areas and after a lot of meetings/hearings it was narrowed down to three location, then to two, and then to one and then down to none. Then your City Council approved Gilleran location.
What is your point about other cities and the number of parks? WE are lucky to have the number of parks we have mostly thanks to the Mission Viejo Company. These small parks are called neighborhood parks that are small and are to be used by the residents in the surrounding area (usually within walk distance of their homes).
Why would you post comments from other cities who e-mail you or are you making those up? Lets not have people from other cities tell us where to put our dog park as we have one being put in next to Gilleran. Our dog park keeps getting promised to us but people like the two of you keep it from becoming a reality. Actually, the two of you complain about almost everything. Please be constructive and not destructive. I guess Watchdogs need parks are well!?!
It appears you two have an ax to grind with former Mayor Sharon Cody by mentioning this park and how close it is to her home.
Lastly, you two need to do a lot more homework before you go out and make useless recommendations. As pointed out by one of the respondents, that park is being used by soccer teams as you might or might not know, there aren’t enough fields / parks to accommodate all the teams that need practice fields. Our lacrosse teams are looking for field space as well.
As you fail to identify yourself in responding you lose credibility by hiding behind the curtain.
Stop crying about the need for another practice field for soccer. With 36 parks Kelly Doyle can make it work rather than blowing another million dollars when he doesn’t even live in our city so its not his money being wasted.
I have retained the posted emails in the event I am challenged to produce them.
No, I am not making them up. If you were to ask Vern and Art I previously sent them advance email copies of every Gilbert post. It takes a great deal of extra time and effort to select which of the 1000 plus names in my data base to send them to.
Those emails have been sent to the current and last president, our former governor, and many state and city legislators, especially if I am including them in my report. The vast majority of the recipients do not take the time to read blogs so I set the table for them by providing the posts.
It’s OK for companies to lay off Mission Viejo residents but you object to changing the usage of one park when we will still have 3 dozen that are not open for dogs to run. .
Many public sector and some government agencies may be reducing staff yet you are opposed to giving up a practice field?
The comparison of local parks was to make a point. With 37 parks in 17 square miles we have a neighborhood park within a half mile, on average, of where our residents live. Irvine is triple in area to MV yet has around the same number. Should they add more?
Perhaps we should have one on every corner. There is no shortage of exisiting parks where those who have waited a few years can have one within 60 days. I might even bring my Cavalier down there tomorrow as the people we met and spoke with this morning were very friendly especially when I asked if they would welcome the idea of Barbadanes becoming a dog park.
As the city is looking for three acres for the dog park we can easily divide Barbadanes if they want to retain the tot lot.
And please don’t make bogus remarks about my city council comments as I have not said word one about a future dog park in that forum. You want proof? Watch every meeting video then apologize. No, don’t. It’s beneath you and I won’t accept it anyway.
If not for us Sierra would have been bulldozed and Montanoso was about to be sold by our former city manager. Check with Trish Kelley about “Save Sierra” and my role as her campaign manager in her first bid for city council in 2002 when we trounced BOTH the mayor and vice mayor.
We have supported several projects in this city including the expansion of the Murray Center when the cost was approved at $5.5 million, not the $16 million which was spent. We will continue to police the staff and council on their spending of OPM
As I am sliding off the thread responding to your off topic comments I’ll simply quit now.
Please address your lack of homework on this park! You went and you didn’t notice two entrances? Next to homes, next to a major street, next to a tot lot, next to half a basketball court all the things people don’t want a dog park next to! Plus Holtzman is willing to match $1,500 for a gate when there would need to be two gates and it is not completely fenced off. Not to mention the current fence allows smaller dogs to squeeze between the rod irons and in some areas climb under (be it smaller dogs). I looked at that park and you are barking up the wrong park.
I just got off the phone with animal control and found this park is the second highest park in respect to complaints of barking dogs and complaints about dogs off leach. Apparently the neighbors complain because the dogs are having fun and barking. Do your homework, go to most parks where you find dogs and of course they’ll say they would like that their dog park because they already use it that way.
Please address the questions raised and stay on topic:
Did you notice there were openings on both Barbadanes and off Felipe? OR there isn’t fencing on the sides along the slopes? YES dogs climb slopes!
As for stop crying – you and your group are the biggest crybabies I ever seen (actual watch on the televised City Council Meetings)
Who cares where Doyle or Rattay live? I think you just like to complain. Just because someone doesn’t live in our city doesn’t mean they are not professional and report to our City Council and work at their pleasure. I think they do a great job for our community/city I don’t care where they live!
What does “companies to lay off Mission Viejo residents” have to do about the dog park topic and your two making a trip to the “stealth dog park in MV”?
Why would you talk about a former major living close to this area?
Who said anything about putting a park at every corner? The topic is one dog park!
Your comment: don’t make bogus remarks about my city council comments. Re read my comment as I said one of you was there, but complaining. I was referring to Holtzman.
All my comments were directed at your article based on facts. Once again, do your homework and PLEASE come out with complete and factual information without innuendos and assumptions or twisted comments.
HBC
DIDN’T YOU READ THE POST? I’M AWARE THAT THERE ARE TWO PARK ENTRANCES. JOE OFFERED TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE ONE WE ENTERED.
AS TO SMALLER DOGS THERE SURELY IS FENCING THAT COULD BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING RAILING. I KNOW YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE CHICKEN WIRE.
AS TO KEITH AND KELLY DOING A GREAT JOB YOU OVERLOOKED ONE KEY ELEMENT. AWARDS WE HAVE WON FOR SPENDING OPM SUCH AS OUR MILLION DOLLAR SIDEWALK AT THE LAKE ENTRANCE OR THE $400,000 TO $500,000 OUTHOUSE FOR A PARTY OF TWO AT MELINDA PARK.
AS TO COMPANIES LAYING OFF WORKERS MY POINT IS THAT WHILE THE PRIVATE SECTOR RETRENCHES, TO DO MORE WITH LESS, YOU APPARANTLY ARE NOT WILLING TO SACRIFICE ONE OF OUR 37 PARKS FOR FULL TIME OR PART TIME USE BY OUR PET OWNERS.
YOU’RE OK WITH SPENDING $1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A FIVE STAR PARK WITH SPECIMEN TREES THAT THE DOGS WILL LIFT THEIR LEGS ON. I CALL THAT BEING GREEDY.
IN ONE OF YOUR COMMENTS I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT JOE OR MYSELF SPOKE AGAINST THIS PROJECT. IF YOU DID YOUR HOMEWORK YOU WOULD HAVE DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THIS CIP IN ANY CITY COUNCIL OR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. THAT BEING THE CASE WHY DID YOU INCLUDE ME IN YOUR REMARKS?
YUP. EVERYTHING YOU WRITE IS BASED ON FACTS.
Larry:
I romped in your park yesterday after my master saw your article.
What a wonderful place.
I also used the drinking fountain, bushes, and poop bags.
Tell that Windbag that objected– to try flying kits instead of poking her nose in my business.
Woooof !! and thanks,
Robbin
Speaking of creditability, Larry, what’s with this new trend of people sending you email rather than coming here to comment? Do you really think isn’t transparent.
Clearly this is nothing more than an attempt to derail the dog park. Another stalling tactic from the crazies. You know that park won’t be approve for the reasons stated by “barking up the wrong park.”
And why is it you only challenge people who use an alias? Who in their right mind would use a real name on this blog. From evidence in this article we all know you and Holtzman are obsessed with and stalking Sharon Cody.
You’re a sick man, Gilbert. A sick man.
LBM
It’s a new day and a new year.
I will be less tolerant of your personal attacks. Make you case but do not cross the line
Just as we accept anonymous comments from whistleblowers in the SASD that same policy applies to my posting of emails from people in the know.
When firms downsize those who remain are often expected to pick up the duties of those removed. The same should apply during this recession when we can afford to dedicate one of our existing 37 parks to satisfy this dog park request. To repeat. Go to Barbadanes and you will see that it is already in use.
Some people just love to call anyone who asks questions a ‘meanie’. OK, so lets say we have a million dollar dog park. The senior center went over the estimate by triple. The rec centers by double. Now we have shades over the bleechers at some…. baseball parks.
Lets level the playing field. Right now the proposal is for a gravel parking lot. Nowhere else in the city does a gravel parking lot exist. Why should this park be sub par for the city? Why shouldn’t a dog park have the proper shade structures as the ball parks on the samee street? For that matter, why don’t the other ball fields (say the GIRL’S baseball park on Alicia,) their bleechers are sub par now as well.
What about fixing the decking and lighting at the (Nadadores) swim center. There’s another 3 million that we are contractually obligated to. While I was Mayor, we had groups wanting a BMX park, and most especially RV parking in the city. What about those folks? They are being shortchanged now if we build a diamond studded dog park? I love dogs too, where is their foundation and fund raising for this park? Lots of talk, no moolah.
Other writers have mentioned the formerly high profile ‘activists’ as being some kind of bad people because they have been looking out for us. Will they now say the same about the redhead that gets up at every meeting to say her points of view, or the other woman who speaks at every meeting reinforcing the views of KUL? Well they both fall into ‘special interests’ because they got the paying jobs with the city as commissioners.
Lets tell it like it is, who are the ‘special interests’? Is it the residents who for years have researched the misadventures of the city and former councils, or is it the residents who are queing up to become council members, and commissioners?
Madam Mayor.
In my phone exchange with mayor Leckness yesterday I discussed “special interests” projects. In that same call I told him we lack a cemetary in Mission Viejo. I have seen you and your husband at the El Toro Cemetary for Veterans Day every year that you are in town.
Why can’t we have one too. After all, we are the elite of south county if you believe what some call themselves.
I did mention the need for a Mortuary in that I frequently need to cross Interstate 5 to go to memorial services that are held at O’Conner’s or McCormick’s in Laguna Hills. Frankly I would prefer not having to leave the city. I’ll think of something else in due time.
At the present time I believe we are in negotiations for a MV mortuary. It’s a start.
Sure is nice to see you staying on the topic????? Back on topic, what was wrong with the above suggestion (that would be nice and close for you, since everything is about you):
There is another location with parking and bathrooms. The ‘bowl’ area of Flo Jo Park. When that park was conceived, that was thought to be a future area for concerts. Hence the ‘bowl’. It was briefly used as the replacement area for the four corners Holiday Displays. Other than that, it goes unused. I know the neighbors above would protest, but that too is resolvable. If the city were to institute specific hours for dog park usage and post them, then it would not affect homeowners before breakfast or say after 7pm.
Melinda Park would be nice for MM (I don’t know where she got the madame part from and she certainly isn’t the mayor) SORRRY GOT OFF THE TOPIC!
HB the curtain.
I guess you don’t follow the printed or broadcast news. Somehow I don’t recall hearing anyone addressing two retired men as “Bill” Clinton or “George” Bush. They are acknowledged by another respectful name called president yet neither of them is in office today. But, like yourself, I digress.
Another point that should be added to the dog park story.
Just as Sharon Cody lives within 400 yards of Barbadanes, we live within the same distance from Flo Jo. I would not have a problem with the suggested location with a few comments. While Flo Jo does have the restroom the suggested location is not flat and would require more fencing.
As to Melinda Park and it’s half million outhouse for a party of two. It is one of the more active parks for soccer in our city while Barbadanes has less usage. As I am often in that area I do not see anyone walking or running dogs at that location.