Newport explores sites for more dog parks

Newport Beach officials will be looking into possible locations for additional dog parks in coming months.

The Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to create an Ad Hoc Dog Park Committee to review possible sites and appointed commissioners Laird Hayes and Walt Howald as its members.

The city’s first dog park, built in Civic Center Park in May 2013, has been “received favorably by the community,” according to a city staff report.

“We’ve had such great success with the existing dog park, it made sense to look into additional sites,” said Recreation and Senior Services Director Laura Detweiler. “We know there’s some interest.”

Even in the rain Wednesday, people from Newport Beach and nearby cities were frolicking with their furry friends at the civic center dog park, which features an expanse of dirt and grass along with benches and a water fountain that owners can activate with their foot for their thirsty pets.

George Gorman of Irvine said he tries to take his 10-month-old American Eskimo puppy, Murray, to the park every day for exercise. Gorman lives in an apartment on the border of Irvine and Newport Beach, making the park a convenient place to run his pup without a leash.

“If he doesn’t get some exercise every day, he’ll start to beat up our cats,” Gorman said. “Running around with other dogs usually wears him out.”

In September, the City Council directed staff to work with the commission to evaluate and recommend future dog park sites.

The commission identified undeveloped land above Superior Avenue and unused property owned by AT&T next to Bonita Canyon Park as possibilities, Detweiler said.

She estimated it will be at least six months before the ad hoc committee takes its recommendation to the commission. The commission will then make a recommendation to the City Council.