By DAYNA DRUM | Reporter
Faithful visitors to the Barrington Dog Park are in search of a new park for their four-legged friends as the threat to close the park grows each day.
The park is included in Zone 4 of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Master Plan, which is slated to be finalized this month.
Once the plan is finalized, the park’s gates could be locked for good at any time.
Palisadian Leslie Campbell has become the spokesperson for the dog park users and has put together a petition with over a thousand signatures, including many from veterans.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
“I represent a vast amount of people with doggies,” Campbell told the Palisadian-Post.
Campbell’s petition calls for either the park to be kept open or for an alternative solution to be created.
Since Santa Monica dog parks are only available to Santa Monica residents, the second nearest option is in Venice Beach, Campbell explained.
Campbell has owned a dog-walking business—We let the dogs out—for 10 years, but she stressed her interest is not due to her business.
Campbell’s own companion of eight years, Oscar de la Weiner, would be out of an off-leash park as well.
Campbell has sent her petition to numerous city offices and representatives, including Councilmember Mike Bonin and Representative Ted Lieu, but hasn’t received any responses, she said.
She has also been unable to make any headway with the VA.
Campbell said she supports the land being used by veterans but hopes a solution can be reached where veterans and dog owners can coincide.
In the meantime, the Barrington dog park is open, but Campbell calls the waiting process “dog purgatory.”
The VA could not be reached for comment by press time.
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