PORT ANGELES — City Council approval of plans to turn Charles R. Willson Park into dog park drew a display of anger Tuesday night from a man who had opposed it.
Larry Bennett, who spoke against the proposal and collected a petition of 64 signatures asking the city not to implement it, showed his ire by shouting after the 4-2 council vote:
“I hope you enjoy your [expletive] dog park.”
He then tore up a folder full of newspaper articles, his petition and other information, threw the confetti toward the council and stormed out of the council chambers, slamming the door after him.
Because he was in the back row, the torn papers did not reach the council but fluttered onto the seats in the rows in front of him.
After city staff — including Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith — followed Bennett out, the angry man asked the parks and recreation staff if they were happy they would be keeping elderly women awake in the neighborhood around Willson Park, which is on West Seventh Street between Valley and Tumwater creeks.
The council’s vote puts in motion the city staff to work on a plan to develop a dog park and bring it back to the council for implementation.
The council’s vote came after several citizens spoke on both sides of the issue.
Council members Don Perry and Karen Rogers, Mayor Gary Braun and Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton voted in favor, with council members Cheri Kidd and Dan Di Guilio voting against.
Council member Larry Williams was not at the meeting.
During the public comment period Bennett said, “I was appalled that 18 people showing up to that meeting was being used as community support.
“There are a lot of people in that quiet neighborhood who are not in support, and I’ve collected many signatures of those people.
“There were even two kids who didn’t want their park being used for dogs.”
The park’s plan included the addition of a new play set, which is currently in storage, Richard Bonine, deputy recreation director, said.
The new play set and the picnic tables already in the park would be moved toward the area where the basketball hoop is.
Bonine said the basketball hoop would remain in place.
He said the current backstop is not often used.
“I’d rather have 20 people use it daily than 40 twice a month,” Bonine said.
“It’s a numbers game. The more use out of the park, the better.”
Community meeting
The community meeting to discuss the park’s future July 8 took place at the park, 511 W. Seventh St., and was attended by 18 people and two dogs.
“I will have $3,500 to make it happen,” Bonine said Friday, adding that he had no supporters to revamp the park into a play area.
The money so far is from Willson’s daughters, who have together pledged $1,000, and from two other unnamed donors.
Paulette Willson said her father was a former City Council member and Olympic Memorial Hospital commissioner. He died in 1983 at the age of 63.
“As soon as I heard about this, I knew that this was something Daddy would want,” she said.
About six people spoke during public comment period, with three against, two in favor and one saying that the park needs improvements but not taking a stance on the dog issue.
This is the third time a dog park has been proposed in Port Angeles in the last decade.
Wrong park?
Di Guilio said he is in favor of it in theory but not at that particular park.
“That is too residential of an area in my opinion,” he said.
“I believe it is the responsibility of the dog owner find a place to exercise their dog.”
Wharton made the motion to ask the staff to develop a plan, she said, because she believed it deserved further exploration.
“The concerns brought up tonight are extremely valid, but I don’t know how to resolve them without developing this plan further, and the investment is relatively low,” she said.
“I would like this to be further defined and to just try this and see if some of the issues that are spoken of will arise.
“Someone said that the park needed some TLC, and it really, really does.
“If people can start to visit it more, perhaps they can start to care more and take care of this park.”
A group calling itself the Port Angeles Dog Park Committee sought a dog park at Lincoln Park in 2003, but nothing came of the proposal.
“If I had a million dollars, I’d build you the perfect dog park at Lincoln Park,” Bonine said.
“But I am trying to make the best use of the current facilities.”
Bonine said an off-leash dog area at the park would likely consist of separate areas for small and large dogs, in addition to a “small human” [child] area.
That would involve running two other fences across the park from north to south where the backstop stands and adding two entrances for the canines.
Current fences could be reused, he said.
A water spout also would be created for the dogs, Bonine said.
Water lines do run to the park, but they have been disconnected since 1995.
To maintain an off-leash dog area, Bonine said, the park would need to be sponsored by a group of residents.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
