Cooper Park Off-Leash Dog Area Relocation

Thank you for being so patient while City staff explored options for the off-leash dog area at Cooper Park in response to a request from the Mountain View Whisman School District to move the existing area off District property. As part of this exploration, the City proposed three alternative locations and conducted public meetings and a community survey to get feedback from the neighborhood. We thank those who engaged in the process and provided input.

Since this input process, the District has communicated that the City is now able to keep the off-leash area in its existing location, which was not an option at the time of the community survey. Consequently, the City will continue to allow off-leash dogs at set times in the long-standing location rather than further consider other options within Cooper Park.

The public feedback received from the community meetings and survey provided City staff with insight regarding the community’s experience of the off-leash dog area, hearing both the benefit of this opportunity for dogs to exercise and play and concerns about dogs being off-leash at City parks. Concerns included dogs being outside the designated area and beyond the established times at Cooper Park. We will conduct additional outreach to remind dog owners to follow all posted rules and to keep off-leash dogs in the designated areas at the designated times to ensure Cooper Park continues to be a safe and comfortable environment for the entire community. City staff will also provide additional signage in and around the off-leash area with contact information for how to report issues to the City’s designated animal control agency, Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority. The City’s rangers will also be more visible at Cooper Park.

Finally, the City is currently developing a Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan and this Plan may provide recommendations for dog facilities based on input received from the City-wide survey process. For more information regarding this Plan, please visit: ImagineMVParks.com

Once again, the City of Mountain View Community Services Department staff thanks all the community members who engaged in the community meeting and participated in the survey. If you have additional comments regarding this project, you may email parks@mountainview.gov to share your thoughts.