Potrero Hill, San Francisco

Letter to the Community from the Esprit Park People/Dog Task Force:

Dear Dogpatch neighbors and friends:

As you may know there is a neighborhood task force comprised of members of the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association, Dogpatch Dogs, and Friends of Esprit Park, made up of both dog owners and non-dog owners, meeting to work out an acceptable use of Esprit Park with respect to people and dogs.

You may also be aware that there has been considerable tension between park users over the issue of off-leash dogs. While this task force is meeting to work out a longer-term solution, we see the need for an interim community agreement to help defuse the situation so we may all enjoy the park.

The balance we’re trying to achieve is an area of the park that is completely free of dogs and their leavings, in return for an area where dogs can be off-leash. There is no official off-leash dog area in the park, but in order to keep the south lawn dog-free (and dog feces and urine-free) we ask that everyone accept well-behaved off-leash dogs on the north lawn. To that end we’d like your support of the following interim agreement:

• Please keep all dogs off the south lawn at all times.

• Dogs are welcome on leash on the entire perimeter gravel path.

• If you are going to let your dog off leash, please do so only in the north lawn. Dogs should be well-behaved, and under the voice control of their owners.

• Clean up after your dog. Please try to have your dog “go” before coming to the Park and pick up after them in any case.

• And most importantly, PLEASE be respectful of others who are abiding by this agreement. Remember that these are your neighbors!

Please inform and encourage your neighbors and other park-goers to abide by this agreement.

Our task force is co-sponsoring a neighborhood Esprit Park maintenance/clean-up day with San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Department. Please join us Saturday Nov. 18 , 9am - noon. We will be replacing some dead bushes and various other small projects. Join in for all or part of the morning. Pizza lunch and beverages will be provided.

Thank you Esprit Park People/Dog Task Force