Ribbon Cutting for Off-Leash Dog Play Area

For years, the residents of Mission Terrace would take their furry family members to Balboa Park, so that they could run free and play with the other dogs in the community. It's always been a great place for neighbors to meet up and get to know one another, while sharing that special bond with their dogs.  And occasionally you might even see a dog birthday party!

Only within the last few years, there would be occasions when officers would hand out tickets to guardians of off-leash dogs. Because of the decades-long practice of having a place for our dogs to play, and a location that created a true sense of community, the neighborhood (lead by Abigail Nguy and Supervisor Ahsha Safai, helped push through a change. This change was the official recognition of the triangle area behind the Balboa Pool (off of Havelock Street), as a mixed-use off-leash play area. This change is not a change to a "dog park" (which would have required the area to be fenced and would dramatically changed the character of the space.) Instead, this change codifies what was already in place for the friendly dog-guardian Mission Terrace community. 

On March 22nd, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to help celebrate the change. SF Recreation and Park was on hand with bags for attendees, photos were taken, and dogs celebrated with their furry friends. SF Rec & Park will be installing more benches in the park, along with a low "barrier" to demarcate the off-leash area. Thanks to everyone who helped make this mixed-use off-leash play area a reality.

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