Anacortes residents urge council to allow dog wading pools, ask city to clarify parks policy

Residents of Anacortes told the City Council on June 23 they want small, regularly maintained wading pools allowed at dog parks and urged staff and council to develop a clear policy that protects animal health while addressing health or liability concerns.

Mark Robinson told the council he purchased a roughly 7-foot pool for his dogs after smaller plastic pools proved too small, and said a parks sign later appeared stating “no wading pools.” Robinson asked for a meeting with Parks and Recreation staff, dog-park users and council representatives to create a policy that would allow pools that are drained and cleaned daily. “We’d like you guys to help back us a little bit, and let’s put together a little discussion with the parks and come up with something that works for the dogs and doesn’t get anybody sick,” Robinson said.

Alan Lewis, a 30-year Anacortes resident who said he has visited the dog park for 20 years, told council members that shade is limited at the site and that dogs can suffer heat exhaustion in warm weather. Lewis said historically small pools were available at the park and that users would be willing to sign a statement to ensure daily draining and cleaning. He said the community could assemble a petition of hundreds in support.

Several speakers said they observed inconsistent enforcement: Robinson said he spoke with Parks staff member John Lunsford, who initially cited safety concerns and, later, health hazards as reasons for the prohibition; Robinson also said other items, like chairs, remain in parks. Don Faulconberry asked whether a specific policy exists; Mayor Miller responded that the city has regulations and policies that govern parks and that staff will “look into the policy.”

Speakers reported past vandalism to dog-park pools and differing accounts of who requested removal; those claims were presented as citizen statements without formal staff confirmation in the meeting record. No motion or council vote was taken; the council’s response was to direct staff to review current parks rules and report back, not to adopt a change on the spot.

Residents asked that any permitted dog pools be small, emptied and sanitized daily; Robinson and Lewis said their groups would cooperate with Parks staff on maintenance. The council did not set a specific timeline for a staff report.