Minnetonka council delays decision on off‑leash plan after hours of debate and public comment

The Minnetonka City Council on May 5 delayed deciding whether to implement staff and park board recommendations to permit off‑leash dog recreation in parts of Purgatory Park, voting to continue the discussion at a special study session on May 19 at 4 p.m.

The council heard a presentation from Parks and Trails Manager Marion Kumpka and police and natural‑resources staff on a proposed off‑leash strategy, a range of possible mapped areas within the city and two staff‑recommended zones in Purgatory Park. City Manager Mike Funk told the council that the issue is emotionally charged across the community: "In my 28 years in public service . . . two topics consistently rise to the top when it comes to complex and passionate public policy decisions: parking and barking," he said.

City staff described a process that included a public survey, a community working group, and recent action by the Park Board. The working group identified planning, design and operations criteria for off‑leash areas — including distance from residences, parking and ADA access, a preference for lower‑quality or invasive‑dominated habitats, and a mix of "hard" and "soft" barriers to separate off‑leash use from other park users. The Park Board forwarded an amended map that would designate substantially more acreage in Purgatory Park as off‑leash than staff's narrower recommendation.

Why it matters: Purgatory…