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Fullerton council pauses Pooch Park relocation, directs staff to get real bids for multiple sites
Summary
After public testimony split over moving the Hunt Library Pooch Park, the Fullerton City Council voted to continue the item and directed staff to solicit hard bids for possible relocations to Brea Dam and Gilbert parks, explore a smaller footprint at the current Hunt site, and coordinate with the school district on nearby options.
The Fullerton City Council continued debate over whether to move the Pooch Park from its long-standing site behind the Hunt Branch Library and asked staff to produce concrete cost estimates and alternatives before making a final decision. Deputy City Manager Daisy Perez told the council the dog park — opened in 2007 and operated by the Fullerton Dog Park Foundation — was initially intended as temporary but became permanent because of community demand.
Supporters of moving the park argued it would improve access and programming. Suling Chen, president of the Library Board of Trustees, urged relocation to Gilbert Park, citing limited access to the current site and low daytime usage: “If we want a dog park to be utilized by the residents, we want it to be conveniently located,” she said. Several speakers, including Lisa Wozab and Joseph Maldonado, said that alternative sites such as Independence Park or Brea Dam might offer more space, parking or complementary amenities.
Others pushed to keep the park at Hunt Library. The Fullerton Dog Park Foundation and multiple speakers warned that the current site delivers value to the library and neighborhood and questioned safety and parking at potential replacements. One public commenter criticized a previously proposed scope that grew from a $245,000 estimate to more than $1.2 million, calling it “a boondoggle” and urging the council to demand transparent bids and written vendor quotes from staff.
Perez told the council that costs vary widely depending on site—keeping the park and doing modest aesthetic upgrades could cost about $50,000, while relocation costs depend on site-specific needs such as ADA access, concrete work, lighting and fencing. She said prior grant money had been used elsewhere and that available park-dwelling fees could be used for improvements.
Councilmembers asked staff to probe several options. Mayor Jung moved — and the council approved — a continuation directing staff to: issue requests for proposals and seek bids for hard costs at Brea Dam Park and Gilbert Park; assess a smaller footprint at the current Hunt location; and work with the Fullerton School District to evaluate a smaller parcel adjacent to Hunt. The motion also asked staff to scale any proposals to the needs of the neighborhood and report back with clear cost estimates and community impacts.
With the motion approved by roll call, councilmembers said they wanted the Fullerton Dog Park Foundation and neighboring stakeholders invited to future discussions. The council did not adopt a final relocation decision; staff will return with bids and refined options for council consideration.
