The RPD DAC (Dog Advisory Committee) is currently reviewing proposals submitted by park user groups who have requested that areas within their local parks remain available to off-leash recreation in the form of DPAs (Dog Play Areas) within the guidelines of the RPD Dog Policy. These DPAs require careful consideration, as these areas include many parks that San Franciscans have used for de facto off-leash recreation for decades.

The new Dog Policy restrictions will require huge support and close interaction with the communities that live near and use these parks to find reasonable, creative and fair solutions. All parks under 10 acres are required to have fenced areas, and this is not what San Franciscans want in the majority of their parks. As they close down areas that have been used for so many years, it is essential that they open up larger parks for open, off-leash walking and hiking experiences, as the parks with official DPAs will become very crowded once enforcement begins.

In your communication with RPD, you may want to stress that this is a huge quality of life issue for thousands of San Francisco residents who use the parks daily for this fun and safe form of recreation.

The mailing address for those making decisions about our city's parks and open spaces is below, unless otherwise noted:

Attn: "Name of Individual" (see below)
Recreation & Parks Department
McLaren Lodge
501 Stanyan Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Fax: 202-208-7889
Phone: (415) 831-2700

You may send a letter to the attention of any of the below listed individuals or committees using the above address.

There are three main committees we need to communicate with on this issue:
ATTN: Recreation and Parks Commission
ATTN: Recreation Parks and Planning Committee
ATTN: Dog Advisory Committee

Recreation and Park Commission Members
John W. Murray, President
William P. Getty, Vice President
Gloria Bonilla
Gordon Chin
Jim Lazarus
Larry Martin
Rebecca Prozan
Eugene Friend, Commissioner Emeritus

To contact these members via phone, contact the Commission Liaison/Director
Margaret McArthur
Phone: (415) 831-2750
Fax: (415) 221-8034

Administration - IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CONTACT THESE TWO VIPs
Elizabeth Goldstein, General Manager
Phone: (415) 831-2701
Dan McKenna, Southern Superintendent
Phone: (415) 831-2700

In addition to Mr. McKenna & Ms. Goldstein, those in charge of the Dog Advisory Committee (DAC) are:
Frank Cassinelli (415) 695-697
Lemar Morrison, (415) 753-7180

Dog Advisory Committee Members:
Sgt. Herndon, SF Police Department
Hilary Amsberry, SF Department of the Environment
Carl Friedman, Animal Care & Control
Arthur Feinstein, Golden Gate Audubon Society
Randy Zebell, California Native Plant Society
Donald Bird, EQUP
Lisa Vittori, SF DOG
Ed Sayres, SF SPCA
Erin Farrell, PAWS
Mary Beth Wallace, Coleman Advocates

It is important to let our supervisor know that you request his support:

Matt Gonzalez
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
(415) 554-7630 - voice
(415) 554-7634 - fax
Matt.Gonzalez@sfgov.org