Rancho Bernardo Dog Park users will get a long-awaited look next week at the city’s plans for park improvements being done with nearly $500,000 in state funding.

Plans call for improving accessibility, increasing shade and adding synthetic turf in the Off-Leash Dog Park at the south end of Rancho Bernardo Community Park.

Some of the money will be used in other parts of the community park to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. These include work on sidewalks, parking lot upgrades and restroom renovations.

The plans will be discussed during the Rancho Bernardo Community Recreation Group virtual meeting on Zoom at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21. The meeting link is bit.ly/3c50p1C. To reach by phone call 669-254-5252. The meeting ID is 160-945-2317.

Presenting the concept design will be Juliana Grotzinger, a project manager with the City of San Diego.

“This will be an information item only,” said Robin Kaufman, the recreation group’s president and dog park’s liaison. “Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.”

Current plans call for spending $485,000 on dog park renovations and some ADA improvements in RB Community Park.

In July 2019, state Assemblyman Brian Maienschein announced he had secured $500,000 for RB dog park improvements. However, over the years $15,000 was removed for state administrative costs.

“This happened due to a state budget shortfall because of the pandemic,” said Tim Graham, a supervising public relations officer with the City of San Diego.

The 2.66-acre dog park is divided into three pens for dogs to run free based on their sizes. Each pen has a double gate entry to make sure dogs do not slip out of the area when someone enters or leaves the pens. The dog park opened in 2004 south of the sports fields.

As part of the process leading up to the design concept, community members shared with city officials their wish list for improvements in multiple meetings over the years. Among their top concerns has been the frequent lack of grass, often due to irrigation issues and drought restrictions, which has led to dirt and dust being stirred up as dogs run around. Some dog owners said the dust has led to health issues for their dogs, such as eye infections.

According to Graham, the dog park elements in the city’s concept design include improving accessibility for users by putting in two accessible drinking fountains, directional signage, a site map, two accessible benches, an accessible picnic table, chain link gate and doggie bag dispenser. Many of these are in accordance with ADA requirements.

The design also calls for shade structures on the entrance plaza close to the three dog park gates. A desire for more shade was among the wish list items. There is also to be partial synthetic turf coverage on the three dog areas.

Other RB Community Park improvements being funded with the $485,000 are:

• Approximately 17,000 square feet of accessible improvements to existing sidewalks.

• Approximately 12,600 square feet of new sidewalks for accessible routes.

“These improvements are designed to improve accessibility to walkers and bikers coming from West Bernardo Drive,” Graham said.

• Landscape and irrigation renovations, and potentially some tree removals to accommodate the sidewalk improvements.

• Parking lot upgrades for accessible parking spaces. New curb ramps are planned in three locations along the east side of the park. They will account for approximately 2,500 to 4,000 square feet of regrading/resurfacing.

• Upgrading curb ramps and pedestrian push button locations at the north side of the park at the corner of West Bernardo Drive.

• Leveling the floor inside the park’s Comfort Station No. 1 (restroom).

The project is in the design phase, Graham said. The city’s timeline is to go out to bid in summer 2023, with construction to begin in fall 2023.

This summer, Maienschein announced he had secured another $790,000 for Rancho Bernardo Community Park. He said the intention for this funding is for the design and construction of tennis courts, sports field lighting and parking lot improvements to meet ADA requirements.

“I am proud to have secured funding in this year’s budget to help this staple in the Rancho Bernardo community make necessary upgrades,” Maienschein said. “This funding will provide opportunities to those in our neighborhoods to enjoy modernized amenities.”

City officials were not able to say how or why these projects were identified, nor a timeline of how long it will take to utilize the $790,000 for these other projects despite numerous inquires by the Rancho Bernardo News Journal.

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