Central District Leaders Push Back Against Proposed Off-Leash Dog Park at Powell Barnett

Reporting By Cesar Canizales

Powell Barnett Park in the Central District is a peaceful place that neighbors use for play, exercise, family gatherings and more. 

But that tranquility could come to an end. Seattle Parks and Recreation is considering installing a fenced-in, off-leash dog park in an open, grassy section of the park—right next to a picnic area.

Maisha Barnett is the granddaughter of Powell Barnett, a civic activist and community advocate who received multiple commendations for his work in the community. The park was named after him in 1969. She opposes an off-leash area in the park.

“It would completely destroy a perfectly good open and green space,” Barnett said.

According to Seattle Parks, demand for off-leash dog parks has grown exponentially, so it conducted a study to determine where to build a new one. Powell Barnett Park is one of the locations in the central district that Seattle Parks has identified as one that meets the agency’s siting criteria.

The park fell into disrepair over the years, but in 2006, Maisha Barnett raised funds to renovate the park, putting in new sod, benches, an exercise area—all the work was done in just six days.

Barnett cited safety, the environment, and the disruption that an off-leash area would bring. 

“There are multiple events that happen here, including carnivals, children playing frisbee, football, soccer, family gatherings, church gatherings, school reunions,” Barnett said.

Besides, Barnett said, there is no need for an off-leash area because there is already a dog park just about a mile down the road—Blue Pond Dog park.

Some people who live near Powell Barnett, including former King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, oppose the plan.

“I think it's a terrible idea,” said Gossett. “It's one of the historic parks in the central area that a lot of African American families have gotten significant enjoyment from visiting.”

Gossett said he enjoys coming to the park with his grandchildren and watch them play. He wouldn’t be comfortable with that with the off-leash area inside the park. 

“Our assumption would be that there might be some dogs that we don't know anything about on the park, and there would be a lot of waste material from dogs over here that smells,” Gossett said.

Another neighbor, Bobby Forch, said the park is a place where people come to relax, to enjoy picnics and commune. 

“This is our health club. This is the place we come to recreate. This is the place we come to exercise wise. This is the place that we come for tranquility and to introduce dogs into that environment takes that away from people who don't, who have very little choice about where they can go to find peace and tranquility,” Forch said.

Ravi Chandran hasn’t been living in the neighborhood for very long, but he exercises at the park regularly. He says he’s afraid of dogs and would prefer an off-leash park somewhere else.

“There should be an exclusive park for dog ball-pitching games because dogs need exercise,” said Chandran.

Even people who like dogs oppose the plan. Hope Hensley is a friend of Maisha Barnett and has been informing neighbors about the potential of an off-leash area inside the park. She says most are opposed.

“Personally, I would find it disgusting to be next to a dog. And I like dogs, you know? I really do. I like dogs,” Hensley said. “I think to have a dog park in this wonderful green space would just change the park.”

A dog owner who had his two dogs at the park did not want to appear on camera, but he said he would be in favor of having an off-leash area at Powell Barnett for his dogs to play.

Rachel Schulkin, communications manager at Seattle Parks, said in an email that an off-leash area is needed in the Central District “in order to reduce conflicts at parks between residents and off-leash dogs and better mitigate the impacts of dogs on our natural environments.”

Seattle Parks acknowledged that the picnic area presented a conflict due to health and hygiene, and if Powell Barnett is selected, it would work with the community to relocate the picnic space within the park.

Community members who want to comment on off-leash plans should visit the Seattle Parks website at seattle.gov/parks. The agency is also hosting listening sessions at the U District Farmers Market on July 29th , and at Columbia City Farmers Market on August 16th.