For those of you wondering, yes, there is an off-leash dog park in Menifee.

But it's not an "official" dog park, in that it was not set aside specifically for off-leash dogs. It used to be a baseball field that was abandoned for a larger baseball field nearby. Residents now take their dogs there to run around off-leash.

It's located in Aldergate Park, on the corner of Menifee Rd and Aldergate Rd. See the map below.


While the park is fenced, it's not a chain-link fence. It's a wrought iron fence. The fence still offers enough space in between the bars for small dogs to squeeze out. There's also enough room below the fence to squeeze out in some places. If you have small dogs, I don't advise taking them there.

Valley Wide Recreation appears to have jurisdiction over this park. Does anyone know what they plan to do with it? Will they designate it officially as a dog park, or do they have plans for something else? I put a call into them, but had to leave a message.

If Valley Wide Recreation will designate this officially as a dog park, and maintain it as such, I'd like to see some residents form a non-profit corporation as the "Friends of Menifee Dog Park", and raise funds to pay for a chain link fence, doggie poop bags, and a water faucet for filling up water bowls. I'm willing to kick in some funds for that.

A while back, Todd & Kim Jester, who also writes here on Menifee 24/7, mentioned wanting to build a private dog park. While I still welcome that idea, perhaps private funds could be better put to use by converting this piece of Aldergate Park into an official dog park.

UPDATE: A few hours after posting this, I got a call from Sam at Valley Wide, saying this is actually a flood-control basin, and water will flood this area during rains. But they put in a base-ball backstop just to let kids play ball. He knows that people have been taking their dogs there, and Valley Wide doesn't have an issue with it.

I mentioned to him that putting chain link fence around the area would help keep smaller dogs from squeezing out of the wrought iron fence. He thought that was a good idea. He put me in touch with Vince at their Menifee office. I called Vince, and he said he hadn't thought of that idea. He'll think about the idea, and call me back. I told him if cost was an issue, that I will be glad to donate some money.

Vince is also planning to put in a receptacle for doggie poop bags.

Labels: Aldergate-Park, Dog-Parks

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my post about the potential for a dog park in Menifee / Sun City area.

I've created a short (less than 10 minute survey) to help me assess the needs / wants of the dog-friendly community. If you have some free time, I would appreciate it if you would click on the link below and complete the survey. Please feel free to pass the link along to other dog-friendly people you know.

http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=piviq5bh1hmujtj284464

Thank You!

Labels: Dog-Parks

I wrote a year or so back about the lack of a community dog park in the Menifee/Sun City area and am very grateful for the overwhelming support I received.

I'm finally moving forward with my plans to establish a privately run non-profit dog park in our community. Currently, I am in the very initial phase - information gathering and applying for non-profit status.

If there is anyone with experience forming a non-profit or who has a legal background as it relates to non-profit entities and would be willing to help, I can be reached via email at kj_jester@hotmail.com.

I'm looking forward to finally putting this plan in motion and giving our "best friends" a place to roam (off leash) in their own community.

Labels: Dog-Parks

My husband and I recently relocated from San Diego to Menifee Valley (Sun City)...We came in search of land and affordable prices (and NEW homes). And we found it. We love our new development - Amberwood, by Lennar. And so far have loved everything but the bugs that the area has to offer. We're young - early 30's - recently married and are enjoying the slower lifestyle, the amazing sunsets, and the air conditioning.

The one thing that we feel Menifee is missing is a Dog Park! Our 65-lb, 6 month old Great Pyrenees agrees! While we were fortunate enough to have purchased a home on a 13,000 sf lot, we know that most new homes do not have such large lots. Even as it is, we don't let Borrego (after the desert) out into the backyard because right now it's a pile of compacted clay and rocks (and nails the builders left over). When we are ready to let her in the yard (i.e. when the backyard is done in say...2010) we will still want a dog park.

And our co-schoolers at puppy training in Temecula agree.

Socialization is not only great for the puppies, it's great for the humans. As my husband and I know very few people up in the area, it would be a great way to meet people who are (dog-obsessed) similar to us.

We've even debated opening our own puppy park...and would love to gauge what others in the community would think of having something like that available to them.

It seems to me that with all the development happening now, that one developer might agree with the idea and put one in for the community? Or at least, help out a community in securing a location and permits?

We're interested in hearing everyones thoughts! Please post or email directly to kj_jester@hotmail.com.

UPDATE (Apr 2, 2007): Todd has since launched an effort to start a private dog park. For more information, read these articles...

• Dog Park Survey - (Mar 31, 2007)


• Dog Park Plans Move Forward - Mar 14, 2007

Labels: Dog-Parks