Teens want dog park in Agoura Hills

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

JAMES FARRALLY/Acorn Newspapers WHEATEN'S GREETIN'-Sydni Adler, 14, gets a friendly kiss from Kellie, a Wheaten Terrier, during a recent meeting in Agoura Hills. Lindero Canyon Middle School eighth-graders Kevin Goller, Justin Rushing and Scott Wilson organized the meeting to discuss the location of and funding for a dog park. For more information, contact Goller at (818) 991-7332.

Three dog-loving Agoura Hills teens have decided to take on city hall as a class project.

Justin Rushing, 13, Kevin Goller, 13, and Scott Wilson, 14, are eighth-grade students at Lindero Canyon Middle School who have decided that Agoura Hills could use a dog park.

The boys are trying to make their project a reality while they fulfill requirements for an honors language arts class, too.

Rushing said they’re hoping to find space in an existing city park that could be cordoned off for romping dogs.

Chumash Park, Morrison Park and Forest Cove Park are on the short list of possible parks that might offer a section for dogs only.

The boys presented their plan for a dog park to Agoura Hills city council members late last year.

Council members applauded their effort and tenacity, but didn’t commit to funding the dog park. Nevertheless, the students are continuing to gather information for city officials to convince them a dog park would be welcomed by residents.

Goller said, "I think that we are making headway," he said, adding that their quest will continue even after they’re turned in the school project at the end of the year.

"It would be unfair to the people who’ve been helping us to give up," he said.

Their next step is to investigate cost estimates of using an existing park for dogs. Estimates would be needed to fund trash cans and more fencing.

Wilson said he is hopeful that someday there will be a dog park in Agoura Hills.

"I know it’s going to take a lot of work," he said. "Getting anything to go through government is going to be tough."

All the boys have dogs that they believe would benefit from the park.

Rushing said his yellow Labrador, Blizzard, needs more space to run free. Goller’s Schipperke and Wilson’s wheaten terrier would also benefit from some doggy socializing.

"It’s a nice place (where) your dog can meet other dogs," Wilson said. "You can just put them in the park and they can run around. It beats walking them every day."

In addition to their presentation to the Agoura Hills City Council, the boys conducted a brainstorming meeting in early February.

They liked the idea of purchasing some excess land at the new Yerba Buena Elementary School site, but learned the law states excess school property must be sold to the highest bidder.

But, they said they may negotiate with the person or company that eventually purchases the property.

"We’re actually pretty committed to it," Rushing said. "We’re really hoping to get it done.

A good percentage of people who live in Agoura have dogs, but they don’t have any where to take dogs off leash. We just thought it would be a really good idea," he added.

LCMS language arts teachers Becky Jones and Carol Firestone support the dog park project. The students must record their progress, keep a written journal and make a presentation at the end of the school year.

The boys don’t use the dog park in Thousand Oaks because it’s too far away.

Kevin’s mother, Cathy Adams, said, "These little boys with big dreams—they do whatever they can. They have vision. They don’t settle for little things."