Dog park or wilderness preserve?
EDITOR: I feel like I’m losing an old friend; a forested wilderness in my own backyard on a mountain named Fitch. The county bought this mountain to be a forever-wild wilderness, in perpetuity, for generations to come. They named it the Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve. The City of Healdsburg will hold title providing maintenance, upkeep and monitoring of the 173 acre open space preserve with the city residents paying for these services.
Four preserve open public meetings were held deciding the preserve’s usage, e.g. trails, events and wilderness preservation. Many who own homes or live on Fitch belong to the Fitch Mountain Association (FMA). Most of those members live outside of city limits and a large number are dog owners. Over 500 people attended these meetings, expressing their concerns. The FMA attended these public meetings and have had additional non-public meetings with city staff.
At the final open public meeting, February 8, I spoke and warned “Dogs off-leash are a public safety red flag that threatens the wildlife habitat, native plant species and people on the mountain; their loud amplified barking disrupting the wildlife including butterfly hilltop mating. It seems to me 90 percent of dogs on Fitch Mountain are off-leash yet FMA hasn’t addressed this almost daily threat. If not controlled drastic measures should be considered, e.g. trail closures to dogs.” During these meetings FMA dog owners stated “My dog is always off-leash and I will continue to have my dogs on the mountain.” When the FMA President spoke, not a word was mentioned regarding dogs on Fitch Mountain.
The Fitch Mountain Preserve Management Plan (pg 81) states: “Domestic dogs can be detrimental to native habitats and local wildlife populations, and unleashed dogs can affect other visitors’ sense of peace and safety. The impacts of dogs, especially off-leash, on wildlife may include harassment, injury, or death.”
Allowing dogs on Fitch means the public will be saying goodbye to Fitch Mountain as we know it; an old friend and backyard wilderness; magnificent, inspiring, giving comfort and strength. Many enjoy its peace and safety, as have the California gray fox, deer and fawn, Dusty-footed Woodrat, bobcat and rabbits. Eventually the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly and migrating species would disappear, replaced with dogs and owners. They would destroy the wildlife biodiversity, trample native plant species, and affect people’s sense of safety and serenity. It would, in essence, become “Fitch Mountain Dog Park and Open Space Preserve” attracting more dog owners.
Having attended all open public meetings expressing my concerns, and considering FMA’s dog owners’ statements regarding their lack of dog control, I strongly recommend no dogs be allowed on Fitch Mountain Preserve. The Villa Dog Park at the entrance to the preserve empowers dog owners with a sense of entitlement. I also urge that this dog park be relocated away from the preserve. I have owned dogs; man’s best friend. There are other dog parks in Healdsburg and in the County. Fitch Mountain Preserve should not be one of them.
Ted Calvert
Fitch Mountain author and historian
New food pantry hours
EDITOR: Since 1982 Healdsburg Shared Ministries, dba Healdsburg Food Pantry has been providing free food to needy families in Healdsburg and Geyserville. For the last several years our distribution schedule has been 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with seniors every other Thursday. We have discovered that many working families in need of help cannot get to the pantry before 5 p.m. We are now trying to help these working families by extending the Wednesday distribution time to 3 to 6 p.m., effective March 1. The pantry is located at 1505 Healdsburg Avenue, and all families living in Healdsburg or Geyserville are welcome.
Roger Dormire
President, Healdsburg Shared Ministries
