This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's plan for Parleys Historic Nature Park, dogs can still enjoy the stream's north side, while people needing to be in nature can enjoy most of the south side. Consider these points about "Becker vetoes off-leash park plan" (Tribune, Dec. 28):
• Jason Esplin is shown with three off-leash dogs. Park rules say "no more than two dogs per handler."
• Kate Bradshaw of Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space complains about having to use the barren, less-shady north side. Overuse by dogs made it barren. She wants water access, also against park rules. She wants the south side for off-leash dogs, but a public park is for everyone, not just dogs.
• Bradshaw said "FIDOS worked very hard to find a compromise." Really? Many of us asked them to compromise and heard nothing.
• Councilman Soren Simonsen said "the overarching plan was to keep the park off-leash." He knows the park's 1986 dedication was for nature, not dogs. It was never planned to be all off-leash; that's not sustainable. Simonsen's vote violates his campaign promises to protect the environment.
Only the mayor's plan sustains this beautiful park for future generations.
Nancy von Allmen
Salt Lake City