Dogs on the beach?

Courtesy Dogs of Long Beach/Facebook

The City Council is considering designating the beach at Long Beach Boulevard a dog park during the offseason.

Courtesy Dogs of Long Beach/Facebook

After a group of residents circulated a petition calling for beach access for dogs that garnered more than 2,000 signatures, the City Council announced last week that it would conduct a survey on the subject in accordance with its Long Beach Listens initiative.

City Manager Jack Schnirman said that the city was exploring the logistics of allowing dogs on the beach during the offseason, as well as the potential environmental, liability and cleanliness issues that would accompany such a policy. Its specifics would be worked out after carefully considering residents’ responses to the survey, he said.

“Right now we’re only focusing on what the public wants to see,” Schnirman said. “The City Council’s priority is that Long Beach listens.”

The city is already planning to build a dog park at the site of the old skate park. Schnirman said that facility would be built in the next few months, regardless of whether dogs are eventually granted beach access.

If they are, the Long Beach Boulevard beach would be cordoned off and, during a trial phase, the dog park would be accessible only to residents. In accordance with state law, dog owners would be required to register their pets, and Animal Control officers would patrol the beach.

“Long Beach residents, we know, have some strong feelings about this, both in terms of being pet-friendly and also protecting our beaches,” Schnirman acknowledged. “We look forward to seeing how the survey goes.” He added that the administration is open to new ideas and curious to see the results of the survey.

Members of the Project 11561 Facebook page launched the petition in August after receiving numerous requests from residents. Jessie Farrell, one of the page’s founding members, said the response was overwhelming, and the petition attracted 1,000 signatures seemingly overnight. On Sept. 1, members of the group sent a copy to Schnirman and the City Council, she said.

“If you look across the country at thriving beach communities, those that are family-driven and health-conscious, they all allow dogs on the beach at some point in the year,” Farrell said. “I think it would just be nice for people not to have to worry about getting tickets.”