Portola Valley Off-Leash Dog Area Survey, September 30, 2024 

The Portola Valley Parks & Recreation Committee has received requests for a dedicated area at which dogs may be off leash, and is considering a pilot program. Current law requires that dogs must be leashed at all times. However, Portola Valley can adopt a local ordinance to allow for a formalized off-leash area. This would provide a legal means to allow dogs off-leash in a given area, as well as improve safety and sanitary conditions.

The first step was to assess interest levels, time frames and features. An online-survey was conducted in September 2024. The survey was delivered via various official Town notices and on the Town website, as well as via the PV Forum.

The full survey results are at this link: https://www.portolavalley.net/home/showdocument?id=18966&t=638669403991667510

Key Findings from the 310 survey responses are as follows:

• 53% of respondents have one dog, 20% have 2+ dogs, and 27% do not own a dog
• 76% of all respondents support an off-leash area, 15% said maybe, 9% said no
• Nearly 64% of dog-owners currently let their dogs off leash (145 out of 228)
• The primary times for dogs off-leash is before 11am and between 3pm and 7pm
• Key features (in priority order):
  • Large space to be able to throw a ball
  • Fenced-in area
  • Parking Access
  • Water Availability
  • Mowed Grass Area
  • Garbage Can Availability
• Key factors for supporting an off-leash area are socialization for dogs and safety issues

Next Steps

Given there is high interest in an off-leash dog area, the Parks & Recreation Committee would like to move forward for this pilot stage. The first step will be to consider and assess potential sites. The pilot program would be used to assess the viability of the site as well as usage by the community. We will be working with the Town Manager and other Committees who have interest in site availability and usage. And we will be gathering resident feedback at all stages of the process. Please contact Karen Askey at AskeyKaren@gmail.com with any questions. Or we welcome you to attend any of our monthly Parks and Recreation Committee meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month to provide your thoughts and comments. Thanks.