Carpinteria moved one step closer last week to getting a permanent dog park.

The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board offered a preliminary review on Thursday of dog park design plans for Monte Vista Park.

Currently on that parcel near the Casitas Village and Villa de Mar communities is a temporary off-leash dog park pilot program with metal fencing.

The city first approved the pilot program in November 2023 after advocacy from the Carpinteria Dog Owners Group (C-DOG). It has been active on that site since April 2024, and the city has granted the temporary program extensions while the permanent dog park undergoes review.

It is the only space in the city that allows dogs to interact off-leash. 

Under the current plans, the temporary fencing would be removed and replaced with a permanent 15,044-square-foot off-leash dog park along the southeastern corner of Monte Vista Park. The park would have separate areas for small and large dogs, as well as aluminum fencing.

It would have an off-leash transition entry space, as well as concrete walkways both inside and outside the dog park. Benches, drinking fountains and trash cans would be included, as well as landscaping along Pandanus Street.

All of the existing trees on the property would remain in place. 

Patrons could use restrooms, parking and utilities already at the park, city planner Megan Musolf said. A dog bag station also exists at Monte Vista Park for owners to pick up waste. 

She added that while street parking in that area can be difficult — the park itself has only 20 parking spaces — staff found that the temporary dog park itself has not significantly contributed to parking issues in that neighborhood. 

Board member Patrick O’Connor asked how they determined that. 

Musolf said the average number of people who are there on any given day is “insignificant” compared with the number of residents who visit the park for other uses, based on anecdotal reports from city staff.

Tori Cutbirth, program manager for the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, said C-DOG has maintained a “consistent presence” on the temporary site to help ensure rules are followed by both dogs and their owners. 

She also called the park an “investment in the health and well-being” of the Carpinteria community.

She said funding allocations for the park still need to be determined, given the city’s ongoing budget issues.

Lorraine McIntire, C-DOG co-founder and current treasurer, said the group has committed to raising $50,000 to “kick-start” the park.

She also said a private donor has committed to matching up to $10,000. The group plans to apply for grants once it receives permits.

Public commenters — largely members of C-DOG — threw their support behind the plans.

McIntire said C-DOG currently provides and refills the dog poop bag station on the site.

It also fills in the gopher holes, cleans and maintains all of the equipment, and offers dog toys, a first-aid kit and whistles. 

“I want to thank you for considering this design and tell you how great it was to work with the city all these years, especially in the past few years. We’ve had a really good team,” she told the board. 

Rob Denholtz, sporting a C-DOG hat, said the park is a good place for both dogs and humans to socialize. 

Dogs “are pack animals and … (it) is important that they have relationships with other dogs,” he said. 

Board members had some feedback on the fence height and type, as well as parking in the area, but said the plans overall look good. 

“I’ve been on the board now for four or five years, and this is the most community-driven group, and I love it,” board chair Amy Blakemore said, referring to C-DOG.