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Facts

City Resolutions and Ordinances support off-leash use on Fiesta Island.

San Diego City Ordinance #10843 passed May 30, 1972

This ordinance prohibited dogs from being on any San Diego public beach with the exception of Fiesta Island and the Ocean Beach Flood Control Channel.  This effectively established Fiesta Island as an off-leash area.  

San Diego City Council June 11, 2002, resolutions continued off-leash areas, including  Fiesta Island

“Whereas there continues to be an unmet recreational demand by the public for areas where dogs can legally be off-leash, and whereas the City Council recognizes that off-leash dog activity to be a valid recreational use; and, whereas areas authorized to be off-leash areas benefit the residents of San Diego”

San Diego Municipal Code 63.20,12 (d) amended 11/19/2001 

  • “Legally licensed dogs shall be allowed to go unleashed in Fiesta Island”

San Diego City Council April 12, 1999 resolution retained Fiesta Island as an off-leash area.

Additional Facts

40% of San Diego households have dog(s) 

  • 700,000 dogs currently in San Diego County
  • Number and percentage of households with dogs is increasing annually
  • Fiesta Island is the only large off-leash area that will support future growth in San Diego County.   

Of 40,000 acres of public parkland in San Diego, only 41 acres are off-leash areas aside from Fiesta Island.

Dogs are prohibited during daylight hours from the 1500 other acres in Mission Bay Park.

San Diego City General Plan Recreation Element Goals provide for: 

“a diverse range of active and passive recreation opportunities.”
“a park and recreation facilities that are designed to accommodate the needs of a diverse population.”

The recently adopted San Diego City General Plan incorporates a “City of Villages” framework 

  • Less than 4% of the city is open, vacant land available for development.
  • The future goal is higher density in existing communities.
  • Increased density in neighborhoods will increase pressure on already overused small neighborhood dog parks.
  • This will drive more dog owners to Fiesta Island, supporting our need to maintain its current acreage. 

Loss of off-leash areas in other parts of Fiesta Island will push more people and dogs into the fenced, off-leash area 

  • Enchanted Cove shoreline
  • Regional parklands
  • Primitive camp area
  • New and enlarged natural habitat areas