Public Park Used as For-Profit Dog Training Park

[MountainEarth]

That’s just plain laziness. If Park & Rec has the name of the park, then Parks & Rec needs to get off their a-double-s and send a law enforcement officer down to the park to investigate.

[CrookedFinger]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

I have on a few occasions emailed the Mayor's office. Just tell him what's going on and that you're getting the run around from various departments. Good chance that something will happen. Also, make sure the local city council member knows your issue, they can often help too.

I agree. I would use the link I provided earlier and contact the Mayor directly. In the past, I have also contacted my city councilman, but how should I phrase this? He was worthless.

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by SYS

I live adjacent to a small public park where children come to play. This past summer, I noticed that a dog training business started setting up shop with a large tent and all the dog training equipment with stakes that take up about 1/3 of the park. Initially, I thought it was just a temporary shop. Nope, the tent went up for the whole summer. I then thought that, as the cold weather settles in, they will not return. Nope, they are still here today in December, and I believe they're planning on using this public park as their permanent business shop with no end in sight. I'm a dog lover myself, but I don't think it's right that our public parks are used for any -- dog training or others -- for-profit enterprises.

Can anyone direct me to the right city agency that can handle such issue?

You can download (or open) a PDF of El Paso County Parks Rules and Regulations here:

https://assets-communityservices.elpasoco.com

This section on the second page would seem to spell it out quite clearly:

3.1: PARK PERMIT: A park permit shall be obtained by persons who desire to use a park or portion thereof to the exclusion of others, or when such park(s) is closed to the public. The Director may list those parks or areas thereof for which a park permit is deemed necessary. Reservation or use of any park or portion thereof for a special purpose, such as a public gathering, entertainment, athletic practice, games or tournament, exhibition, commercial use, day camps, or any other activity shall require a park permit.

If nothing else, you can refer to the 3.1 rule to whomever you end up writing or speaking to. Good luck.

[TCHP]

So, its entirely possible this entity has a permit to conduct this business, based on section 3.1 above. Obviously if this is an isolated event, like the the 4th of July or the Balloon Classic, you want vendors to be able to provide stuff to enhance the experience of the event and a permit allows that. What we don't know based on the snippet of 3.1 above is if there is a time limitation or not to those permits.

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by TCHP

So, its entirely possible this entity has a permit to conduct this business, based on section 3.1 above. Obviously if this is an isolated event, like the the 4th of July or the Balloon Classic, you want vendors to be able to provide stuff to enhance the experience of the event and a permit allows that. What we don't know based on the snippet of 3.1 above is if there is a time limitation or not to those permits.

True, maybe they do have a permit, though you'd think if they did that info would be posted somewhere on or near the tent where they conduct business (isn't displaying a permit required?). At any rate ... it should be easy enough to verify by getting in touch with someone at Parks and Rec.