Here are some of our ideas for your consideration of support

The idea is to try to allow safe, and rule abiding dog owners with more privileges for their dogs, rather than punishing all dogs and owners with severe rules and restrictions because of the irresponsible few. Most dog owners seem to care very much about being responsible, not making other humans or dogs uncomfortable or afraid, and cleaning up after their dogs. Vests (or tags) could be required that would bring the town some revenue and that would provide a means for positively identifying off leash dogs. The vest or tags could be revoked if owners fail to control and manage their dogs responsibly.

The idea is more extreme in that it would require that any dog in the park have a vest or tag identifying them as having permission. It would bring the town some revenue and would allow police (or others) to easily identify any dogs that should not be allowed.

This idea is to require vests for dogs that are purchased (sliding scale fee? and/or discount for multiple dogs in household?) from the Park and Rec Dept. that allow easy identification of a dog and owner from a distance in case there are any issues with the dog's or owner's behavior. This would generate some revenue for the town and would help identify dogs and dog owners that are not being safe. Obviously, there would have to be an appeal/discussion process for handling complaints, but this solves the issue of readily identifying problem dogs and owners.

This idea is to ask the town to adopt policies that distinguish between responsible and irresponsible owners and dogs that are well-controlled and well-behaved versus those that are not. Just as we allow service dogs to accompany owners into restaurants, etc., where other dogs cannot go, why don't we allow well-behaved dogs and owners to allow their dogs off leash with certain restrictions and parameters?

This idea is to allow owners/dogs to try to pass a test and earn an annual permit that allows for some off leash privileges. The tests are stringent and the tests would need to be passed annually and permits can be revoked if a dog displays bad behavior. Such a program is used in Rockville, Maryland. A less-difficult version of this could be used to screen and maintain participants in a Large Field Socialization Gathering.

This idea is to allow responsible dog owners to volunteer and help inform others and enforce rules and expectations of responsible dog ownership while in the park (perhaps a vest fee or other type of compensation could be offered?). Rather than have expensive and limited police and town resources try to monitor and control dog and owner behavior, why not let responsible dog owners who are onsite already help other dog owners behave responsibly? There is self-interest for the volunteers because all dogs and owners are affected indirectly by the behavior of others. Also, there is room for positive reinforcement and example setting if the enforcing volunteers can demonstrate and explain good behavior themselves. This may save police and town resources and may help dog owners feel like they are part of a caring and welcoming community. If greater freedoms can be enjoyed by responsible dogs and dog owners when there is good behavior and there are good experiences in the park,

Some dogs and owners slow down and check out the park and then just pass on by because the dogs in the park are bigger or behaving more aggressively than the passing dog or owner would like. Even though the park is already fairly small, this idea is that it might be nice if there were a separate section (or separate time?) for gentle dogs to be off leash and interact less aggressively.

Some dogs love the water, especially when they get hot. The idea is for the Town of Corte Madera to preserve the ability of dogs to swim, on leash if needed, in the creek at the Town Park, or to provide another location for dogs to be able to swim.

A long leash does not necessarily equate with an out of control dog. Long leashes can be let out only as much as is safe under the circumstances and they allow dogs to run longer during play while allowing others in the park to feel and be safe from unwanted dog encounters. Perhaps there could be a permit and identifying tag or vest required for long leash activity.