A short history of FIDO
In June 2021, Fiesta Island Dog Owners won an historic, hugely important victory before the California Coastal Commission (CCC). By a 6 to 5 vote, thanks in large part to excellent leadership from Commission Chair Steve Padilla, a lifelong San Diegan who championed our cause, the commission voted in favor of the fenced dog park and exercise area on Fiesta Island.
We are now officially "Fiesta Island Dog Park" in the City's Mission Bay Park Master Plan.
As our long-time members know, FIDO has fought for nearly 20 years to preserve the 90 fenced acres in the southwest portion of Fiesta Island from other uses, including roads and boat ramps. The story of the struggle to make this a dog park enjoyed by thousands of San Diegans and their dogs every week is long and checkered, but after years of battles, the City Council voted 9-0 in June 2019 to finally officially recognize our area as a dog park in the Mission Bay Master Plan.
The CCC vote was the final step needed to formalize the park. With that behind us, city planners are reviewing the approved updates in the plan, after which it will go to the full City Council. Become a member in order to get emails with the latest updates!
Meanwhile, FIDO is officially moving into a new mode as stewards of the area. Our new mission: To protect, improve, and sustain Fiesta Island's off-leash area, where residents and visitors alike can actively exercise with their dogs.
None of this took place in a vacuum, of course. The FIDO board, with support from many FIDO members, fought long and hard, with fundraisers, emails, calls, awareness campaigns, attendance at endless city meetings, buses to take members to meetings to speak out, name gathering efforts on weekends at the island, and much, much more. It's not an exaggeration to say that some board members have given years of their lives to this effort.
Now, we continue to need your help! Our membership needs to stay strong so that FIDO can continue as a powerful grassroots organization in San Diego, ready and able to look out for the best interests of our park.
Please join us, send us your comments, volunteer for our regular cleanups, buy our merchandise to support us, and donate when you can. We appreciate everyone who has gotten us this far, and look forward to working with all of you going forward.
Previous 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 Nov. 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:
Over 45% of San Diego households have at least one dog
Nearly 800,000 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 1,500 other acres in Mission Bay Park, and even during those restricted hours, must be ON LEASH.
San Diego City General Plan Recreation Element Goals provide for:
"a diverse range of active and passive recreation opportunities" and "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.