Who We Are
Woof!
We're the people you see at Bayfront every morning and evening: neighbors, retirees, parents, and dog owners from all over Mill Valley. We aren't a formal organization; no one here is paid, and no local business profits from our appeal to protect the city’s only off-leash Dog Park. We came together because the park keeps getting put on the table for replacement.
While recovering from two strokes, Ken and his pup Carley continued to go to Bayfront for exercise and essential social connection.
A park that serves ages 8-80+
The Pump Track Alliance describes its proposal as a free, inclusive, multigenerational space. Mill Valley already has one: the dog park.
The off-leash area at Bayfront is free, open from dawn to dusk every day of the year, and asks nothing of users except that they show up. You don't need to be fast, strong, or steady on your feet.
On any given afternoon, you'll see a kid throwing a ball for the family dog, a parent with a stroller, someone who works from home and needs a break, and retirees from The Redwoods who walk over most days and sit on the benches that park users bought themselves.
Roger pushes his wife, Sammy, and their pup, Kira, out of Bayfront Park for the last time. Parks & Rec spread large “gravel” onto the walking path, making it unusable for wheelchairs and walkers. The City approved grading the path in 2024 as part of the $25,000 assigned to improve Bayfront Park, but never followed through.
A Backyard for Apartments, Condos, & Townhomes
For people who rent apartments or live without a yard, this is the only place their dog can run. For older residents, it's often the most reliable social contact they have all week. Regulars know each other's names and their dogs' names, and notice when someone stops coming.
A pump track serves riders. We think that's a good thing to build, and Marin already has one at Stafford Lake Bike Park in Novato. But an 85-year-old with a cane, a person recovering from surgery, or someone who wants to sit in the sun by the bay and talk to a neighbor can't use a pump track. The dog park can, and it is, every day.
We’re asking the City to preserve the space that serves people from 8 to 80+ and not hand it to a narrower group.
Where we stand
We support biking in Mill Valley, including a pump track. We'd rather not see one at Bayfront, for three reasons. The streets and parking around the park are already stretched. Bikes and off-leash dogs are a risky mix. And this is the only off-leash area in town, used by neighbors of every age and ability.
