Parks director says Clark dog park is fully designed but delayed by Los Angeles approvals; $620,000 request added

Marissa Garcia, Burbank’s parks and recreation director, told the Infrastructure Oversight Board on March 26 that the Clarke (Clark) dog park project at Johnny Carson Park is fully designed and ready to proceed but has been delayed by interagency approvals required from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Garcia said the DWP approval process took three years (she described five years as the average) and that one remaining approval from the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks should occur within the next month. Because construction costs have risen during the delay, staff requested an additional $620,000 this fiscal year — Measure P dollars were identified as the city funding source being asked to fill the gap alongside sponsorships and grants already secured.

Why it matters: the dog park sits on a portion of Johnny Carson Park that is administratively tied to the Griffith Park Trust and therefore required external approvals before Burbank could proceed. Garcia said the project is otherwise ready to go to bid and that a groundbreaking could occur this year if outstanding approvals are obtained.

Board members asked whether the city could acquire the land from Los Angeles; staff said that transfer is unlikely because the land is held under trust and sale may not be permitted. Garcia emphasized the park is located in Burbank but under the trust’s oversight, and that staff will invite board members to the ribbon-cutting once the project is scheduled.

Next steps: staff will return with additional project details as approvals progress and will include the $620,000 request in the CIP presentation heading to City Council.