The county has tentatively approved the master plan for Los Gatos Creek County Park, which includes a one-acre, enclosed area for dogs to run off-leash. The park, though in Campbell, is on the northern boundary of town.

According to Campbell Administrative Analyst Zarka Popovic, project coordinator for the plan, Santa Clara County Parks Commissioners gave their unanimous approval, but the plan still needs the go-ahead from the county Board of Supervisors on Oct. 29.

If the supervisors adopt the proposal, the next step is to look for funding.

The dog park has an anticipated cost of $50,000, which pays for fencing, a kiosk, water fountains for humans and canines, landscaping and agility equipment. Popovic said the plan is to create separate spaces for larger dogs and smaller ones.

"It's really small. It's for people who walk their dogs on the trail and let Fido run off the leash for 20 minutes," Popovic said.

An unknown and added expense will come from the installation of a new irrigation system.

The master plan encompasses all the improvements that will be made to the 147-acre park in the next two decades. Because different parts of the park are under the jurisdiction of the county, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the city of Campbell, all three agencies worked together to come up with the final plan.

"There was a whole laundry list of things we wanted to do," Popovic said. That laundry list includes a new park entry, reconfiguring the parking lot and new picnic benches and drinking fountains. Popovic said there is no "grand total" for the entire project, but fixing the main trail alone will cost approximately $800,000.

Although there is no solid timeline for construction, Popovic said the dog park and the main trail are priorities. "Hopefully by the time light rail comes [to Campbell], by 2006, there will be some way to get there," Popovic said.

The park currently serves as a regional park, with many out-of-towners using its facilities. Popovic said its most popular features include its fly-casting pond and picnic areas.

Complaints from trail users spurred the dog park aspect of the master plan. Popovic said she heard from the public that dog owners would let their dogs run off-leash in the park, making noise and chasing waterfowl. Popovic then contacted San Jose resident Diane Blum, who had spearheaded a failed effort to turn part of Belgatos Park into a dog-friendly environment, and used much of Blum's research in the master plan.

Public opposition led the Los Gatos Parks Commission to reject Blum's proposal in January. "I really think it's a shame that Los Gatos has not found a location," Popovic said.

On the other hand, there was no public opposition to building a dog park at the Los Gatos Creek Park.

"I think it's awesome. It's about time. It's going to be a great place for people to gather with their dogs," Blum said.

Blum said she hopes to continue her involvement in the project by helping with designs for the agility center. The facility "is like a playground for dogs," Blum said, and includes tunnels and seesaws which canines can use to exercise.

Popovic encourages the community to send letters and phone calls of support to the county. County planner Antoinette Romeo can be reached at Antoinette.Romeo@mail.prk.co.santa-clara.ca.us or 408.355.2235.

"People need to keep the idea alive," Popovic said.

Popovic, however, is confident that, come October, supervisors will adopt the plan.

"I think the county recognizes that there's a great need for these kinds of facilities," Popovic said. "It's come this far—we can't let it die now."