At an informational meeting June 15 held by the parks and recreation commission, more than 40 residents turned out to oppose the plan. The city wants to locate the dog site in Wallenberg Park. Residents who live next to the park argued against the idea, causing the parks and recreation department to defer a late July vote indefinitely.

Neighbors say the plan will have a negative impact on children, parking and traffic.

Their opposition comes two months after an April 14 community meeting where the majority present strongly supported the dog park location. Opponents, however, claim they did not receive the meeting notice, which went to homeowners within a 1,000-foot radius of the park.

One neighbor, however, Shibley Avenue homeowner Art Kennedy, did receive the notice and attended the meeting. But he was not in favor of the dog park, even though he is the owner of LaJolla, a 4-year-old English mastiff.

By July, Kennedy had organized the Wallenberg Park Preservation Team to oppose the project. He recruited more than 60 residents from Shibley, Lansford, Cherry, Westgate, and Curtner avenues. "We're in favor of dog parks, but we're not in favor of this particular location," he said.

The city's plan to renovate Wallenberg Park includes a small dog and large dog off-leash areas, totaling an acre. The areas will be fenced in with double gates for safety, and set back 150 feet from residential areas. The proposal would also include up to 30 new parking spaces near the bike trail.

Wallenberg Park is home to a newly renovated tot lot, a playground for children five and younger. Willow Glen junior and high school students also walk to and from school on a pathway located a few feet from the proposed fenced-in dog areas.

"We all love dogs, we just also have kids and that takes precedence," Lansford Avenue resident Christopher Elson said.

Elson goes to the park up to five times a week with his 2-year-old son, Hunter. Many residents currently walk their dogs in the park on a leash. However, a handful of dog owners let their dogs run off-leash, causing the potential for a child to be attacked, Elson said.

Last year, Elson was playing with his son at Wallenberg when an off-leash dog came running from 100 feet away and launched onto Hunter's chest, flattening him to the ground.

The dog, Elson said, was merely playing but the incident scared his son.

"He was screaming because he didn't know what happened," he said.

Curtner Avenue resident Hector Velasquez said these off-leash accidents will worsen if a dog park is built at Wallenberg.

Velasquez teaches at Willow Glen Middle School and says nearly a quarter of the school's students pass through Wallenberg Park. Some walk from their homes, while others who live beyond school bus routes are dropped off at three city bus stops in front of Wallenberg.

Neighbors also said insufficient parking would cause dog owners to park throughout their neighborhood.

San Jose city parks manager Steve Roemer said the proposed dog park would include an new parking lot on Curtner Avenue to lessen parking problems in the surrounding neighborhoods. The intent is to position the parking lot closer to the dog park. Roemer said the park is also planned away from the playground and sports field. Dog owners are required to keep their animals on a leash until they enter the fenced- in dog area, he added.

Kennedy, however, estimates that nearly 25 to 30 dogs would be at the park each hour of the day. Roemer disputes those figures and said he believes it's closer to 12 to 15 dogs per hour.

"In Willow Glen, there was a real strong demand for a dog park," Roemer said. "I've spent two years looking for sites in Willow Glen and I honestly don't see many options left."

Roemer said the parks department also considered River Glen Park and Bramhall Park on Willow Street before settling on Wallenberg.

The city plans to hold another community meeting in August, Roemer said. The Wallenberg Park Preservation Team is holding a meeting at the park on July 13 at 7 p.m. Kennedy invited his neighbors to bring a lawn chair, a beverage and their "thinking caps."

Kennedy also hopes to expand the group, whose volunteers have passed out 600 letters to residents. Kennedy said the opposition group is planning to recommend other potential sites that would have less of an impact. When the best site is found, the group will put their energy into supporting the new site, he said.

Roemer said the city will work with the neighbors.

"I hope we can mitigate the neighbors' concerns because I'd like to keep moving forward," he said.

The Wallenberg Park Preservation Team will meet at the Wallenberg Park on July 13 at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Art Kennedy at wallenberg park@earthlink.net.