About Us

CMBP is a two-acre fenced off-leash park in the City of Costa Mesa. The park is administered by the Costa Mesa Bark Park Foundation, a California incorporated public benefit non-profit, comprised entirely of volunteers and wholly dependent financially on donations. The park has a separate area for small, elderly and disabled dogs. Facilities include double-gated entrance, parking, trees, benches, water dispensers for the dogs, dog waste bags and restroom.

The Costa Mesa Bark Park (CMBP) is a two acre fenced park where dogs can legally play and run leash-free. It is the only area in Costa Mesa where dogs are not required by ordinance to be on a leash. While the city has generously set aside the park area for this purpose, the costs associated with maintaining and improving the park are funded wholly by donations from the public. To this end, a volunteer committee, the Costa Mesa Bark Park Foundation, was established. The Foundation is totally comprised of volunteers. There are no paid positions. Any user of the park is considered a member of the Foundation and is invited to attend the monthly meetings and participate in discussions and planning. Voting privileges (for officers and major expenditures) are granted to any member who attends three meetings.

The Foundation is wholly dependent upon donations for the funds to maintain and improve the park. The Foundation is also wholly dependent upon volunteers to raise those funds, clean the park, conduct routine maintenance, plan and run fundraising events, write/publish/mail the quarterly newsletter, plan and run educational events and a myriad of other tasks associated with making the CMBP the most pleasant dog park to visit in Southern California.

History:

1992-1993 Residents of Costa Mesa California successfully petition the City Council for a dog park where leash laws are suspended

1994 CMBP opens to immediate success and usage grows

1997 Operation Clean Slate paints welcome mural on storage building in parking lot
1999 City Council approves $150,000 for renovation to resolve drainage issues, rehabilitate the grass and resolve hazards

2000 CMBP closes for six months for renovation. CMBPF incorporates as a 501.c.3 California public benefit non-profit organization. CMBPF signs agreement with the City of Costa Mesa to raise funds and administer them for the maintenance of the CMBP as well as provide canine issue-related education to the public.

2005 CMBP's popularity continues to grow (50-200 dogs enter the park in any two hour period during the summer months) and efforts continue to improve the park