If you’ve spent 15 minutes at the Costa Mesa Bark Park on a sunny day, you know the problem: there is virtually no relief from the sun.
Costa Mesa Bark Park is one of our city’s greatest community assets—a spacious, scenic gathering place where local dogs play and neighbors connect. However, a major issue threatens the safety, usability, and comfort of the park year-round: a severe lack of shade, particularly over the central picnic tables and seating areas.
While the park offers plenty of open room for dogs to run and exercise, the central picnic tables and primary seating areas sit in full, unrelenting sunlight. As a result, park-goers are getting sunburned, dogs are overheating, and neighbors with medical conditions who need to sit down are left with nowhere cool or comfortable to sit. Visitors are currently resorting to hauling their own umbrellas and folding chairs across the park just to find temporary relief from the sun.
Our community deserves a safe, comfortable, and accessible park environment for everyone—on two legs or four.
Our Call to Action: Join us in calling on the City of Costa Mesa to allocate funding for a durable, permanent shade structure (such as a shade sail or pavilion) over the main seating area at Costa Mesa Bark Park.
Sign this petition today to help us bring essential shade, safety, and comfort to our dogs and community!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
October 10, 2026
Reached 100 supporters
September 25, 2026
99 Comments
Unlike the small dog section of our Bark Park in Costa Mesa, there is very little shade for dog parents. When it's hot and sunny it's pretty awful! This is such a great idea!
Heat Safety for Dogs: High temperatures and direct sun cause heat exhaustion, burned paw pads on turf/ground, and dehydration in dogs.Owner Well-being: Handlers and seniors need protected rest areas out of the direct UV rays while supervising active pets.Extended Park Usability: Adequate shade makes the facility usable during hot mid-day hours and warm summer and fall months.
Because this area is sunny so often, adding shade would make visits to the dog park much more comfortable. The park is a great community gathering place that brings people together through their shared love of dogs, and it would be nice for everyone to enjoy it more comfortably.
My pup Trooper loves going to the park! And I love spending time with him there as well as with the other pups! It would be great for all if we could get some shade especially on those hotter days so the pups have a spot to cool down.
Please install shade!
I agree to the cause. I am currently at the park getting a sunburn as I am signing this. It is all worth it for my fur baby, but shade would definitely help us stay out here longer and be more comfortable.
Long overdue and worthy.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
If you’ve spent 15 minutes at the Costa Mesa Bark Park on a sunny day, you know the problem: there is virtually no relief from the sun.
Costa Mesa Bark Park is one of our city’s greatest community assets—a spacious, scenic gathering place where local dogs play and neighbors connect. However, a major issue threatens the safety, usability, and comfort of the park year-round: a severe lack of shade, particularly over the central picnic tables and seating areas.
While the park offers plenty of open room for dogs to run and exercise, the central picnic tables and primary seating areas sit in full, unrelenting sunlight. As a result, park-goers are getting sunburned, dogs are overheating, and neighbors with medical conditions who need to sit down are left with nowhere cool or comfortable to sit. Visitors are currently resorting to hauling their own umbrellas and folding chairs across the park just to find temporary relief from the sun.
Our community deserves a safe, comfortable, and accessible park environment for everyone—on two legs or four.
Our Call to Action: Join us in calling on the City of Costa Mesa to allocate funding for a durable, permanent shade structure (such as a shade sail or pavilion) over the main seating area at Costa Mesa Bark Park.
Sign this petition today to help us bring essential shade, safety, and comfort to our dogs and community!
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
October 10, 2026
Reached 100 supporters
September 25, 2026
99 Comments
June - Oct is baking out there. VERY little shade unless you hunker down underneath the fence-line hedges…. Which some people do!
Unlike the small dog section of our Bark Park in Costa Mesa, there is very little shade for dog parents. When it's hot and sunny it's pretty awful! This is such a great idea!
Heat Safety for Dogs: High temperatures and direct sun cause heat exhaustion, burned paw pads on turf/ground, and dehydration in dogs.Owner Well-being: Handlers and seniors need protected rest areas out of the direct UV rays while supervising active pets.Extended Park Usability: Adequate shade makes the facility usable during hot mid-day hours and warm summer and fall months.
Because this area is sunny so often, adding shade would make visits to the dog park much more comfortable. The park is a great community gathering place that brings people together through their shared love of dogs, and it would be nice for everyone to enjoy it more comfortably.
My pup Trooper loves going to the park! And I love spending time with him there as well as with the other pups! It would be great for all if we could get some shade especially on those hotter days so the pups have a spot to cool down.
Please install shade!
I agree to the cause. I am currently at the park getting a sunburn as I am signing this. It is all worth it for my fur baby, but shade would definitely help us stay out here longer and be more comfortable.
Long overdue and worthy.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
June - Oct is baking out there. VERY little shade unless you hunker down underneath the fence-line hedges…. Which some people do!