Kirkland Parks Have A Dog Poop Problem

KIRKLAND, WA — Kirkland parks are tearing a page out of the football referee's handbook and peppering city grass with hundreds of yellow flags. Rather than some kind of marketing stunt, the city says it's actually meant to raise awareness of a growing problem in public spaces: "un-scooped poop."

The city estimates Kirkland's 20,000-strong dog population generates three tons of waste every day — and a lot of it isn't making it in the trashcan. So, over three weeks in September, city crews noted every time they found undisposed animal leavings at the two parks. In Juanita Beach, almost 175 were identified, with nearly 100 more at Hazen Hills. Last week crews returned to the scene with hundreds of flags, marking where every dropping was found to illustrate just how common the problem has become. The city says bacteria in dog feces can spread disease to wildlife and negatively affect water quality, due to runoff from rainstorms.

To help everyone do a little better for their neighbors, the city installed six new dog bag dispensers outside both parks. Anyone who pledges to be a "Super Dooper Pooper Scooper" will also receive a free toolkit courtesy of the city.

You can learn more about the city's pet waste programs on the city website.