Riley plays with his German shepherd, Legend, at the Off the Leash Dog Park in Yuba City, while his mother Stephanie looks on. The family has been visiting the park since Legend was a puppy.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – For nearly two decades, ‘Off the Leash Dog Park’ in south Yuba City has served as the region's only dedicated off-leash park for dogs. Located at 2050 Wild River Drive, this nonprofit park has been a safe haven for dogs of all sizes and a gathering place for their owners. But changes in property ownership now threaten its future.

“Right now we have until the end of September, while Caltrans preps the land for sale,” said Donna Johnston, a longtime board member for Yuba Sutter Off the Leash Dog Park. Johnston is also the elected Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for Sutter County, where she has served since 2008. “We’re not quite sure what’s going to happen after that.”

The current site sits on about five acres of a 30-acre lot originally purchased by Caltrans in 1993 for a proposed “third bridge” project connecting South Yuba City to Olivehurst. That project was later scrapped, leaving the land unused. Caltrans has since reclassified the property as “excess land” and is preparing to sell it.

“Before any sale, Caltrans must complete a review to confirm no other department needs exist, conduct an environmental assessment, and appraise the property to establish fair market value,” said Megan Reese, public information officer for Caltrans District 3. “This process typically takes four to six months, and the property is not yet listed for sale or appraised.”

In the meantime, Reese explained that the dog park would be allowed to stay on a month-to-month lease until the land was sold.

Runeet Gill poses with her Dalmatian, Levi, who she says feels safest exercising at the Off the Leash Dog Park in Yuba City.

“The non-profit dog park foundation has leased the property for several years,” explained Reese. “When the lease recently came up for renewal, Caltrans notified the foundation it would not be renewed, following standard procedures. This decision is unrelated to the sale review.”

Until last year, Johnston stated that ‘Off the Leash’ had been paying just $100 annually to operate on Caltrans land. But when the lease expired in August 2024, Johnston claims Caltrans informed the board it would have to charge fair market rent instead—about $1,790 a year. Right now purchasing the property is not a viable option for the nonprofit, which has operated the park for years as a free service to the community. Johnston said the board is now exploring new fundraising opportunities while also considering potential alternative sites.

“Ideally, we’d like to keep it along the Highway 99 corridor of Sutter County,” Johnston said. “We have a lot of people from Beale [Air Force Base] who come here, and many travelers stop with their dogs because it’s right off the highway. It’s a convenient place for dogs to stretch and run before getting back on the road.”

For some dog owners, the park is more than a convenience, it’s essential.

“My dog is a rescue and is scared of a lot of things,” said Runeet Gill, who brings her Dalmatian, Levi. “I can’t walk him, so that’s why the dog park has been really important to us. It’s the only place I can get him to exercise, he feels safe there.”

Stephanie and her son Riley, who frequent the park with their German shepherd Legend, echoed the sentiment. Legend has been coming to Off the Leash since she was a puppy, and according to her owners, it’s where she first learned to socialize and play with other dogs.

“This is the only place we have for the dogs,” said Stephanie. “There’s nothing else in the area. We’re all just so upset about it. I really hope they can find a way to keep it here.”

Johnston said the board has looked at other possible locations, including land at Shanghai Bend co-owned by the City of Yuba City and Sutter County, but no firm plans have been made. Yuba City Mayor Dave Shaw said the city is aware of the situation.

“The city is aware of the mission to keep the Off the Leash Dog Park open,” Shaw said in a statement. “We have coordinated staff time looking into grants to assist the nonprofit but haven’t found an applicable grant yet.”

Despite the challenges, Johnston said the park’s supporters remain determined.

“We feel very fortunate to have had the Caltrans property for this long,” Johnston said. “But it’s become such a fixture in the community, people are panicking, wondering, ‘What’s the future for them and their dogs?’”