West Hollywood parkgoers who have a bone to pick with the city are planning a protest tomorrow at the unveiling of the city’s newest Urban Art attraction, “Rainbow Neon Dog.”
Rainbow Neon Dog, a funky rotating sculpture which was recently installed on Sunset Boulevard near the northwest pedestrian entrance to William S. Hart Park, will be formally dedicated during a ceremony from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, a group of residents are preparing to use the occasion to air their frustrations with the city’s decision to subdivide Hart Park’s beloved off-leash dog area and replace its traditional wood mulch ground cover with astroturf, which dog owners say is smelly, slippery, wasteful of water and expensive to maintain. They also believe the idea of separating the area into sections for big dogs and small dogs is bone-headed — a solution in search of a problem.
Rainbow Neon Dog now stands to become something of mascot for Hart Park and a coat of arms for local dog lovers who are fed up with City Hall’s meddlesome tendencies.
For decades, the postmodern pooch stood over Santa Monica Boulevard between the Ramada and the former Collar & Leash pet store, for whom artist Wilson Ong designed the sculpture in 1990. When the store closed in 2020, the owners gifted the dog to the city.
Neighbors on the city’s east side recently mobilized against plans to rip up much-needed street parking in order to install protected bike lanes used by a tiny minority of residents.
This is somewhat inaccurate. There was never a plan to protest the neon dog sign. We agreed that it would be disruptive and disrespectful, and besides, we like the sign! However, the community of Hart Dog Park users remain unanimous in our desire to keep this plan from being enacted. No one wants the Astroturf, and no one wants the play area split up into two smaller areas. No one. The city now has the opportunity to say that the people spoke, they listened and responded to the community. It’s up to them.
The doggone dog is moving far too fast. It’s virtually impossible to appreciate the form & the colors with this poor dog spinning like a whirling dervish.
The neon dog should be named CRICKET in honor and memory of the canine murdered by the Governor of South Dakota.
Keith Haring’s estate should sue over that neon dog
The sign no longer rotates. Do your homework.
The sign should rotate. it did for a week when first installed. I had notified the city staff that it had stopped functioning. It will be interesting if they will repair it before the ceremony. The City does not have a great track record for maintenance when it comes to art that has a lighting element.
There has to be a group of people supporting this change. It makes no sense that there is an organic shift in Dog Park. Is anyone out there who represents wanting the change? I don’t have a “dog” in the game, as I say!
Yes, it’s the “meddlesome tendencies” including things like Byers’s legislative micromanaging of the food served at city events. The dogs will all get along and no amount of segregation by size will mitigate irresponsible guardians. Same holds for children. The city bureaucracy thinks we are all children in need of nannying, for our own protection. We apparently need segregated bike lines because we are too irresponsible to practice situational awareness in all that we do–whether as drivers, cyclists or pedestrians. End the nanny state, now.
Byers’ micromanagement of trivialities is not only a sign of her immaturity AND insecurity, it shows to all of us that she doesn’t have a clue how to run a city! I dread next year when she becomes our mayor!
Most younger people (under 40) tend to agree with her ideas and proposals. You’re out of touch, sadly.
It shows glaringly how Byers has nothing substantive to offer, and her “I don’t care about inconveniencing (motorists, meat eaters, anyone else who doesn’t cleave to her narrow view of ‘How Things Should Be’)” will not be listened to in her world order. Cannot wait until she’s Mayor.
“We apparently need segregated bike lines”
Are you seriously criticizing protected bike lanes? Do you drive, Alan? Do you see how out of control people in this city/county are? I stopped biking a few years ago because of how many insane people almost kill me if i’m in an unprotected bike lane. They get furious if you ride your bike in a lane that also has cars.
sorry bikes are just not as important as cars in LA, period dot com ! If bike lanes are installed they should be put only on certain east west & north south streets, not a bunch or all of them. removing lanes will only create addl pollution with cars stuck in traffic, and removing parking spaces on Fountain at the expense of residents who live there along with suddenly not letting people park on the sidewalk next to or near their driveways is insane ! what are these people supposed to do ? they can’t afford to move anywhere (if… Read more »
You are completely wrong here. Lauren Meister and a Christy Horvath led this effort. There were numerous community meetings and input in the changes. The process was exactly how it should be.
“A coat of arms”