City Council members Monday expressed support for additional off-leash dog areas in various parts of the city.

Responding to growing requests by residents for more off-leash areas, the council also asked the city’s Parks and Community Services Board to further review options on how the city could provide off-leash areas in the downtown area, including the popular Bellevue Downtown Park.

Downtown has become the city’s fastest growing residential neighborhood. The current residential population is expected to nearly triple by 2020 to 14,000.

Bellevue currently manages two off-leash facilities at Robinswood Park, and dogs are allowed in all Bellevue parks and trails while on leash, except at beach parks during swimming season, synthetic turf areas and at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

The council’s discussion came following a study by the city’s parks staff that examined criteria used to locate off-leash facilities and the geographic distribution of those areas in the city.

The study explored the possibility of an off-leash area in the downtown, whether the current Robinswood facility should be expanded, whether a new off-leash area should be part of Eastgate Park and whether trial periods for new off-leash areas should be established.

No date has yet been set for the Parks Board to report back to the council.