The dog park is roughly a 50-yard grassy square, just north of the city service building. City Manager Norbert Klopsch said it will have two fenced areas for large and small dogs, a new handicapped-accessible ramp up the hill (required by the Americans with Disabilities Act), and a water supply for the dogs. There will be no benches or dog amenities.
Linda Hart of Patterson Road, who gathered more than 200 signatures in favor of the dog park, said the lack of dog agility equipment that some dog parks have is no big deal.
“All we really need is a safe fenced area where we can exercise our dogs,” Hart said.
Klopsch sent letters to neighbors of the park last week, and said he wouldn’t be surprised to hear some complaints about noise, safety or other issues.
“We’re realists and we recognize that there may be some people here who don’t like the change,” Klopsch said. “But frankly, the City Council and staff are convinced that when you look at the community as a whole, this is a very positive and smart investment — adding yet another little unique feature, in a very modest way, to our special community.”
In the master plan process, 75 percent of those surveyed called Creager Field a good dog park site.
Park users are expected to clean up after their dogs, but Klopsch said city refuse crews likely will check the park most weekdays.
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