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Parks and rec staff move forward with plan for dog park
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By KRIS HILGEDICK
News Tribune
Parks aren't just for people anymore. In a few weeks, dogs will be welcome to wander freely in their own fenced park, too.
Overcoming worries about potential liability, Parks and Recreation staff are planning a dog park for north Jefferson City. The fenced area will be enclosed and will allow dogs to run and play unleashed.
Residents wanting to use the dog park will have to register at the Department of Parks and Recreation office on Monroe Street. The $10 fee will allow the department to ensure that all dogs using the park are spayed or neutered and have up-to-date vaccinations.
At some point in the future, the department hopes to build two separate areas for large and small breeds.
Uncertain how popular the park will be, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission were cautious about putting too many resources into the project in the beginning.
Joe Wilson, an area dog lover and advocate, has already raised funds to see the dog park idea to fruition.
Wilson said, with an estimated 10,000 dogs in the Jefferson City area, the area could be quickly overused.
He asked commission members to consider limiting the number of animals in the park at one time or limiting use of the facility to one hour.
"Once the word gets out with dog lovers, you're going to get swamped," he said.
But members took a wait-and-see approach instead.
"Let's first see what level of interest there is," said Karl Straub, commission member.
Some of the rules for the park include:
* Young children must be closely supervised.
* Owners must carry a leash at all times.
* Dogs with a known history of dangerous behavior are prohibited.
* Owners must clean up after their pets.
* Leaving dogs unattended is prohibited.
Parks Resources Director J.J. Gates said staff have been considering the project for several months. He hopes to get it completed by the end of summer.
"Other communities do it and it's very popular," said Gates. "I think we'll be overrun."
In other business, the Parks and Recreation Commission:
* Approved the purchase of new flooring for the Washington Park Ice Arena.
The plastic flooring -- to be assembled over the ice for special events -- will allow the building to be used for more than one purpose during the skating season. The $75,140 bid was given to Signature Flooring.
* Scheduled a Recreation Services Committee meeting at 7:30 a.m. on July 26.
* Accepted a turf advisory report for Oak Hills Golf Center.
Overcoming worries about potential liability, Parks and Recreation staff are planning a dog park for north Jefferson City. The fenced area will be enclosed and will allow dogs to run and play unleashed.
Residents wanting to use the dog park will have to register at the Department of Parks and Recreation office on Monroe Street. The $10 fee will allow the department to ensure that all dogs using the park are spayed or neutered and have up-to-date vaccinations.
At some point in the future, the department hopes to build two separate areas for large and small breeds.
Uncertain how popular the park will be, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission were cautious about putting too many resources into the project in the beginning.
Joe Wilson, an area dog lover and advocate, has already raised funds to see the dog park idea to fruition.
Wilson said, with an estimated 10,000 dogs in the Jefferson City area, the area could be quickly overused.
He asked commission members to consider limiting the number of animals in the park at one time or limiting use of the facility to one hour.
"Once the word gets out with dog lovers, you're going to get swamped," he said.
But members took a wait-and-see approach instead.
"Let's first see what level of interest there is," said Karl Straub, commission member.
Some of the rules for the park include:
* Young children must be closely supervised.
* Owners must carry a leash at all times.
* Dogs with a known history of dangerous behavior are prohibited.
* Owners must clean up after their pets.
* Leaving dogs unattended is prohibited.
Parks Resources Director J.J. Gates said staff have been considering the project for several months. He hopes to get it completed by the end of summer.
"Other communities do it and it's very popular," said Gates. "I think we'll be overrun."
In other business, the Parks and Recreation Commission:
* Approved the purchase of new flooring for the Washington Park Ice Arena.
The plastic flooring -- to be assembled over the ice for special events -- will allow the building to be used for more than one purpose during the skating season. The $75,140 bid was given to Signature Flooring.
* Scheduled a Recreation Services Committee meeting at 7:30 a.m. on July 26.
* Accepted a turf advisory report for Oak Hills Golf Center.
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