Village reviewing dog park locations

Tue, Aug 5, 2008    to del.icio.us

SPRING LAKE — Village Council members are considering a special park for dogs to run free, but the question is: where to put it.

Councilman Steve Nauta proposed using electronic dog collars and utilizing the 45-foot bike path right of way along Lakeside Trail. It would provide about 1.5 miles of linear running space, he said.

Nauta also suggested any village-owned street end could be used as a swimming place for canines.

"From the dog parks I've seen, there's a place to swim, an open space to run, and a confined area for an agility course and training," Nauta said. "One of the problems is fencing, but I talked to the Invisible Fence people and they said there's no real problem in this idea."

Nauta said electronic fence collars, designed to shock an animal from crossing a buried line, cost about $250 each. The councilman said the village could rent collars or provide access codes for pet owners who already have electronic collars.

Nauta estimates it would cost the village between $4,000 and $5,000 to install the necessary apparatus underground to contain dogs within beach and bike path limits. He suggested Central Park as an ideal place for an agility course and a contained training ground.

Other council members were not as keen on the idea, although council gave its OK for the village's Parks and Recreation Committee to further study it.

"What concerns me are the electronic dog collars and the user fees," said Councilman Ryan Kelly. "I don't like the idea of dogs running across the bike path. That could be dangerous if an animal runs in front of a biker. I'd like more of an enclosed area. Maybe Central Park is a better spot for something like this.

"And along the bike path, we're talking about putting this right in people's back yards," Kelly added. "I'm not real comfortable with that."

Several residents at Monday's council meeting spoke in favor of the dog park plan.

"We really need something like this," said Jan White, who said she recently visited a dog park in Seattle. "There are very few places we can go with our dog to exercise. Go for it."

Village Manager Ryan Cotton said the dog park idea has been tossed around over the years, "but nothing has really germinated."

Village President Bill Filber said the Purina Co. has grants available for such parks, but it's too late to apply this year. The dog food company grants range from $3,000 to $5,000, he said.

Councilman Scott VanStrate said he doesn't see a fit.

"It's a good idea, but I don't see any real good place in the village for this type of thing," he said.