Dog
Park Follow-Up
Submitted by
Bonnie Marron, Board of Directors Vice-President and Recreation
Commission Chairperson
A few
months back a question was posed in this newspaper requesting
feedback on a proposed dog park within Candlewick Lake. I have heard
from some that they think this is a done deal, so I thought an
article on where the dog park stands would be in order. Some forty
responses were received when the question was posed, there being a
4:1 ratio in favor of such a park. This information was forwarded to
your Board of Directors and General Manager.
As a
result of further Board discussion members of the Recreation
Commission scouted out various possible locations and the best site
in terms of space, parking, electricity, etc. was found to be in the
vicinity of the Outpost.
At
this point in time a dollar amount has been built into the 2014-15
budget, but this is for materials only, NOT the labor to construct
such a park. The reasoning behind “materials only” is that it is
the hope of the Board of Directors that this can be a volunteer
project including a volunteer project coordinator with some
construction background. Another suggestion was that this be an Eagle
Scout project as we have Scout Troop #77 right here in CWL.
I
think I can speak for the rest of the Board of Directors when I state
that should this project come to fruition it would be a fee-based
amenity, meaning that those who utilize it will have to register
their dog(s) and pay an annual fee associated with that registration
as do most dog parks in the surrounding counties. This will assist,
but not be the sole means, in the maintenance and upkeep of the park.
The
budget is not formally approved until it is voted by the Board of
Directors and any questions on this particular budget item, or any
budget item for that matter, can be addressed at the February 9th
Budget Hearing (1:00pm – Recreation Center), but it would be nice
if we had some volunteers, especially a coordinator, in place should
the budget pass with this item included. Some of these volunteers
could also make up an ad-hoc committee which could draft the park
rules which can be presented to the Board for their approval.
If
you would like to volunteer to part of the construction process or
the project coordinator please contact me at canoe2508@gmail.com.