PORT ANGELES — Even the cat owners on the City Council were giving two paws up to the idea of an off-leash dog park at Lincoln Park.
After a presentation by Richard Bonine, city deputy director of recreation, and members of the Rotary Clubs in Port Angeles, Council members each said they were interested in the idea if sponsorship could be found to maintain the park.
The idea presented was that the Nor’wester Rotary and Port Angeles Rotary clubs would combine efforts to build the park if the city would handle maintenance.
Bonine said that he would seek sponsorships to either pay for the maintenance or for volunteers to do most of the weekly maintenance necessary.
“I’m 100 percent behind it — and I’m a cat owner,” said council member Max Mania.
Bill Roberds, who represented both Rotary clubs, said the clubs are ready to start raising funds.
“We think this is a great location for this park,” he said.
He showed a slide show of a dog park in Anacortes, which he said the Rotarians would model theirs after.
Park details
The park would include separate areas for small dogs and larger dogs and would have a double-gated entrance to make it easier for the humans to slip out without letting all the dogs out, too.
Costs of construction and maintenance have not been mapped out. The idea is still in the conceptual stages.
Glenn Cutler, city public works director, told council members that he couldn’t estimate maintenance costs until after a thorough evaluation.
“I don’t like to make an estimate without close evaluation because then if we look at it and it is more, suddenly you’re held to that number,” he said.
The proposed area at Lincoln Park now is partially used for disc golfers, Bonine said.
“They knew when they set up that this area was sort of ‘earmarked’ for a dog park,” he said. “They are behind it.
“A couple of them have even talked about having a tournament to help raise money for the dog park because they are dog owners themselves.”
Bonine said that three or four of the golf baskets would have to be moved.
Pursue sponsorships
He said that with the consensus of the council, he would pursue sponsorships to determine if there was interest in helping fund or maintain the park and return to the council later with more information.
The council did not take a formal vote, but all voiced approval of Bonine moving forward with plans for the park.
The idea was presented and approved by the Parks, Recreation & Beautification Commission in April.
The commission approved a dog park there in 2007. The idea fell through due to a lack of funding.
A group calling itself the Port Angeles Dog Park Committee also sought a dog park at Lincoln Park in 2003, but nothing came of the proposal.
