PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles residents eager to establish a dog park have come together to try to finally make it happen.
They formed a committee Thursday that will be responsible for raising the money needed to build an off-leash dog area at Lincoln Park, hopefully within the next six months.
Eight people are on the unnamed committee.
About 30 dog lovers attended the meeting at the Port Angeles Senior Center.
The dog park effort is spearheaded by Port Angeles’ two Rotary clubs and Richard Bonine, city of Port Angeles recreation services manager.
But Steve Zenovic of the Port Angeles Nor’wester Rotary Club told the group that while the clubs will help, he expects the committee to take the lead.
Those who signed up for the group appeared to be up for the challenge.
“I’m sure this would be an easy thing to do,” Carol Carmichael said.
Carmichael, like others in attendance, said she joined the group because she has a dog and believes the city needs a dedicated area where they can run and play and not bother anyone.
“We need it in Port Angeles,” she said. “We need to have a place.”
Fundraising
Between $40,000 and $45,000 needs to be raised to build the three-quarter-acre dog park east of the BMX track and cover maintenance costs for three years.
Two previous attempts to establish an area for dogs at Lincoln Park failed because of a lack of funds.
In 2009, a proposal to create an off-leash dog area at Charles R. Willson Park was withdrawn because of opposition from neighbors.
Bonine said he is confident the group will be successful.
“A lot of enthusiastic, intelligent citizens will be leading this charge,” he said.
Those interested in helping raise funds can phone Bonine at 360-417-4551 or e-mail rbonine@cityofpa.us.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
