SEQUIM — The dogs got a little closer to loose Tuesday night.
After an elaborate presentation from the newly formed Sequim Dog Park Pals, the city’s Citizens Parks Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend the creation of an off-leash dog park in Sequim.
The 1-acre fenced park, if approved by the Sequim City Council, would be located east of the Guy Cole Convention Center in Carrie Blake Park.
The council is expected to discuss the dog park at its May 22 meeting.
The Pals would, in effect, pay for their project with donations already promised by KC Construction, a local company named after the owner’s two dogs, and by Metal & Mud, the would-be maker of two sculptured gates for the park.
Costs cited
In earlier discussions of an off-leash dog park, Sequim Public Works Director James Bay wasn’t too enthused about the idea.
He said such a park would cost the city $25,000 to build and $12,000 per year to maintain — money he was hard-pressed to find in an already stretched capital improvements budget.
Bay changed his mind this week after meeting with Dog Park Pals Ruth Marcus and David Brown.
They showed him and the Parks Board letters of intent from donors. And they promised to police their park as well as care for it.
“If they start doing maintenance every day, then I don’t have to mess with it,” Bay said.
“I think we can get by with 10 percent of the total maintenance [cost] and have this organization take over the rest. I think it’s a win-win for everybody.
“Let’s make a dog park and see how it works.”
