The dogs of Yorkton could be getting a new place to run and play. An off-leash dog park is in the works and interested community members attended an information meeting to see current plans and what needs to be done to take the concept to reality.
Lisa Washington, Community Development Manager for Community Development, Parks and Recreation, says the proposed park would be located at J.C. Beach in a former picnic area. The projected cost of the project is $38,000, with the main expense being fencing at $27,000. Other amenities being included will be signs indicating the rules, benches, privacy inserts on the ball diamond side and trash cans for dog waste.
The city has earmarked $25,000 for the project, with the remaining $13,000 coming from the fundraising efforts of community members. At the meeting, interested people were recruited to start talking about ways to raise the additional funds to get the idea off the ground.
The next step for the park will be an on-site meeting, which will depend on what happens when the snow melts. Washington hopes to have the location open in summer, though she admits that it is difficult to predict how long it will take for the project to be complete.
"The big thing about these outdoor projects is that it depends a lot on the weather, but I'm optimistic. We have people now that are stepping forward, it's not just people saying that it is a good idea... These are volunteers that are dedicated to seeing this through," Washington says.
Community members will be a driving force for the project, and Washington notes that they will be responsible for ensuring everyone abides by the rules and keeps the location tidy and friendly. She says that it's going to be driven by the people of the city who will be using it, and this is why there are information meetings at every part of the process. The location is an example of the input from interested dog owners, Washington reveals, saying it was an idea that came up during consultations.
Washington also notes that this is an example of why people need to inform relevant city staff of what they would like to see in Yorkton. While there was a Facebook group that wanted a park, she says that the city was not aware of the desire for a park until recently, and came up with the idea after a conference that highlighted how off-leash parks were catching on elsewhere.
"It's a matter of getting people to engage in an old fashioned way, maybe not electronically."
The project has not yet been approved by council, but will be presented when the plan has been finalized and the extra funding is in place. Those interested in keeping track of the project and seeing when the next meeting will take place can visit the Yorkton Parks and Recreation Facebook page for updates.
