Dog park nixed, neighborhood park possibility

Two city council members want a piece of land once considered for a dog park in the Heritage District to become a public park.

The council denied granting a conditional-use permit for a dog park on city-owned property on Lexington Avenue earlier this month.

Vice Mayor Ed Farrell, who voted in favor of the dog park, and Councilwoman Julia Gusse, who voted against it, have requested the item be placed on the council’s June 19 work session agenda.

Gusse said she voted against the dog park because the majority of residents who live near the property didn’t want it. However, Gusse said she supports a neighborhood park in the Heritage District because it is the only subdivision in the city that doesn’t such a space and there already is money set aside in the budget.

The city’s budget is up for final vote June 5. The council has set aside $10,000 for improvements such as drainage and another $8,000 for maintenance costs.

“I hope this goes through,” she said this week. The council will have three new members at its June 19 meeting, Bridger Kimball, Leon Potter and Christian Price, who will be mayor.

Farrell said he supported the park as a temporary solution until a permanent dog facility is built as part of the regional park project on North John Wayne Parkway. That park is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Joe Hoover, chairman of the Heritage District Citizens Advisory Committee, said he agreed with the council’s decision to vote down the dog park.