Changes Aim to Open Dog Park Sooner

A change of plans will speed the reopening of a dog park in Redhawk.

Sod is set to go down instead of seed, so the city will be able to open it sooner, said Herman Parker, the director of community services.

The park will be a fenced-in area in where dog owners can let their pets run without a leash. It will be the city's second dog park – the first is on Margarita Road adjacent to the YMCA.

The winter is too cold for seeds to sprout, so the city authorized for a contractor to put in sod, he said.

The city first approved the construction of Redhawk Park in October 2009 for $787,095, records show.

To see the meeting's agenda, click here.

Shortly after the park opened, neighbors complained about the dog park's placement. It sat at the edge of the park near homes, and the people living nearby had a problem with the noise, Parker said.

So, the city held a meeting to redraw the plans and invited the locals. About 25 people showed up and helped city staff members redraw the park's design, Parker said.

Now, the dog area will sit further away from the edges of the park, he said.

The changes cost $95,451 to make, which the Community Services Board of Directors approved in August.

The city took in $6,040 in donations to build the park. The rest came from developer and county funds, records show.

These changes were expensive and unnecessary, said Bret Kelley, a Redhawk resident living near the park.

"Instead of being proactive, they were being reactive. They should've done the research first," he said.

The extra effort was worth giving residents what they want, said Mayor Jeff Comerchero.

"The residents will have to live with it for many years to come, and it was important for us to get it right," he said.

The city will spend thousands of tax-payer dollars to accommodate just a small number of people, said Kelley.

"If they had complaints, they should've said something before," he said of the other residents.