Board renews Central Bark land-use agreement and approves dog-park driveway expansion

The Evansville Board of Park Commissioners on Wednesday approved a renewed land-use agreement with the Evansville Dog Owners Group to continue operation of Central Bark Dog Park at Claymeier Park, and granted the group permission to expand a gravel driveway and parking area to address recurring flooding.

The land-use agreement was presented by Mr. Bozeman, Parks Department staff, who said the document had been renegotiated for renewal. Paul Hausman, president of the Evansville Dog Owners Group, described the driveway and parking proposal and answered questions from the board. "That area is usually, when it rains, it gets flooded. And it gets so bad, there's ducks floating in it. And people can't even get into the park," Hausman said.

The driveway project described by Hausman would be donor-funded and carried out at no cost to the city. He said the proposal is for about 500 feet of new gravel driveway, 20 feet wide to allow parking on both sides, and a 60-foot culvert for drainage; the work would direct water to the south and toward the forested area behind the park, which drains into Pigeon Creek. Hausman told the board the group had raised $22,500 through fundraising and donations to pay for the work and identified the contractor as J&J Construction.

Board members asked about permitting and review. A Parks Department staff member said the contractor will need to complete the city commercial site-review process and obtain required permits before work begins. The board approved both the land-use agreement and the driveway and parking expansion; motions carried with all present members voting in favor.

The board did not require the city to fund the work and emphasized that the contractor must obtain permits and follow the city's review process. Hausman said the group had not completed a formal environmental or hydrological impact study but expects runoff to move into the existing creek corridor. The board did not set additional conditions beyond permitting and standard approvals.

The approvals mean Central Bark may move ahead with contract procurement and permitting. The board recorded the items as approved and closed the discussion.