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Council discusses proposed Ben Gill dog park; staff shows 0.5-acre concept and $267,000 estimate
Summary
Staff presented a conceptual half-acre dog park at Ben Gill Park, highlighting safety, drainage and maintenance concerns; council asked for alternatives and noted a Crossroads-area dog park already planned.
City staff presented a conceptual design for a dog park near the football stadium at Ben Gill Park and asked council to comment on location and design on Oct. 7.
Staff member Glenn said the proposal is for a roughly 0.5-acre area north of the stadium and listed recommended features including secure fencing with dig guards, a double-gated entry, dual surfacing to reduce mud, drainage and grading, shade structures, sanitation stations and pedestrian access. "This is the area view of the location. It's a 0.5 acre tract of property that we're proposing," Glenn said.
He presented an opinion of probable construction costs totaling roughly $267,000, with line items for perimeter fencing (~$45,000), entry gates (~$10,000), shade (~$24,000) and drainage/grading (~$10,000). Staff recommended a 12-month tentative schedule for planning, design, permitting, procurement and construction and noted ongoing annual maintenance costs would be required.
Councilmembers asked about crowding and expansion (staff said a half-acre is a typical neighborhood dog-park size serving about 15–25 dogs; expanding to a full acre would require a different site or additional contiguous land). The mayor pro tem’s written concerns — read into the record by staff — included secure fencing of 4–6 feet (staff recommended 6–8 feet), a double-gated entry, size-separated areas for small and large dogs, and dog-friendly surface choices.
Council also discussed parking and conflicts with stadium and civic events at Ben Gill; staff and council members noted the Crossroads development already includes a planned dog park (also about 0.5 acre) and that one community park is common for cities this size. Some council members favored one larger community park rather than two small parks; others asked staff to identify A and B sites and research grants or sponsorship opportunities.
Nut graf: The council received a staff concept for a neighborhood-scale dog park and asked city staff to refine site options, consider conflicts with existing events and stadium usage, and evaluate funding and maintenance strategies before returning with a recommended site and budget.
Ending: Staff will research alternative locations, potential funding sources and grant opportunities, and follow up with the mayor pro tem’s comments; council members asked to view the sites in person before making a final decision.
