Oswego trustees direct staff to study Hunt Club site as interim Happy Tails dog park

The Village of Oswego’s Committee of the Whole on Monday heard an update on the closed Happy Tails Dog Park and gave staff direction to develop a site-specific plan for a proposed interim dog park at the Hunt Club property.

Village staff told trustees that Happy Tails closed on Sept. 1 and that salvage of fencing, the access system, agility equipment and other fixtures is expected to recover roughly $58,000 of prior expense. Staff also presented survey and swipe-entry data showing the park averaged just over six unique users per day during a recent 90-day period and that 84% of surveyed users held a positive view of the park.

According to the staff presentation, survey respondents prioritized proximity — about half said they were willing to travel less than 10 minutes and another 30% up to 15 minutes — and frequently asked for more shade, benches and water access. Alejandro (last name not provided), the presenter, told trustees the village saved a “big lion’s share” of costs by salvaging the access system and other equipment and that the Oswego Park District has declined to partner on an Oswego dog-park site; the district plans a larger dog park at Grand Park in Plainfield in three to five years, staff said.

Discussion among trustees focused on three previously identified interim locations: the police department site, Hunt Club (near the water tower parcel), and Venue 1012. Trustees raised tradeoffs including permanence, parking, proximity to users, safety near train tracks, utility and data needs for the swipe access system, ADA access, and the presence of an existing tree nursery on part of the Hunt Club parcel.

Trustees and staff discussed cost estimates for a two-pen, roughly 2-acre park. Staff provided ballpark figures: a prior fence for about 1.5 acres cost roughly $45,000; staff estimated a 2-acre setup could be approximately $60,000, and with ADA walks, utilities and other site work the figure might rise to about $75,000–$80,000. Staff also said enlarging to roughly 3 acres could push costs toward $90,000–$100,000, though some fence materials were salvaged and could lower net expense. Board members noted the village ordinance restricts gravel parking to temporary use only, which affects how the village could phase parking buildout if Hunt Club is selected.

Trustees generally agreed that Hunt Club offers the most room for a longer-term solution and the board directed staff to prepare a more detailed site plan, cost estimates (including parking, ADA access, power and swipe connectivity) and timeline for the village’s October budget workshop. Staff also said they will examine floodplain and DuPage Water Commission pipeline work that may affect the parcel and whether trees now being grown as a village nursery on part of the parcel would need relocation.

On operation and access, trustees signaled support for reopening a dog park without the prior resident license fee; several trustees favored keeping a swipe or registration system for records (vaccine proof and usage tracking) but indicated they do not want the fee to remain a barrier. Staff said they will return with proposals showing options for maintaining swipe access while not charging a recreation license fee.

No formal motion or roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript for tonight’s discussion. Staff said they will return with site-specific layouts, refined costs and any needed agreements by the October budget workshop.

The Committee of the Whole adjourned and the village will continue the item at the upcoming budget workshop.