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Oswego trustees opt to keep dog park; ask staff to evaluate Hunt Club, police site and Park District land
Summary
Trustees agreed not to remove the village dog park when public works construction displaces the current site. They directed staff to pursue potential relocation options — the Hunt Club Water Tower property, the police department campus and discussions with the Park District — and to survey current cardholders about site preference.
Kurt, a public works staff member, told trustees the village must relocate the dog park because construction of a new public works facility will occupy the current site.
Trustees expressed consensus that the village should retain a dog park rather than discontinue the amenity. Board members debated three candidate relocation sites — the Hunt Club Water Tower property, Venue 1012 and the police department campus — and asked staff to return with more information on the preferred options and community preferences.
Why it matters: The dog park is a village-provided amenity used by registered cardholders. Staff said maintaining card access and water service were among the amenities to preserve. Trustees emphasized the importance of communicating relocation plans to users and minimizing future disruption.
Discussion highlights and direction
- Kurt (public works) summarized staff’s site review and said staff preserved the “general form and amenities of the existing dog park, which included card access and water service.” He presented three possible relocation sites: Venue 1012, the Hunt Club Water Tower property, and the police department campus.
- Trustees generally favored keeping the park and moving it; no member argued to close it. Several trustees supported the police department site because it is centrally located, while a trustee argued Hunt Club offers more acreage. A trustee observed that the police-site parking and future police needs (an evidence garage) could limit available parking in the long term.
- Trustees directed staff to pursue three actions: survey current cardholders about site preference, consult the Park District about potential land or cooperation, and return with more detailed information on Hunt Club and police-site constraints (including parking and maintenance implications). Kurt confirmed staff will bring back additional information on Hunt Club.
- Andrea (staff) had provided gate-swipe data; Kurt said card-swipe metrics show continued, if reduced, daily use, and staff can map registrant addresses if the board requests.
Quotations
- Kurt (public works staff): “Staff's assessment preserved the general form and amenities of the existing dog park, which included card access and, water service.”
- A trustee in favor of relocation: “I would just like to see us keep it and move it.”
- Police representative (on future space needs): “That property to the east of us, I don't know if we're gonna need to look at down the road saying, hey, we need more space, another secure parking lot…we are only going to have to purchase more police vehicles as the town continues to grow.”
Ending
Trustees gave staff direction but did not take a formal vote. Staff will survey current cardholders, ask the Park District about possible land options, and return with more detailed information on the Hunt Club and police-site alternatives for the board to consider.
